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Tryg

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FY2003 Annual Report · Tryg
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Annual Report 2003 

Contact persons: 

Ms Stine Bosse, Group CEO, phone +45 44 20 30 40 

Mr Erik Gjellestad, Member of the Group Executive Management, phone +47 55 17 25 25 

Mr Morten Hübbe, Group CEO, phone +45 44 20 30 20 

Mr Henrik Hougaard, Head of Corporate Communications +45 44 20 30 70 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004  

page 2 of 98   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
 
Estonian general insurance 

Business in run-off 

Investment activities 

51 

53 

55 

Targets reached in 2003 
59 
Focus areas ......................................................... 59 
Targets reached................................................... 59 

60 
Outlook 
Strategic focus areas ........................................... 60 
Targets ................................................................ 61 

Management’s signatures  

Internal auditors’ report 

Auditors’ report 

Accounting policies 

63 

64 

65 

66 

Income statement, balance sheet and cash flow 
73 
statement, the Tryg Vesta Group 

Income statement and balance sheet for Tryg 
Vesta Group A/S (parent company) 

87 

Group overview 

92 

Supervisory Board and Executive Management

93 
Supervisory Board ............................................... 93 
Executive Management ....................................... 95 

Glossary of technical terms 

98 

Contents 

Contents 

Well poised for satisfactory performance 

The year in summary 

Facts about the Tryg Vesta Group 

Strategic platform 

The external environment   

3 

4 

5 

6 

8 

9 

Financial perspectives 
12 
Profitability ........................................................... 12 
Capital structure and ratings................................ 13 

14 
Customers 
Customer satisfaction .......................................... 14 
Brands ................................................................. 16 
Bancassurance and pension sales ...................... 16 
Health insurance.................................................. 17 
Unemployment insurance .................................... 17 

Processes 
19 
Procurement ........................................................ 19 
Customer service and IT ..................................... 19 
Common alarm centre ......................................... 21 

Employees 
22 
Employee satisfaction.......................................... 22 
Competency development ................................... 22 
Inclusiveness ....................................................... 23 
Management and organisational changes........... 23 

Risk management 
25 
Insurance risk ...................................................... 25 
Market risk ........................................................... 26 
Investment policy................................................. 27 
Operational risk ................................................... 28 

Shareholder information 
29 
Distribution of profit.............................................. 29 
Shareholders’ equity............................................ 29 

The Tryg Vesta Group history   

Organisation 

30 

31 

Financial highlights and key ratios, Tryg Vesta 
Group 

33 

Review of the Tryg Vesta Group’s financial 
statements 

34 

Financial highlights and key ratios per business 
37 
area 

Danish general insurance   

Norwegian general insurance   

Tryg-Baltica international (TBi) 

Finnish general insurance  

Polish general insurance   

39 

42 

45 

47 

49 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 3 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Well poised for 
satisfactory performance 

responsible organisation. Our integration project has 

paved the way for several employees with an ethnic 

background. 

After our first full year under the ownership of Tryg i 

Danmark smba, the Tryg Vesta Group reports quite 

substantial improvements of the financial results. We 

achieved most of the targets we had set for 2003, and we 

have come a long way towards generating satisfactory 

overall results. We have also made a thorough strategic 

effort to define the framework for further enhancement in 

the years ahead. 

Understanding other cultures and ways of working is also 

the platform for the process improvements and synergies 

across national borders which will help us achieve our 

ambition of further improving our performance in the 

years ahead. The Tryg Vesta Group believes that the 

current round of general price adjustments is coming to 

an end, except in the area of personal accident 

insurance, where we anticipate that even more tasks will 

be transferred from public funding to private insurance 

over the next few years. We will introduce stricter terms 

Tryg i Danmark smba contributed fresh capital to the Tryg 

and conditions for a few commercial customers, while at 

Vesta Group in the summer of 2003. While reflecting the 

support of our owners, the capital contribution also made 

the same time offering them advice on how to manage 
and minimise risk. 

additional demands on the Group’s ability to generate a 

higher return on capital employed.  

As will appear from this annual report for 2003, the Tryg 

Vesta Group has a good platform for growth within the 

The Group reported premium growth in Denmark and 

segments and markets that are profitable. We will stay 

Norway of 11.2 per cent and 6.3 per cent, respectively, 

focused on providing high-quality services to our 

reflecting a high degree of loyalty among our customers. 

customers, both in connection with regular service and 

They confirmed their choice of the Tryg Vesta Group by 

advice and in connection with claims handling. 

maintaining their policies with the Group despite major 

premium increases that had resulted from a necessary 

review of the price/risk correlation. Part of the reason may 

be that the industry in general raised premiums, but also 

that our customers are very satisfied with our services – 

and surveys indicate that customer satisfaction continues 

to grow. 

The Tryg Vesta Group uses the Balanced Scorecard as a 

general management tool. This contributes very much to 

everybody in the Group making a targeted and focused 

effort to meeting our ambitions in relation to our 

stakeholders. We have arranged the description in this 

annual report of our performance in 2003 along the lines 

of the Balanced Scorecard’s four perspectives: Financial 

More than half a million out of our more than 2 million 

perspectives, Customers, Processes and Employees.  

customers were served by the Group’s claims handlers in 

2003. Perceived quality and savings may go hand in 

hand as witnessed by the way we consolidated all the 

Group’s emergency calls into one alarm centre and the 

introduction of Tryg Reparation, which involves that we 

refer car repairs to selected garages and offer the 

customers a replacement car while their own car is being 
repaired. 

An inclusive workplace and understanding of other 

cultures and customs are natural features of a socially 

I hope you will enjoy reading our annual report. 

Stine Bosse 

Group CEO

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 4 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
The year in summary 

• 

The combined ratio improved from 111.7 in 2002 

to 102.8 in 2003 

•  Profit before tax and extraordinary items 

• 

The combined ratio for the Group’s Danish 

general insurance operations improved from 

amounted to DKK 789m, an improvement of DKK 

105.6 in 2002 to 96.6 in 2003.  

1,867m compared with 2002. 

• 

The Group’s return on shareholders’ equity 

before tax amounted to 16.4 per cent against a 

negative return of 52.9 per cent in 2002. 

• 

The combined ratio for the Group’s Norwegian 

general insurance operations improved from 

110.6 in 2002 to 103.9 in 2003.  

•  Shareholders’ equity increased by DKK 1,092m 

• 

The large general insurance portfolios in 

to DKK 5,360m. 

Denmark and Norway saw premium growth of 

11.2 per cent and 6.3 per cent, respectively. 

• 

The reserves for losses relating to personal 

• 

The technical result amounted to a profit of DKK 

injuries have been strengthened by DKK 699m, 

corresponding to an impact on the combined ratio 

136m in 2003 compared with a loss of DKK 851m 

of 4.8 percentage points 

in 2002.  

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance 

Combined ratio 

.

14.6

13.3

11.2

10.0

16

12

n
b
K
K
D

8

4

0

.
r
.
o
.
n
,
t
n
e
c

r
e
P

120

110

100

90

80

111.7

110.5

105.5

102.8

2000* 2001* 2002*

2003

2000* 2001* 2002*

2003

* Pro forma figures 

* Pro forma figures 

Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax 

Shareholders’ equity 

5.4

4.3

4.6

4.3

1,000

600

411

789

m
K
K
D

200

-200

-600

-1,000

-1,400

89

-1,078

6.0

n
b
K
K
D

4.0

2.0

0.0

2000* 2001* 2002* 2003

2000* 2001* 2002*

2003

* Pro forma figures 

* Pro forma figures 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 5 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Facts about the Tryg 
Vesta Group 

same product, price and quality through all sales 

channels. The Group applies a multi-channel 

distribution strategy with large customer centres and 

service centres or franchises, the Group’s own 

insurance agents and sales through real estate agents, 

The Tryg Vesta Group is the second-largest general 

car dealers and Nordea’s branches as the most 

insurer in the Nordic region. The Group comprises Tryg, 

important channels. In addition, the Group has signed 

Denmark’s largest general insurer with a market share 

agreements with a number of trade unions and 

of just over 22 per cent, Vesta, Norway’s third largest 

professional groups to offer their members personal 

insurer with a market share of around 20 per cent, the 

insurance. Likewise, industry agreements and 

reinsurer Tryg-Baltica international, Dansk Kaution and 

agreements with insurance brokers exist on the 

Tryg Polska in Poland. The Group also operates in 

commercial market.  

Estonia and has a fast-growing branch in Finland.  

The Tryg Vesta Group has a strong strategic 

quality, advice and service – both to the individual 

partnership with Nordea. The bank sells the Tryg Vesta 

personal customer and to the large industrial enterprise 

Group’s general insurance products, while the Tryg 

with several thousand employees. 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s 4,400 employees represent 

Vesta Group sells Nordea’s life and pension products. 

Moreover, Nordea Asset Management is the Tryg Vesta 

Group’s portfolio manager. Furthermore, the Tryg Vesta 

Group has a partnership with CSC, which will handle 

the Group’s IT operations starting 1 June 2004.  

The Tryg Vesta Group’s distribution strategy is based 

on marketing one brand in each country, offering the 

The Tryg Vesta Group has some two million personal 

customers and 250,000 commercial customers. The 

Group generates an annual premium income of DKK 

17.3bn. Its employees processed 650,000 claims and 

paid claims expenses of more than DKK 11bn in 2003. 

Gross premiums 2003 according to business area 

Gross premiums 2003 distributed on products 

3%

4%

4%

48%

41%

Denmark
Norw ay
TBi
Finland, Poland and Estonia
Business in run-off

14%

15%

11%

5%

16%

18%

5%

16%

Motor TPL
Marine, transport etc.
Fire etc. (commercial)
Accident

Motor comprehensive
Fire etc. (personal)
Workers compensation
Other

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 6 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Tryg Vesta Group optimised its internal 

The Group’s future platform consists of two dedicated 

organisation in January 2004 in order to form a better 

local business areas for personal and commercial 

basis for further efficiency and profitable growth.  

customers in Norway and Denmark, respectively, and 

one dedicated Nordic business area for the corporate 

market.

Organisation chart – new operational structure  

Group CEO
Stine Bosse

Personal &
Commercial (P&C)
Denmark

Personal &
Commercial (P&C)
Norway

Corporate
Denmark & Norway

Group Finance

Stig Ellkier-Pedersen

Erik Gjellestad

Peter Falkenham

Morten Hübbe

Process responsibility

Sales
Jesper Joensen

Sales Manager
Jesper Joensen

Sales Manager
Bente Kirkenær

Sales Managers
Truls Holm Olsen, Martin
Nielsen & Martin Hay Schmidt

Group Management
Secretariat
Jakob Grane

Group Control
P&C, DK
Lars Bentsen Møller

Customer Services
Karsten Kristiansen

Customer Services
Manager
Jesper Joensen

Customer Services
Manager
Karsten Kristiansen

Customer Services Managers
Truls Holm Olsen, Martin
Nielsen & Martin Hay Schmidt

Underwriting Adm.
Birgitte Kartman

Underwriting Manager
Birgitte Kartman

Underwriting Manager
Karsten Kristiansen

Communications

Henrik Hougaard

Group Legal Dept.

Bjarne Lau Pedersen

Underwriting
Ole Kristian Bakken

Underwriting Managers
Kevin Carlson
& Trond Thorsen

Claims Handling
Ane Jægersborg

Claims Manager
Lars Bonde

Claims Manager
Egil Rollheim

Claims Manager
Ane Jægersborg

Product Development Manager
Keld Holm

Product Developm. Manager
Trond Tepstad

Product Developm.Managers
Kevin Carlson
 & Trond Thorsen

Group Control
P&C, N
Espen Strømme

Group Control
Corporate
Peter Brondt

Group Accounting
and Administration
Fatiha Benali

Group Risks

Ole Hesselager

Group Investments

Torben Jørgensen

Travel, Health & Welfare
Per Guldbrandsen

Enter
Roger Slinning

Dansk Kaution
Mads Løgstrup

TBi
Flemming Christiansen

Bancassurance
Flemming S. Pedersen

Tryg Polska
Otto Groegler

Nordea Vahinkovakuutus
Flemming S. Pedersen

Nordicum Kindlustus
Mikko Saario

HR & Personnel,
IT, Process
Development and
Purchasing
Bjørn Thømt

HR & Personnel

Bjørn Thømt

IT

Martin Bøge Mikkelsen

Process Development

Geir Berge Hansen

Purchasing

Ole Hope

Business responsibility

Process responsibility

Tryg Vesta Staff

Tryg Vesta
 Competence Centre

Subsidiary / branch

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 7 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic platform 

In addition to their relatively new common history and 

Nordic characteristics, the Tryg Vesta Group companies 

share strong competencies and values.  

Efforts to make the Tryg Vesta Group identity a 

household name began in earnest in early 2003 when 

the new Group Executive Management decided to be 

transformed from a conglomerate of companies to be 

perceived as one single Group. 

Tryg Vesta Group - mission 

Our mission is to secure a stable, qualitative 

supply of products offering peace of mind to 

Financial perspectives 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s ambition is to build the most 

profitable portfolio in the Nordic region within the next 

three years. Profitability takes priority to growth if 

required to ensure stable earnings. At the same time, 

the Group aims to balance the composition of its 

personal, commercial and corporate customers in order 

to maximise the spread of the Group’s risks. 

Customers 

The Group’s ambition is to have the highest level of 

customer loyalty in the Nordic region. Based on the 

expectations and requirements of each individual 

customer, the Group aims to continuously add 

perceived value, thereby confirming customers in their 

choice of the Tryg Vesta Group as their provider of 

personal customers and businesses. 

peace of mind. 

Our mission statement reflects the Tryg Vesta Group’s 

raison d’être and the activities the Group is engaged in. 

The word stable signals that the Group pursues a long-

term strategy, and the word qualitative shows that the 

Group is committed to doing things properly. 

Tryg Vesta Group - vision 

We want to be perceived as the Nordic 

Processes 

The Group’s ambition is to improve productivity and 

enhance quality by automating and centralising 

processes as much as possible. In organising 

processes, focus will be on simplicity, reuse of data and 

the potential of self-service facilities. 

region’s most profitable provider of peace of 

Employees 

mind on the markets and within the business 

The Group’s ambition is to offer managers and 

areas chosen by us. 

Our vision reflects the Tryg Vesta Group’s commitment 

to its Nordic strategy and shows the goal and direction 

of the Group’s development. The term provider of 

peace of mind means that the Group offers a complete 

package comprising insurance, advice and 

supplementary services aimed at preventing instability 

employees free scope and responsibilities and to create 

the framework for commitment, drive and development 

of competencies. The Group will continuously develop 

its combined knowledge by focusing on learning and 

knowledge sharing. The Group emphasises being a 

Nordic workplace with Nordic values as bridgebuilders 

and drivers. 

and at restoring the customer’s peace of mind should 

Furthermore, it is the Group’s ambition to participate 

this happen. 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s operations are carried out 

decentrally, but the Group defines common strategies, 

goals and policies and has clear ambitions with respect 

to financial perspectives, customers, processes and 

actively in and to influence the public debate when it 

deals with subjects related to the Group’s existing or 

potential business areas. 

employees: 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 8 of 98 

 
 
 
 
The external environment 

The Nordic general insurance market is driven by few, 

large companies. It is becoming increasingly 

transparent and competitive, and the whole Nordic 

region is characterised by having a saturated general 

insurance market.  

The market was characterised by premium increases 

both in 2002 and 2003, and most large companies 

raised premiums for personal as well as commercial 

customers.  

In order to operate a profitable business, the insurance 

industry looked even more carefully at its ability to 

attract capital than it did in previous years. 

1999 and the World Trade Center disaster in 

September 2001. 

Captives 

The insurance companies’ increased focus on 

profitability and the resulting premium increases caused 

a few large companies to consider setting up their own 

captive insurance companies in 2003. Setting up a 

captive means that the company carries a higher 

proportion of its own insurance risk. However, it 

requires the company to have a very strong equity and 

good supporting reinsurance contracts. 

The role of insurance companies in relation to such 

customers changes from being risk bearers to being 

managers and service providers primarily.  

Consequently, the companies are focusing more 

Mild weather 

strongly on correct technical underwriting methods, that 

The number of claims due to exceptional weather 

is, on optimising the correlation between premiums and 

conditions, such as windstorms and flood, was below 

risk. 

Market shares, Nordic general insurance 

Denmark

Norway

Finland

Sweden

Tryg
22%

If

31%

If

36%

Gjensidige

Pohjola

30%

Vesta

20%

22%

Tapiola

16%

LF Forsikring

29%

If

23%

Folksam

16%

# 1

# 2

# 3

# 4

# 5

Topdanmark
17%

Codan
13%

Alm. Brand
12%

If
5%

10%

9%

18%

The local
Insurance Group 8%

Other

31%

8%

Tryg Vesta
Group

13%

Source: Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish 
insurance associations, Gross premiums 2002 (Norway 
2003) 

The performance of direct insurers has been driven by 

average in 2003. However, the prices of reinsurance 

continue to be high since the reinsurers have changed 

their assessment of weather-related risks in the Nordic 

region as a consequence of previous years’ windstorms 

and cloudbursts. 

From public to private 

The current welfare debate in the Nordic countries and 

other European countries makes demands on the 

transferred from public funding to private insurance. 

The Tryg Vesta Group welcomes this trend as it 

provides opportunities for a healthy and exciting 

development of the insurance companies. One example 

is unemployment insurance, which emerged as a 

business area to be reckoned with for Danish insurance 

companies in 2003, spurred by increasing 

unemployment rates and the perceived gap between 

the pay received in employment and unemployment 

SpareBank 1

Fennia

Trygg-Hansa

insurance industry. Responsibilities are being 

such factors as recent years’ earnings pressure due, in 

benefit rates. 

particular, to declining interest rates, capital losses on 

shares and increasing reinsurance prices, the latter 

Changes to the division of labour between the public 

primarily resulting from the European windstorms in late 

and the private sector are welcome, but it is disturbing 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 9 of 98 

 
 
 
 
when an institution such as the Danish National Board 

several of them include the rating in their policies for 

of Industrial Injury changes its practice with retroactive 

permitted collaboration partners. 

effect. It is a problem when changed legal practice lets 

privatisation in the back door, so to speak, without 

Securities markets 

enabling the insurance companies to adjust their prices.   

For example, the Supreme Court of Denmark ruled in 

December 2003 that amounts received from a flex job 

should not be taken into account when determining 

occupational disability for a person who as a result of a 

work-related injury performs a flex job. If the National 

Board of Industrial Injury introduces the practice of 

reopening and reassessing claims, insurers will incur 

additional costs without having been able to include this 

risk when setting their prices.  

Likewise, the Supreme Court of Norway ruled in 

February 2004 that the scope of cover provided for 

occupational diseases shall be extended as several 

kinds of diseases may trigger compensation. 

Global focus on risks 

After several years of plummeting equity prices and 

interest rates, equity markets were up in 2003 by 16.5 

per cent in Europe (MSCI), 26.8 per cent in the USA 

(MSCI), 31.2 per cent in Denmark (KBX) and 48.4 per 

cent in Norway (OSEBX) relative to the start of the year.  

Early 2003 was marked by the war in Iraq, the outbreak 

of SARS and a number of negative key economic 

indicators. This caused investors to flee from equity 

investments to the safe haven of bonds. At the same 

time, industrial and consumer confidence was low and 

unemployment on the rise, all of which contributed to 

both the USA and Europe pursuing expansive monetary 

and fiscal policies. 

Around mid-2003, the global economy rebounded. A 

global recovery is now materialising, primarily driven by 

one of the most expansive economic policies ever seen 

Businesses and insurance companies globally have 

in the USA with very low interest rates, tax cuts and 

refocused on risks in recent years against the backdrop 

high public spending in the form of defence 

of fear of terrorist attacks, management scandals, 

expenditure. The recovery was supported by continued 

widespread bad weather in recent years and the 

high consumer spending in the USA, partly backed by 

demand for targeted employment of the capital 

the biggest remortgaging wave ever.  

The war in Iraq impacted the financial markets. The 

anticipation that the war could quickly be brought to an 

end caused equity markets to surge in the early months 

of the conflict, while interest rates continued to fall due 

to deflationary fears. After positive key economic 

indicators had been issued in June, the rates started to 

move upwards and have stabilised.  

available. 

Capital base 

Earnings in the general insurance industry have only 

begun to pick up during the past year, and recent years’ 

low earnings have generally eroded the companies’ 

capital base. The companies are required to generate 

significantly higher and stable returns if the industry is 

to retain and attract investors to contribute share 

capital. 

Ratings 

International rating agencies rate companies’ expected 

ability to honour their commitments towards insurance 

customers and other creditors. Industrial customers, in 

particular, increasingly require insurers to be rated, and 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 10 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Selected share indices, 2003  

Selected two-year government bond yield, 2003 

3
0
0
2

f

i

i

o
g
n
n
g
e
b
e
h

t

m
o
r
f

e
s
a
e
r
c
n

i

%

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

-10

-20

-30

/

3
0
1
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
3
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
5
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
7
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
9
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
1
1
1
0

/

)

%

(
e
a
r

t

t
s
e
r
e
n

t

I

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

/

3
0
1
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
3
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
5
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
7
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
9
0
1
0

/

/

3
0
1
1
1
0

/

KBX
OSEBX

MSCI Europa
MSCI USA

Denmark
Norw ay

EU
USA

DKK/NOK exchange rate 2003 

A large part of the Group’s activities are based in 

Norway, and its financial results are therefore impacted 

by the NOK/DKK exchange rate. As can be seen in the 

chart, the NOK/DKK exchange rate fell by 14 per cent 

during 2003. Accordingly, all other things being equal, 

earnings in Norway will show a falling trend when 

translated to Danish kroner due to the depreciating 

exchange rate. Most investments in shares in 

Norwegian subsidiaries were hedged in 2003. 

K
O
N
K
K
D

/

1.050

1.025

1.000

0.975

0.950

0.925

0.900

0.875

2
0
/
2
1
/
1
3

3
0
/
2
0
/
8
2

3
0
/
4
0
/
0
3

3
0
/
6
0
/
0
3

3
0
/
8
0
/
1
3

3
0
/
0
1
/
1
3

3
0
/
2
1
/
1
3

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 11 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial perspectives 

Profitability was the core focus area of the Tryg Vesta 

Group throughout 2003. There was extensive focus on 

the correlation between customer price and risk, and on 

the Group’s own efficiency and expense ratio. 

Like the rest of the insurance industry, the Group was 

keenly aware of the stricter terms in connection with 

reinsurance and of the need to strengthen its overall 

capital base and optimise capital employed. 

Profitability 

Scrutinising commercial customers 

Focusing on personal customers 

Although the most massive profitability efforts in 2003 

were targeted at the Tryg Vesta Group’s commercial 

customers, premiums were also raised for personal 

customers. Personal customers’ premiums were 

increased by up to 15 per cent on some policies. 

Distribution of gross premiums 2003 

14%

44%

42%

As part of the work to restore profitability, the Tryg 

Personal customers in Denmark & Norw ay

Vesta Group made targeted efforts in 2003 to reassess 

Commercial customers in Denmark & Norw ay

the correlation between price and risk for each 

Other customers

commercial customer. 

It proved necessary to introduce substantial premium 

increases for some commercial customers. In Denmark, 

increases for commercial customers averaged 48 per 

cent, in connection with contents and buildings policies. 

Most customers maintained their policies with the 

Group despite the increases. 

Net pricing to commercial customers served by 
brokers 

The long-standing tradition of paying insurance brokers, 

who make a living from advising businesses on 

purchasing insurance, on a commission basis was 

abolished both in Denmark and Norway in 2003. 

As part of the Group’s efforts, greatly enhanced security 

requirements and requirements for higher premiums 

were made to high-risk industries such as the wood 

industry in 2003. 

Previously, insurance brokers were paid a commission 

by the insurance companies, but in 2003 most of the 

large insurers in Denmark and Norway switched to so-

called net pricing to commercial customers served by 

brokers. This system implies that commercial 

At the same time, the Group completely withdrew from 

customers will in future pay the brokers directly for their 

insuring Norwegian municipalities, a business that had 

advice and intermediary services, while the insurance 

been unprofitable for several years. 

company is paid for the actual insurance supply. 

Profitability is a matter of pricing as well as deductibles 

The Tryg Vesta Group was one of the first insurers to 

and security requirements, and in addition to raising 

introduce net pricing because the system promotes 

premiums, the Group therefore required many 

transparency and consistent terms for all commercial 

customers to strengthen security and accept higher 

customers whether served directly or through a broker. 

deductibles.  

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

The new model emphases the broker’s independence, 

making it clear to commercial customers in future that 

brokers are advisers and intermediaries, while the Tryg 

18 March 2004 

page 12 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Vesta Group is the insurance provider. At the same 

Finally, the Tryg Vesta Group’s capital was 

time, the prices of each of the two services are shown 

supplemented by a loan of DKK 600m in order to give 

clearly. 

Costs 

the Group further financial flexibility and enhance its 

liquidity. 

The Tryg Vesta Group focused on costs in 2003, tightly 

Rating of Tryg Forsikring A/S 

controlling the number of employees and the use of 

In June 2003, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard 

consultants. 

The organisation spent substantial resources on paying 

attention to existing customers by way of service and 

profitability initiatives. 

In May 2002, the Tryg Vesta Group took over Zurich’s 

Danish and Norwegian general insurance operations. 

The newly acquired portfolios and former Zurich 

employees were finally integrated in 2003, creating the 

anticipated cost synergies. 

The profitability measures taken resulted in the 

& Poor’s confirmed their ratings of Tryg Forsikring A/S 

of A3 and BBB(pi), respectively. When making their 

decisions, the rating agencies emphasised the 

strengthened capital base and commercial and 

organisational improvements. 

Rating of Vesta Forsikring A/S 

In October 2003, Standard & Poor’s awarded a BBB(pi) 

rating to Vesta Forsikring A/S, bringing Vesta’s rating 

into line with that of the parent company, Tryg 

Forsikring A/S. 

administrative expenses falling by DKK 206m relative to 

Rating of Tryg-Baltica international 

2002. 

Discontinuing London market business 

In September 2003, the Tryg Vesta Group decided to 

discontinue the Group’s business in the London market. 

The decision reflected the Group’s wish to focus mainly 

on Nordic insurance business and international 

Further to the decision to discontinue the London 

market business and based on an anticipated improved 

performance of TBi, A.M. Best confirmed in October 

2003 its A- rating of Tryg-Baltica international originally 

awarded in the spring. 

reinsurance. The run-off is expected to last for ten 

Ratings of Tryg Vesta Group 

years, although most of the reserves are expected to be 

run-off over three years. 

S&P 

Moody’s 

A.M. Best 

Capital structure and ratings 

Tryg 

BBB(pi) 

A3 

Vesta 

BBB(pi) 

TBi 

A- 

Capital structure 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s capital base was strengthened 

significantly in 2003 when the Group’s owner, Tryg i 

Danmark smba, decided to contribute share capital and 

subordinate loan capital totalling DKK 1.1bn. The 

increased liquidity was used to repay a bank loan of a 

similar amount. At the same time, the Group’s corporate 

structure was changed to enable it to better utilise its 

total capital base. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 13 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customers 

requirements. The more satisfied and loyal customers 

are, the longer they maintain their policies with the 

Group, which in the final analysis benefits profitability.  

In 2003, the Tryg Vesta Group refocused sharply from 

Danish surveys indicate that customers in large 

selling individual products to providing concepts that 

insurance companies become more loyal the longer 

offer peace of mind. In order to retain customer 

satisfaction and loyalty, the Group considers it 

they have been with the company. Around 18 per cent 

of customers who have been with their insurance 

important that customers buy more than one policy, 

company for less than a year leave the company again 

thereby becoming part of a concept offering favourable 

within a year, while 82 per cent stay with the company 

prices and service programmes. Concept customers get 

for at least one more year. This figure rises to 86 per 

more from the Group than just a request for payment, 

cent for customers who have been with the company for 

also when they do not have any claims. 

The portfolios of health and general insurance policies 

six to ten years, and to 89 per cent for customers who 

have been with the company for 11 to 20 years.  

sold through Nordea’s branches grew rapidly in 2003, 

This is the reason why the Tryg Vesta Group focuses 

not least thanks to the Group’s strong brands – Tryg 

strongly on existing customers.  

and Vesta – in Denmark and Norway. 

Customer satisfaction 

Like in previous years, the Tryg Vesta Group surveyed 

how customers perceived their insurance company in 

2003. The results of the customer surveys are used to 

ensure that the Group’s services match customer 

In Norway, Norsk Kundebarometer measures customer 

satisfaction in various lines of industry. The survey 

showed that Vesta improved in terms of satisfaction but 

declined in terms of loyalty relative to 2002. 

Norwegian Customer Barometer 2002-2003 

Danish Customer Index 2002-2003 

2003
2002

y
t
l
a
y
o

l

r
e
m
o
t
s
u
C

84

82

80

78

76

74

72

70

68

66

64

62

SpareBank 1

Gjensidige

Vesta

If

2003
2002

ALKA

Other

Topdanmark

Alm. Brand

Tryg

Codan

y
t
l
a
y
o

l

r
e
m
o
t
s
u
C

84

82

80

78

76

74

72

70

68

66

64

62

62 64 66

68

70

72

74

76

78

80 82 84

62 64 66

68

70

72

74

76

78

80 82 84

Custom er satisfaction

Custom er satisfaction

Norsk Kundebarometer (Norwegian Customer Barometer) is 
prepared by the Department of Marketing of the BI Norwegian 
School of Management 

Dansk KundeIndex (Danish Customer Index) is prepared by the
Aarhus School of Business and the Danish Centre for 
Management. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 14 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In Denmark, Dansk KundeIndex measures customer 

satisfaction with Danish general insurance companies. 

The 2003 survey placed Tryg in the top four in terms of 

customer satisfaction and loyalty. Tryg advanced in 

terms of loyalty, and satisfaction seemed to be on the 

increase. As for banks, the small companies have the 

most satisfied and loyal customers. 

The Tryg Vesta Group not only has many satisfied and 

loyal customers in Denmark. Regular surveys of Danes’ 

preferred insurance company indicate that Tryg 

generally has a good image among the population. 

The Danes’ preferred insurance companies in 2003 

Throughout 2003, Tryg ranked a clear number one on 

the list of Danes’ preferred insurance company. 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s surveys are based on the pan-

European model for measuring customer satisfaction 

EPSI (European Performance Satisfaction Index). The 

model’s standardised questions can be used by all 

types of businesses, and the results are therefore 

comparable with those of other insurance companies 

and companies in other industries 

%

25

20

15

10

5

0

Tryg

Peer 1

Peer 2

Peer 3

Peer 4

Peer 5

Peer 6

Peer 7

y
r
a
u
n
a
J

y
r
a
u
r
b
e
F

h
c
r
a
M

l
i
r
p
A

y
a
M

e
n
u
J

l

y
u
J

t
s
u
g
u
A

r
e
b
m
e
t
p
e
S

r
e
b
o
t
c
O

r
e
b
m
e
v
o
N

r
e
b
m
e
c
e
D

Source: The media agency OMD regularly surveys Danes for their preferred insurance company. Throughout 2003, Tryg was the 
preferred company 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 15 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brands 

In Norway, one of Vesta’s ads in the daily Aftenposten 

was selected as the best ad in July. Regional paper 

Tryg and Vesta represent two very established and 

Adresseavisen selected another Vesta ad as the best 

strong brands within general insurance for the Tryg 

ad in August. 

Vesta Group.  

In the summer of 2003, Vesta ran a major campaign to 

profile the company, focusing on the company’s 

lifebuoy trademark. Vesta’s red-and-white tradition-rich 

lifebuoy is one of Norway’s best-known and most 

respected trademarks. Ever since 1952, the company 

has distributed lifebuoys, which in an appropriate 

manner reflect the philosophy of insurance. The 

lifebuoys have helped save more than 1,000 people 

from drowning. Today, there are some 23,000 Vesta 

lifebuoys all over Norway, and the lifebuoy has become 

a national symbol.  

Bancassurance and pension sales 

The partnership between the Tryg Vesta Group and 

Nordea continued its positive sales performance. The 

partnership involves Nordea selling the Group’s general 

insurance products through its branches in Denmark, 

Norway and Finland, while Tryg and Vesta sell the 

bank’s life insurance and pension products.  

Bancassurance 

Generating 17 per cent growth relative to 2002, 

Nordea’s sales of the Tryg Vesta Group’s general 

insurance products continued to surge. In 2003, 

In the spring of 2003, Tryg relaunched its six-year-old, 

bancassurance accounted for 5 per cent of the Group’s 

but still well-known TV commercial showing a chicken 

total sales of insurance policies to personal customers. 

sitting in front of a car tyre. The commercial was hugely 

successful, scoring among the top seven per cent 

among more than 1,000 campaigns rated by the media 

agency OMD. The TV commercial came in first among 

campaigns from insurance companies, banks and 

mortgage credit institutions. 

During the summer, Tryg launched two new 

commercials involving a fox and a hen, and a hedgehog 

crossing a busy road, respectively. Subsequent surveys 

showed that the two new TV commercials also got high 

impact ratings. 

Prizes won by the Tryg Vesta Group 

Tryg’s sponsorship of the Åh Abe children’s concerts in 

2003 won the company the business-to-consumer-

sponsorship prize for 2003.  

Tryg Polska won two prizes in Poland. Four products 

were nominated market leaders, and the company’s car 

owners’ assistance policy was rated as the best new 

product. 

In Denmark, where Nordea offers the same range of 

products and concepts as Tryg provides through its own 

sales channels, bancassurance accounted for 11 per 

cent, and the portfolio amounts to more than DKK 

550m, with a highly satisfactory profitability. 

New sales to personal customers in Denmark 2003 

5%

19%

34%

11%

31%

Insurance agents
Bancassurance
Other partners

Service centres
Group insurance

Nordea’s Norwegian branches began selling Vesta’s 

policies in 2003, initially as a pilot project in selected 

branches, but in the second half of the year, the 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 16 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
bancassurance concept was being implemented on a 

role as a provider of peace of mind to customers in the 

nation-wide scale.  

life insurance and pension areas. 

In Finland, sales of insurance policies through Nordea 

The Group continued to generate a substantial part of 

continued to rise steeply. The branch’s portfolio 

Nordea’s aggregate sales of new business in this area, 

increased from DKK 42m in 2002 to DKK 80m in 2003, 

among other things because the Group uses its good 

distributed on 32,000 customers. Tryg set up the 

relations to general insurance customers to offer the life 

Finnish branch in 2001 for the purpose of selling 

and pension insurance products as well.  

insurance through Nordea, which has a share of 40 per 

cent of the Finnish market. At the end of March 2003, 

Health insurance 

the potential customer base was extended to include all 

of the bank’s approximately three million customers in 

Finland. When the branch was set up in 2001, it only 

had access to Nordea Bank Finland’s 800,000 so-called 

core customers. 

New sales to personal customers in Finland 

)
0
0
0
'
(
s
e
c

i

i
l

o
p
f
o
r
e
b
m
u
N

60

40

20

0

49.5

36.8

0.7

2001

2002

2003

Pension sales 

Pension schemes and life insurance policies form a 

natural and important part of the Tryg Vesta Group’s 

overall product portfolio. Being a provider of peace of 

mind, the Group meets the customers’ expectations of 

covering all their requirements, also when it comes to 

personal safety such as personal accident insurance, 

health insurance, life and pension insurance and critical 

illness cover.  

The Group intends to continue to focus on employee 

training and sales tools, thereby further enhancing its 

The health insurance area continues to grow, and the 

Tryg Vesta Group is constantly developing 

competencies in this area. The Group launched 

development efforts in 2003 aiming to set up a common 

Nordic health concept for Tryg and Vesta.  

In 2003, the Tryg Vesta Group in Denmark launched 

three options to the health policies already written. At 

the end of 2003, 15,200 people were covered by the 

Group’s health insurance. 

Tryg’s Finnish branch began selling health insurance in 

2003. Health insurance has been part of the Finnish 

insurance market for 10-15 years. The expansion of the 

product range to cover largely any insurance 

requirement further strengthened the Finnish 

operation’s position as an alternative to other insurance 

providers.  

On 1 January 2003, Norway introduced tax exemption 

for employer-paid health insurance for employees. 

Because of the exemption, employees are no longer 

subject to tax on such health insurance, and employers 

are not liable to a charge on the insurance premium. 

The tax exemption has renewed interest in health 

insurance, and this also benefits Vesta.  

Unemployment insurance 

In the final months of 2003, private unemployment 

insurance really became an issue in Denmark. In 

February 2004, the Tryg Vesta Group announced a 

partnership between the unemployment insurance fund, 

STA and Tryg, involving that Tryg offers supplementary 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 17 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
voluntary insurance to members of STA. In case of 

involuntary unemployment, members of STA will be 

eligible for a supplement of up to 80 per cent of their 

salary so far in addition to their benefits. At the same 

time, Tryg offers the members of STA the possibility of 

choosing whether they want to supplement the 

unemployment insurance with for instance psychologist 

assistance. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 18 of 98 

 
 
 
 
Processes 

2003 showed several examples of the Tryg Vesta 

Group capitalising on synergies across national 

borders, particularly in relation to IT and the creation of 

the Group’s common alarm centre, which was launched 

in earnest in early 2003. Improving the efficiency of 

work processes is a constant challenge, as illustrated 

by last year’s initiatives in relation to procurement and 

electronic customer servicing.  

Procurement 

The Tryg Vesta Group began working towards a 

common purchasing policy and a common purchasing 

process in the spring of 2003.  

The new agreement benefits all three parties: 

customers, garages and Tryg. 

Customer service and IT 

IT synergies 

The Tryg Vesta Group focuses strongly on capitalising 

on IT synergies. This is to be achieved through a 

common IT organisation set up in April 2003 and 

covering all the Group’s companies.  

The Group expects to reduce its IT-related costs in the 

years ahead by simplifying, harmonising, standardising 

and pruning measures. In the years ahead, the Group 

intends to strongly expand the common platforms it 

already uses across national borders in several 

respects.  

The Tryg Vesta Group considers procurement an 

Partnership with CSC 

organisational process and a strategic tool to reduce 

In 2003, the Tryg Vesta Group entered into a 

costs. Good procurement is basically a question of 

partnership with the IT company CSC to outsource the 

managing requirements and, thereby, managing costs. 

Group’s IT operations, the principal reason for switching 

IT operations provider being to reduce costs and 

Procurement in an insurance company is more than 

making administrative purchases in the form of office 

enhance quality.  

supplies and new PCs. It is also very much a matter of 

The partnership with CSC is expected to improve the 

purchasing in connection with claims, such as making 

quality, accessibility, reliability and speed of the Tryg 

agreements with craftsmen and garages to make 

Vesta Group’s IT systems and to provide operational 

repairs or with cleaning companies to clean up after 

savings. 

fires or flooding.  

The Group outsourced its IT operations in Denmark, 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s claims expenses amounted to 

Finland and Poland effective 1 December 2003 for an 

more than DKK 11bn in 2003, and the Group has in 

initial period of five years. In January 2004, the parties 

recent years focused particularly on procurement in 

agreed to extend the partnership to comprise Vesta 

connection with claims, thereby generating substantial 

effective 1 June 2004, thereby putting CSC in charge of 

savings. In 2001, Vesta entered into a partnership with 

all the Group’s IT operations. 

the Norwegian car industry, providing benefits and 

savings for both customers and the company in 

connection with claims resulting from damage to cars. 

In March 2003, Tryg launched a new agreement with a 

number of garages in Denmark. The agreement, called 

Tryg Reparation, includes that customers are offered a 

replacement car while their own car is being repaired. 

Customer service via Siebel 

The Tryg Vesta Group uses the US Siebel system, the 

market’s most advanced customer service system, as a 

common platform both in Denmark and in Norway. The 

system collects customer data and customer contact 

information, thereby making it easier for different 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 19 of 98 

 
 
 
 
organisational units to collaborate in relation to 

Vesta – claims reported by e-mail 

customers and, ultimately, improving the quality of 

communications with customers. 

Vesta launched the second stage of implementation of 

the system in 2003, using, among other things, the 

experience Tryg had already gained with the system. A 

portable solution will be added in early 2004, providing 

access to the customer service system from laptops 

when visiting customers. Tryg has successfully used 

the solution for a couple of years. 

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

2002

2003

E-service 

In the past two years, Tryg’s web site has offered the 

Accessibility is a key word for the Tryg Vesta Group as 

Group’s Danish customers a similar option. Customers 

reflected, for example, in the Group’s strong focus on 

may seek information, report claims and generally use 

providing service to customers in the form of e-services.  

the self-service facilities almost 24 hours a day. At 31 

In Finland, e-mail correspondence already accounts for 

a large part of the Group’s total communication with 

customers, and the intention is to increase the volume 

of e-services both in Finland and in the rest of the 

Group. 

In Norway, the Tryg Vesta Group participated from the 

start when the Norwegian banks launched eFaktura, 

December 2003, almost 60,000 customers had 

subscribed to the log in service, almost twice as many 

as the year before. Around 120 customers log in every 

day to view their policy overview, order a red or green 

international motor insurance card before going on 

holiday etc. Furthermore, some 50,000 price 

calculations are made on the web site each month, and 

around 900 users ask for a quotation. 

electronic invoice processing, in early 2003. Customers 

Tryg – e-mails received 

who join eFaktura receive invoices in their on-line 

banking system instead of in their physical mailbox.  

100

('000)

The Tryg Vesta Group’s Norwegian customers were 

invited to view their policies and insurance terms and 

conditions via Vesta’s web site in May 2003. The option 

also includes such facilities as amending policies. Vesta 

received a total of 40,000 e-mails from customers in 

2003, and the number of claims reported by e-mails 

increased by almost 80 per cent from 2002 to 2003. 

80

60

40

20

0

2001

2002

2003

Tryg received almost 97,000 e-mails in 2003. Subjects 

included claims reporting, requests for quotations etc. 

This was a steep increase of 255 per cent over 2002, 

when Tryg received just under 38,000 e-mails. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 20 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Common marine and aviation department 

The customers of the Tryg Vesta Group’s marine and 

aviation make up a very diverse group, and it takes a 

broad range of competencies to handle this diversified 

and specialised portfolio. The Group therefore decided 

to set up a common marine and aviation department at 

the end of 2003, uniting competencies across the two 

biggest companies, Tryg and Vesta. Marine customers 

alone account for an annual premium volume of DKK 

230m, ranging from small fishing boats to very large 

ferries both in Denmark and Norway. The marine and 

aviation department has a total of 22 employees. 

Common alarm centre 

In 2003, the Tryg Vesta Group continued developing 

the common alarm centre, Tryg Alarm, in Denmark. The 

centre is staffed by employees and doctors round the 

clock ready to assist the Group’s travel and health 

insurance customers in an emergency. In addition to 

being able to provide care services, the employees’ 

core competencies include speaking at least two foreign 

languages.  

Network is a key word for Tryg Alarm. The alarm centre 

has a number of external partners around the world 

within such areas as transport, payment transfers and 

hospitals. Tryg Alarm’s regular staff includes a doctor, 

and seven medical consultants specialising in different 

fields are attached to the centre. 

Not only customers who hold travel and health 

insurance policies may call Tryg Alarm to get help. 

Tryg’s 24-hour claims service is a part of Tryg Alarm, 

which thus also handles calls from Danish insurance 

customers in connection with a claims situation.  

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 21 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Employees 

The Tryg Vesta Group applied the Balanced Scorecard 

methodology in 2003 to strengthen efforts in relation to 

targets and initiatives. The aim is to enable all units to 

break down the Group’s overall targets in order for each 

employee to know his or her expected contribution and 

Future surveys of employee satisfaction in the Tryg 

Vesta Group will apply a common method. 

Competency development 

The Tryg Vesta Group spent DKK 40m on employee 

training in 2003 and began collaborating on common 

competency and management development initiatives. 

in order to maintain transparency and openness about 

Management development 

the organisation’s target and initiative efforts. 

The first stage of a common management development 

The Tryg Vesta Group made a great effort in 2003 to 

establish competency development for managers and 

employees. The Group also made its vision of being an 

inclusive workplace very visible and tangible by setting 

up dedicated integration training for persons with an 

ethnic background. 

Employee satisfaction 

Believing that satisfied employees are key to creating 

results, the Tryg Vesta Group measures employee 

satisfaction each year.  

The overall results of the survey are collected in 

Norway and Denmark to provide an overview of any 

potential concerted action that could be taken to 

heighten satisfaction in one or more areas. However, 

programme in the Tryg Vesta Group was launched in 

February 2004. The programme is intended to help 

embed the Group’s corporate values in the day-to-day 

work and in joint projects, while also focusing on teams 

and collaboration in order to develop the Group’s 

combined knowledge and promote the exchange of 

ideas and experience. 

The Tryg Vesta Group developed a management 

course for its 210 Norwegian managers and key 

professionals in 2003. The objectives of the courses 

included helping managers to become even better at 

forming strategies into practice and generally to 

enhance managers’ competency, focusing on higher 

employee satisfaction, improved business 

understanding, development of cross-cutting 

collaboration, and a common culture with shared 

the results are primarily followed up in the local 

values. 

departments, whose managers and employees together 

are responsible for cultivating and maintaining results 

and prepare the ground for improvement. 

The survey scored high in general on satisfaction in 

Denmark with an overall score of 4.03 on a scale from 1 

to 5.  

The Group also developed management courses for all 

management levels in Denmark in 2003. Development 

courses for middle management employees and more 

experienced managers focused on collaboration, 

coaching and process improvement. Relatively new 

managers attended courses matching Tryg’s business 

and employees. More than 115 of a total of some 200 

When measuring employee satisfaction, Vesta employs 

Danish managers attended such management 

a method which does not involve the use of a total 

development courses in 2003. To ensure future 

result as does the one employed in Denmark. Grouped 

executive talent, Tryg has developed a talent promotion 

into main categories, however, Vesta’s scores for 2003 

process. Around ten potential managers completed this 

are on a level with other Norwegian companies.  

course in 2003. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 22 of 98 

 
 
 
 
Teams and collaboration 

insurance as well as Danish culture and the Danish 

Almost 1,000 of Tryg’s 2,250 employees attended team 

language to the participants. 

building courses in 2003. Tryg has been focusing on 

teams for many years, but relaunched the concept in 

2003 with more distinctive definitions of the 

characteristics of a good team, including the 

characteristics of a good team player and a good team 

manager.  

During the year, 63 per cent of Tryg’s employees spent 

two days in another department to gain knowledge and 

understanding of the work processes of other 

departments. Another objective of the arrangement was 

In 2003, 7.4 per cent of new employees taken on by 

Tryg had an ethnic background, and the total proportion 

of employees with an ethnic background increased from 

1.9 per cent at 31 December 2002 to 2.9 per cent at 31 

December 2003. 

Tryg also aims to include persons with an ethnic 

background among the trainees taken on each year. In 

2003, two out of 32 trainees had an ethnic background. 

to promote in-house job rotation.  

Stages of life 

E-learning 

In 2003, Vesta developed its training strategy further by 

putting even greater emphasis on e-learning courses. 

The principal aim is to make training more uniform, but 

substantial savings are also generated because more 

employees are able to complete training from their own 

workplaces rather than attending courses in 

conventional classrooms.  

The Siebel customer service system applied by both 

Tryg and Vesta makes room for working closely 

together on training in using the system. Experience 

gained in using e-learning will be shared across 

national borders.  

Inclusiveness 

Inclusiveness is also about making room for employees 

of either sex and in different age groups. 

Human resources policies in both Denmark and Norway 

take into account that an employee’s working life has 

various stages with varying requirements. The Group 

needs employees at all stages of life. Committed to 

social responsibility, the Group aims to create a 

framework that provides development opportunities and 

support to all employees.  

In the light of overall labour market trends with an 

upcoming shortage of young people to recruit from, the 

Tryg Vesta Group is focused on recruitment and on 

retaining employees. Over the next five years alone, 

around 400 employees will be leaving the Group due to 

retirement or early retirement.  

The Tryg Vesta Group wishes to be an inclusive 

Management and organisational 

workplace with room for everyone. The Group believes 

in appreciating and benefiting from differences such as 

age, sex, ethnic background, nationality, religion and 

personality. 

Immigrants in Tryg 

changes 

Executive Management 

The Executive Management of the Tryg Vesta Group 

comprises Ms Stine Bosse, Group CEO of the Tryg 

Vesta Group, Mr Erik Gjellestad, CEO of Vesta, Mr 

Twelve immigrants started on a new two-year 

Morten Hübbe, Group CFO, Mr Peter Falkenham, Mr 

integration training programme with Tryg in March 

Stig Ellkier-Pedersen and Mr Bjørn Thømt, Members of 

2003. Backed by EU grants and in collaboration with 

the Group Executive Management. 

municipalities all over Denmark, Tryg set up a special 

training programme for immigrants designed to teach 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 23 of 98 

 
 
 
 
Ms Stine Bosse was appointed in January 2003, and Mr 

Morten Hübbe was appointed in June 2003. 

Internal organisation 

The Tryg Vesta Group set up transverse reinsurance 

and investment organisations as early as in 2002. The 

two organisations were adjusted in 2003 and 

implemented in additional parts of the Group. 

The Tryg Vesta Group set up a common IT organisation 

in April 2003 with the purposes of reducing costs and 

achieving further synergies within in the Group. 

Throughout 2003, the Group worked on changing its 

overall structure, and in January 2004, the Tryg Vesta 

Group announced that its future base would be two 

dedicated local business areas for personal and 

commercial customers, one in Norway and one in 

Denmark. Together and individually, they are 

responsible for generating targeted growth of the 

profitable part of the Group’s personal and commercial 

portfolios. Furthermore, the Group will be based on a 

single dedicated Nordic business area for the industrial 

market which across Tryg and Vesta will ensure 

targeted optimisation of the corporate portfolio by 

improving the correlation between price, risk and 

profitability, thereby creating a more balanced portfolio. 

Finally, the Group will set up shared staff functions. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 24 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk management 

Risk management and ALM (Asset Liability 

Management) 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s overall financial risk can be 

divided into 

Vesta in Norway has, for example, scaled back its 

business of providing insurance to pilots against the 

eventuality that they lose their pilot’s certificate for 

health reasons. Vesta has also completely withdrawn 

from insuring municipalities. In Denmark, Tryg 

introduced stricter security requirements for some 

commercial customers in 2003, and raised premiums 

for fire insurance of companies in the wood industry. 

- insurance risk, involved in the current insurance 

Random risk 

operations 

- market risk, involved in investment activities and 

financing 

- operational risk, involved in operating a business. 

The Group manages such risks through its underwriting 

policy (acceptance rules, price, terms and conditions), 

by taking out reinsurance, in its current management of 

Random risk results from fluctuations in the number and 

size of claims. In the case of a large company such as 

the Tryg Vesta Group, which has many different types 

of customers and insurance products, normally only 

large claims from one-off events and many claims 

occurring at the same time after windstorms, 

cloudbursts, freezing rain and similar events have a 

significant impact on the Group’s financial results. 

investment activities, and through business procedures 

Systematic risk 

and policies. The Tryg Vesta Group is in the process of 

Systematic risk relates to changes in legislation, case 

further developing and implementing as its risk 

law, macroeconomic and technological developments 

management basis a so-called ALM (Asset Liability 

and general changes in policyholder behaviour. Such 

Management), a framework for measuring the Group’s 

fluctuations will impact several or all policies at one and 

total exposure, which explicitly takes into account the 

the same time, resulting in systematic fluctuations in the 

interaction of assets and liabilities. This framework for 

Group’s financial results.  

describing the Group’s exposure will be used for 

evaluating alternative strategies, primarily related to 

future portfolio composition, reinsurance strategies and 

the overall investment strategy.  

Due to changes in legislation and practice, systematic 

risk has historically affected, in particular, personal 

accident lines, which are characterised by claims being 

settled over several years. This is reflected in the Tryg 

The Group’s ongoing measurement of risk-based 

Vesta Group’s financial statements as run-off losses 

capital for the individual business areas and the 

and gains. 

resulting profitability requirements will also take place 

within the ALM framework. 

Reinsurance 

Insurance risk 

The Tryg Vesta Group makes systematic efforts to chart 

the insurance risk to which different insurance lines and 

customer groups are exposed in order to define 

requirements in respect of customer mix and earnings. 

In some cases, this results in activities being adjusted. 

The Tryg Vesta Group uses reinsurance as a key 

instrument to manage random risk. The Group’s 

reinsurance programme covers natural disasters up to a 

total of DKK 3.5bn with a retention per event of DKK 

100m in Denmark, NOK 60m in Norway and DKK 75m 

in Poland. The maximum cover of DKK 3.5bn has been 

determined based on analyses of portfolio risk exposure 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 25 of 98 

 
 
 
 
and on the assumption that a loss of this size occurs 

A natural disaster in Norway would be covered by the 

less often than once every one hundred years.  

Norwegian Pool of Natural Perils. Therefore, it would 

The Tryg Vesta Group regularly reviews the Group’s 

overall reinsurance cover. The review in 2002 caused 

the Group to change its reinsurance of commercial 

customers’ buildings and contents insurance – the so-

called property area - in Denmark from proportional to 

non-proportional cover. The change means that only 

large claims of more than DKK 50m are covered, 

making it even more necessary for the Group to set its 

prices correctly. In 2003, the Tryg Vesta Group likewise 

switched from proportional to non-proportional cover of 

the entire marine area. Combined with other 

adjustments, these changes generated total savings of 

around DKK 500m in the Group’s annual reinsurance 

expenses. 

The reinsurance cover is intended to limit the financial 

impact of claims related to one-off events or events that 

may have a significant impact on the financial results, 

and such claims typically result from a large fire or a 

very severe windstorm. The biggest, single large claim 

for the Tryg Vesta Group in the past ten years was just 

under DKK 300m.  

A claim of between DKK 100m and DKK 300m would 

affect the Group’s combined ratio, net of reinsurance, in 

2004 by between 0.5 and 0.7 percentage point, 

corresponding to negative financial results of between 

DKK 65m and DKK 95m.  

not impact the Tryg Vesta Group’s results and 

combined ratio because the Norwegian insurance 

companies settle the final bill for natural disasters 

caused by windstorms, landslides, flooding and similar 

events with the natural disaster pool, to which all 

policyholders in Norway make a contribution over their 

fire policy. In principle, it is similar to the Danish storm 

surge pool, which covers losses resulting from sea 

surges that cause flood. All fire insurance policyholders 

pay a contribution to this pool every year. 

Reinsurance companies 

The Tryg Vesta Group pursues a policy of cooperating 

with a broad range of international reinsurers in order to 

control and diversify the credit risk involved in the 

reinsurance programme and to avoid becoming 

dependent on individual reinsurers. This is ensured 

through regular monitoring of and follow-up on 

developments in the international reinsurance market.  

Credit risk is also managed through the Group’s 

security guidelines, which specify that the Group only 

cooperates on short-tail business with reinsurers having 

at least a BBB rating from Standard & Poor’s. In the 

case of long-tail business, characterised by claims 

being settled over several years, reinsurers are required 

to be rated least A by Standard & Poor’s. 

Acceptance rules 

The biggest natural disaster affecting the Tryg Vesta 

Besides reinsurance, the Tryg Vesta Group uses 

Group in the past ten years was the storm that hit 

acceptance rules, tariffs and individual risk assessment 

Denmark in December 1999 and resulted in losses to 

to manage insurance risk in order to achieve the 

the Group’s customers of just over DKK 2bn. A storm in 

required balance between various types of risks. 

Denmark causing losses of between DKK 600m and 

DKK 3bn would in 2004 impact the Group’s combined 

Market risk 

ratio, net of reinsurance, by between 1.3 percentage 

points and 1.7 percentage points, equal to an adverse 

impact on the financial results of between DKK 185m 

and DKK 240m.  

The results and shareholders’ equity of the Tryg Vesta 

Group are impacted by developments in the financial 

markets as assets and liabilities are marked-to-market 

on an ongoing basis. Market risk includes changes in 

interest rates, equity prices, exchange rates and real 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 26 of 98 

 
 
 
 
property prices and the credit risk on bonds, money 

adverse market development would not cause 

market investments and similar instruments. The 

problems. The Tryg Vesta Group was rated green at 31 

interest rate risk affecting the financial statements is 

December 2003 with an excess of DKK 1.8bn relative to 

limited as discounted provisions are only used for 

an amber rating. 

Workers’ Compensation. The insurance liabilities have 

a duration of around two years.  

Credit risk 

The Danish Financial Supervisory Authority introduced 

the so-called traffic light scenarios for general insurance 

companies and reinsurance companies effective 31 

December 2003. Life insurance companies and pension 

funds have used the traffic light system since 2001. The 

object of the system is to calculate core capital 

performance in various hypothetical scenarios such as 

declining equity prices, changes in interest rates etc. 

Red indicates that a negative, but realistic market 

development would materially threaten the company’s 

core capital. Amber indicates that a more unrealistic, 

but not improbable market development would threaten 

the company’s core capital. Green indicates that a very 

The Tryg Vesta Group is exposed to credit risk on 

bonds and money market placements. The bond 

portfolio primarily comprises mortgage bonds and 

government bonds with a small proportion of corporate 

bonds. 

Currency risk 

Basically, the Group hedges risk relating to investments 

in shares and bonds denominated in foreign currency. 

Most investments in shares in foreign subsidiaries were 

hedged in 2003. 

Tryg Vesta Group – market risk exposure as at 31 December 2003 

Type of asset

Change

Earnings impact before tax

DKKm

Assets

Bonds

Shares

0.85% point rate increase

12% fall in prices

Real property

8% fall in prices

Currency

Credit risk

1%/3% fall in euro/non-euro exch. rates

Weighted averagte loss

Liabilities

Provisions

0.85% point rate increase

-327

-281

-161

-15

-52

70

Investment policy 

management agreements with Nordea concerning 

bonds, shares, cash funds and to some extent real 

The Tryg Vesta Group has a common organisation that 

property. Based on the investment policies, the Group 

manages investments on behalf of all the Group’s 

handles the management of asset mixes, benchmark 

companies. Investment policies are defined for each 

determination, duration limits, limits on the geographic 

company in the Group based on an overall investment 

distribution of assets, types and risk profile of bonds, 

policy, taking into account the characteristics of each 

shares and real property, respectively. The Group 

company and the legislative framework of each country. 

handles all investments in unlisted securities.  

The investment strategies defined in the Group are 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s investment policy aims to 

primarily carried out by way of external portfolio 

maximise return, taking into account the composition 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 27 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and duration of liabilities and the company’s solvency. 

December 2003. The portfolio, worth DKK 1.2bn 

Overall, the Group’s liabilities have a duration of around 

comprising mainly office property, was sold to Nordea 

two years, which dictates an asset mix focused on a 

Liv & Pension. 

high degree of security, that is, limited fluctuations and 

strong liquidity. Therefore, bonds will continue to 

Operational risk 

constitute the majority of total investments with special 

focus on short-term bonds and low credit risk. 

Investments in shares, bonds and real property consist 

of well-diversified portfolios offering considerable risk 

diversification. 

Sale of real property 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s investment policy has aimed to 

reduce the proportion of investments in real property, 

which has been high up till now. In order to optimise its 

capital structure, the Tryg Vesta Group sold around half 

of its portfolio of investment properties in Denmark in 

In 2003, the Tryg Vesta Group set up a safety and 

security organisation, whose objects include to ensure 

that the required security policies and related business 

procedures are implemented and maintained. In 

November 2003, the Group appointed a chief security 

officer, who reports to the Group’s CFO. The chief 

security officer will primarily be focused on the Group’s 

IT security in 2004, but future areas will include security 

in relation to environmental policies, working 

environment and physical security 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 28 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholder information 

Tryg i Danmark smba is sole shareholder in the Tryg 

Vesta Group A/S. 

Distribution of profit 

Profit for the year amounted to DKK 742m. The 

Supervisory Board proposes a dividend of DKK 50m 

and that the remaining profit of DKK 692m be carried 

forward to next year.  

Shareholders’ equity 

At 31 December 2003, the shareholders’ equity 

amounted to DKK 5,360m and was increased by 

1,092m in 2003. The increase is composed of the profit 

for the year of DKK 742m, dividend distribution of DKK 

50m and a capital increase of DKK 400m.  

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 29 of 98 

 
  
 
 
 
In 2002, Unibank and Tryg are part of the formation of 

Nordea. A year after this, Tryg establishes a branch in 

Finland from where insurance products and related 

services are sold to the Finnish bank customers of 

Nordea. 

In 2002, Tryg acquires the general insurance 

undertaking of Estonian Nordika Kindlustus, which was 

established in 1990. 

Later, the same year, Tryg i Danmark smba acquires all 

the general insurance activities of Nordea, and the Tryg 

Vesta Group is a reality. At the same time, The Group 

acquires the Danish and Norwegian parts of Zurich’s 

general insurance activities. 

The Tryg Vesta Group 
history 

The Tryg Vesta Group history is a result of a number of 

mergers and acquisitions. The Danish insurance 

company, Kjøbenhavns Brand dates farthest back. It 

was established by Royal decree of 1731 after the fire 

of Copenhagen in 1728. The first time for the name 

Tryg to appear was in 1911.  

Vesta was established in 1880, and the name Vesta is 

derived from the Roman mythology. Vesta is the 

goddess of hearth fire and thereby also of the home 

and family. 

In 1994, Tryg acquires the Danish insurance operations 

of Winterthur. 

In 1995, Tryg and Baltica merges and become Tryg-

Baltica. In 2001, the name is simplified and becomes 

Tryg. 

Dansk Kaution, which was established in 1895, 

becomes part of Tryg in 1998. In the same year, Tryg 

enters the Polish general insurance market and 

acquires the controlling interest in the company Energo-

Asekuracja, which was established in 1994. In 2002, 

the company changes name to Tryg Polska. 

In 1999, Tryg merges with Denmark’s second largest 

bank group, Unidanmark, and the general insurance 

activities of Unibank are integrated into Tryg. 

In the same year, Tryg acquires the English Colonia 

Baltica. The company is integrated into Tryg’s 

reinsurance company Tryg-Baltica international. 

Together they form TBi. 

At the end of 1999, Vesta, which has been part of 

Skandia since 1989, becomes part of the family. A 

merger with Æolus and Bergens Brand in 1962 is part 

of the Vesta history. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 30 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Organisation 

Tryg Vesta Group A/S 

Tryg Forsikring A/S 

Vesta  
Forsikring AS 

Tryg-Baltica  
Forsikring,  
internationalt  
forsikringsselskab A/S 

Nordea 
Vahinkovakuutus 

Tryg Polska 
Towarzystwo 
Ubezpieczen S.A. 

Nordicum  
Kindlustuse 
Eesti AS 

Dansk  
Kautionsforsikrings-
Aktieselskab 

Chevanstell Ltd.
(Business  
in run-off) 

Simplified legal structure 

Tryg 

Tryg is Denmark’s largest general insurer, serving more 

than one million households and businesses. Tryg has 

2,250 employees and sells insurance policies through 

its own distribution channels, insurance brokers in the 

industrial market and the upper part of the commercial 

market as well as through Nordea’s branches, just as 

Tryg sells Nordea’s pension products.   

Read more at www.tryg.dk 

Vesta 

Vesta is Norway’s third-largest general insurer, serving 

some 600,000 households and businesses. Vesta has 

1,460 employees and sells insurance policies through 

its own distribution channels, a well organised franchise 

network, insurance brokers in the industrial market and 

the upper part of the commercial market as well as 

through Nordea’s branches, just as Vesta sells 

Nordea’s pension products. 

Read more at www.vesta.no 

Tryg-Baltica international (TBi) 

TBi is the Tryg Vesta Group’s specialist in international 

reinsurance based in Copenhagen and Amsterdam. 

Read more at www.tbi.dk 

Nordea Vahinkovakuutus 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s branch in Finland only sells 

insurance policies to personal customers, and this is 

done through Nordea’s Finnish branches. 

Read more at www.nordea.fi 

Tryg Polska 

The Group’s company in Poland sells insurance policies 

to households and businesses through a countrywide 

network of branch offices, agents and brokers.  

Read more at www.tryg.pl 

Nordicum Kindlustus 

The Group’s Estonian company focuses first and 

foremost on insurance products to the commercial 

sector, but it also sells insurance products to personal 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 31 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
customers through its branch offices in all major towns 

in Estonia. 

Read more at www.nordicum.ee 

Dansk Kaution  

Dansk Kaution specialises in bonds and guarantees for 

Danish enterprises which conclude major contracts, 

especially within the building and construction sector 

and contract manufacturing business. 

Read more at www.danskkaution.dk 

Chevanstell Ltd.  

Chevanstell Ltd. consists of the Tryg Vesta Group’s 

London market business, which has been in run-off 

since September 2003. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 32 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
9.197

7.069
449
-5.862
-1.760
-181
-285

93
-52
-244
-1.482
47
-1.679

-375

21.606
4.268
29.833

82,9
24,9
107,8

Financial highlights and key ratios, Tryg Vesta Group 

DKKm

Income statement
Gross earned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments after
transfer to insurance activities
Other ordinary expenses
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax
Extraordinary items and minority interests
Tax
Profit/loss for the year

2003

2002 *)

2001 *)

2000 *)

28.01-31.12.
2002 **)

17.333

17.002

13.536

11.700

14.566
641
-11.344
-3.626
-101
136

675
-22
789
1
-48
742

13.311
899
-11.285
-3.577
-199
-851

-175
-52
-1.078
-1.256
243
-2.091

11.153
783
-8.902
-2.869
-77
88

1
0
89
7
-45
51

10.031
825
-8.366
-2.719
-86
-315

726
0
411
0
-78
333

Loss on business in run-off, net of reinsurance

-699

-628

-316

-478

Balance sheet
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance
Total shareholders' equity
Total assets

Key ratios
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Key ratios, continued business (excl. business in run-off)
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Key ratios accounted for according to other method
Gross claims ratio
Ceded business in percentage relative to gross premiums
Gross claims ratio, net of ceded business
Gross expense ratio
Gross combined ratio, net of expenses to reinsurance

Return on equity
Return on equity before tax
Return on equity after tax

22.475
5.360
31.359

21.606
4.268
29.833

17.673
4.564
24.032

15.826
4.305
23.575

77,9
24,9
102,8

76,6
24,2
100,8

73,7
5,8
79,5
22,9
102,4

16,4
15,4

84,8
26,9
111,7

83,4
25,7
109,1

77,9
6,9
84,8
24,3
109,1

-52,9
-47,4

79,8
25,7
105,5

80,1
25,3
105,4

78,3
1,5
79,8
24,5
104,3

2,2
1,2

83,4
27,1
110,5

83,7
26,9
110,6

88,8
-5,8
83,0
26,1
109,1

8,7
7,0

Number of full-time employees at the end of the period

4.420

4.408

4.317

4.264

*) The figures are pro forma figures as the Tryg Vesta Group was established on 28 June 2002. The basis of calculating  
    these figures has been defined in the accounting policies on pp. 66-67.
**) The Tryg Vesta Group was established on 28 June 2002. The subsidiaries have been included as from 28 June 2002.

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 33 of 98 

 
 
 
 
Review of the Tryg Vesta 
Group’s financial 
statements 

been below average. The development was impacted 

negatively by the falling technical interest. 

Key ratios 

Combined ratio, net of reinsurance 

Financial results 

The profit for the year before extraordinary items and 

tax amounted to DKK 789m against a loss of DKK 

1,078m in 2002. The technical result improved by DKK 

987m and the results of investment activities improved 

by DKK 850m. 

The accounting figures for 2000-2002 are pro forma 

figures. 

Technical result 

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

110.5 

105.5 

111.7 

102.8 

83.4

79.8

84.8

77.9

27.1

25.7

26.9

24.9

2000*

2001*

2002*

2003

Expense ratio, n.o.r. Claims ratio, n.o.r.

The technical result of DKK 136m is a significant 

improvement relative to 2002. The improvement of DKK 

*Pro forma figures 

987m was achieved in spite of the falling interest rates 

in both Denmark and Norway, resulting in a reduction in 

the technical interest of DKK 258m. 

Technical result 

Compared with 2002, the combined ratio, net of 

reinsurance, improved by 8.9 percentage points. Of the 

8.9 percentage points, 6.9 percentage points were 

attributable to claims and 2.0 percentage points to 

expenses. 

In Denmark and Norway, which together have 89 per 

cent of the premiums, the combined ratios were 

reduced by 9.0 and 6.7 percentage points, respectively. 

42

For both business areas, it was primarily the claims 

ratios, which were improved.  

-64

-108

-219

-237

-292

-276

Denmark Norw ay

Other

Run-off

2002*

2003

In 2003, return on shareholders’ equity was provided by 

16.4 per cent, while the return in 2002 was negative by 

52.9 per cent.  

Premiums 

*Pro forma figures 

Both in Norway and in Denmark, the effect of last year’s 

premium increases on personal and commercial 

The positive development of the technical result is a 

policies materialised in 2003. Most of our customers 

consequence of the many profitability measures taken. 

chose to remain insured by the Group, at the same 

Further, weather-related losses and large losses have 

time, the inflow of new customers was satisfactory. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 34 of 98 

439

m
K
K
D

600

400

200

0

-200

-400

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total gross earned premiums of the Group were DKK 

“social inflation”, i.e. the ongoing displacement of tasks 

17,333m, composed primarily of a growth of 11.2 per 

from public funding to private insurance. Therefore, the 

cent in Denmark and 6.3 per cent in Norway, both 

Tryg Vesta Group pursues a conservative reserve 

stated in local currency. The relatively lower growth in 

policy in general within these areas. 

Norway is due to deliberate deselection, primarily of the 

municipality segment. In addition, the development in 

earned premiums was affected by the run-off 

procedures of Chevanstell Ltd. in London initiated in 

September 200, and as a natural consequence thereof, 

fall in premium earnings was approximately DKK 600m. 

Additional fall in the premium earnings in 2004 is 

expected for Chevanstell Ltd. 

Simultaneous with the improvement of the financial 

results, the Group has increased its provisions 

considerably to strengthen its readiness for future 

expenses for personal injuries, including Workers’ 

Compensation and accidents. For the Group as a 

whole, the strengthening within these areas amounted 

to more than DKK 450m. 

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance, were 9.4 per cent 

Costs 

higher than in 2002. The relatively higher growth in 

earned premiums, net of reinsurance, compared with 

the growth in gross earned premiums, was due to the 

transition to a changed reinsurance programme 

The Group’s expense ratio, net of reinsurance, was 

24.9 for 2003, which was an improvement of 2.0 

percentage points relative to 2002. 

according to which the Group shall pay a lower 

The administrative expenses fell by DKK 206m to DKK 

premium to the reinsurers.  

1,885m. The fall was attributable to general cost 

Claims 

The Group’s claims ratio, net of reinsurance, was 77.9 

and has fallen by 6.9 percentage points since 2002. 

This was very satisfactory and was in particular due to 

constraints and utilisation of synergies within the Group. 

The expense ratio for Danish general insurance fell by 

1.1 percentage point, and for Norwegian general 

insurance, it fell by 0.1 percentage point. 

the claims ratio for Danish general insurance operations 

Other ordinary expenses 

having fallen by 7.9 percentage points and that for the 

Other ordinary expenses are holding expenses in Tryg 

Norwegian insurance operations having fallen by 6.6 

Vesta Group A/S. 

percentage points. 

The improved claims ratio included a strengthening of 

the reserves for earlier years. This applied primarily to 

the personal accident area and secondarily to the 

business in run-off. 

The combined ratio, net of reinsurance, included a 

strengthening of the reserves – so-called run-off losses 

– of DKK 699m in 2003, which impacted the combined 

ratio by 4.8 percentage points. 

Consequently, there are still run-off losses on personal 

accident business written in earlier years in Denmark, 

Norway and Poland. From experience, we know that 

the development within these areas is characterised by 

Profit on investments 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s total profit on investments 

before transfer to insurance activities was DKK 1,448m 

equivalent to a return of 6.2 per cent for 2003.  

The investment return was affected by a positive return 

on bonds, shares and real property.  

Transfer to insurance activities was DKK 773m in 2003 

against DKK 1,017m in 2002. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 35 of 98 

 
 
 
 
Tax 

Tax on the profit for the year was DKK 48m. 

Development of the shareholders’ equity in 2003 
(DKKm) 

Shareholders' equity, 1 January 2003

The low tax expense was due to unrealised gains on 

shares, which are not subject to tax, a lower tax rate in 

Norway as well as to the use of some tax assets. The 

lower tax rate is not expected in future. 

Capital increase

Profit for the year

Dividend

4,268

400

742

-50

Shareholders' equity as at 31st December 2003

5,360

Balance sheet 

Relative to 2002, the balance sheet was increased by 

DKK 1,526m, the technical provisions by DKK 869m 

Cash flows 

and the shareholders’ equity by DKK 1,092m. 

Cash flows from operations in 2003 amounted to DKK 

3,182m, which primarily was used to increase 

investments in bonds. Cash flows from funding 

amounted to DKK 383m and was made up of capital 

increase in Tryg Vesta Group A/S of DKK 400m and 

subordinate loan of DKK 700m and debt repaid to credit 

institutions of DKK 717m. 

Assets, provisions and shareholders’ equity 
(31.12.2003) 

40,000

30,000

m
K
K
D

20,000

10,000

0

9
5
3
,
1
3

3
3
8
,
9
2

6
0
6
,
1
2

5
7
4
,
2
2

0
6
3
,
5

8
6
2
,
4

Assets

Provisions

2002

Shareholders'
equity

2003

On assets, the increase was seen in the form of an 

increased bond portfolio and amounts owing, whereas 

there was a fall in relation to land and buildings owing to 

divestment of real estate property.  

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 36 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial highlights and key ratios per business area 

DKKm

2003

2002 *)

2001 *)

2000 *)

The Group
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Other ordinary expenses
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Combined ratio

The Group, continued business
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Other ordinary expenses
Profit/loss on ordinary acitivites before tax

Combined ratio

Danish general insurance
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Combined ratio

Norwegian general insurance
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Combined ratio

TBi
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

17.333
136
675
-22
789

102,8

16.702
373
685
-22
1.036

100,8

8.242
439
393
832

96,6

7.161
42
316
358

103,9

716
-10
10
0

17.002
-851
-175
-52
-1.078

111,7

15.791
-559
-170
-52
-781

109,1

7.411
-64
-128
-192

105,6

7.111
-276
-55
-331

110,6

722
-112
2
-110

13.536
88
1
0
89

105,5

12.615
105
4
0
109

105,4

6.467
-49
49
0

106,8

5.134
202
-42
160

101,6

552
-12
-1
-13

11.700
-315
726
0
411

110,5

11.162
-321
711
0
390

110,6

6.211
-233
607
374

111,0

4.170
3
78
81

108,8

426
-55
0
-55

Combined ratio

105,8

120,3

110,2

115,5

Finnish general insurance
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

61
-48
-1
-49

21
-66
-1
-67

2
-29
0
-29

Combined ratio

182,0

493,5

1.886,2

-
-
-
-

-

*) The figures are pro forma figures as the Tryg Vesta Group was established on 28 June 2002. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 37 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial highlights and key ratios per business area, continued 

DKKm

2003

2002 *)

2001 *)

2000 *)

Polish general insurance
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

491
-49
4
-45

496
-28
32
4

462
-7
-2
-9

361
-36
26
-10

Combined ratio

119.2

111.7

106.3

120.5

Estonian general insurance
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

39
-1
0
-1

41
-13
0
-13

Combined ratio

106.1

136.5

Business in run-off**
Gross earned premiums
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments
Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Combined ratio

Tryg Vesta Group A/S (parent company)
Loss on investments (excluding
subsidiaries)
Other ordinary expenses
Loss on ordinary activities before tax

631
-237
-10
-247

175.6

-37
-22
-59

1,211
-292
-5
-297

149.8

-20
-52
-72

-
-
-
-

-

921
-17
-3
-20

-
-
-
-

-

538
6
15
21

108.3

108.6

-
-
-

-
-
-

*) The figures are pro forma figures as the Tryg Vesta Group was established on 28 June 2002. 

**) Business in run-off comprises run-off across the legal structure, including Chevanstell Ltd.

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 38 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Danish general insurance 

DKKm

Gross earned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments

Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Loss on business in run-off, net of reinsurance
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance

Key ratios
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Key ratios accounted for according to other method
Gross claims ratio
Ceded business in percentage rel. to gross premiums
Gross claims ratio, net of ceded business
Gross expense ratio
Gross combined ratio, net of expenses to reinsurance

2003

8,242

7,493
221
-5,657
-1,584
-34
439
393

832

88
11,777

75.5
21.1
96.6

70.6
6.2
76.8
20.3
97.1

Number of full-time employees at the end of the period

2,248

Pro forma
2002

Pro forma
2001

Pro forma
2000

7,411

6,314
326
-5,265
-1,399
-40
-64
-128

-192

55
10,396

83.4
22.2
105.6

82.2
1.7
83.9
21.1
105.0

2,330

6,467

5,781
338
-4,776
-1,399
7
-49
49

0

-334
8,842

82.6
24.2
106.8

79.0
2.6
81.6
23.9
105.5

2,458

6,211

5,729
392
-4,829
-1,528
3
-233
607

374

-518
8,313

84.3
26.7
111.0

90.7
-6.2
84.5
25.9
110.4

2,552

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 39 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Financial results 

Key ratios 

The profit on ordinary activities before tax of the Danish 

Combined ratio, net of reinsurance, Personal 

general insurance operations for 2003 amounted to 

DKK 832m against a loss of DKK 192m for 2002. The 

profit was composed of a technical result of DKK 439m 

and a profit on investments of DKK 393m. 

The technical result for 2003 was a profit of DKK 439m 

against a loss of DKK 64m reported in 2002. The 

positive development of the technical result was a 

consequence of the many profitability measures taken. 

Further, weather-related losses and large losses have 

been below average. Moreover, the technical result 

includes build-up of equalisation provisions by DKK 

34m. 

In addition, the financial results were affected by a very 

low technical interest, net of reinsurance, of DKK 221m 

for 2003 against DKK 326m recorded in 2002. The 

technical interest rate for 2003 was 2.62 per cent 

against 3.90 per cent in 2002. 

The positive development of the technical result was 

expressed in a combined ratio, net of reinsurance, of 

96.6, which was a significant improvement relative to 

the combined ratio, net of reinsurance, of 105.6 

recorded in 2002. 

108.7

105.7

101.4

97.0

120

110

100

90

80

2000*

2001*

2002*

2003

* Pro forma figures 

Throughout the period, the personal insurance business 

showed a continued improved development towards a 

satisfactory level in 2003. 

Combined ratio, net of reinsurance, Commercial 

130

120

117.0

114.6

113.7

110

100

90

80

98.3

2000*

2001*

2002*

2003

* Pro forma figures 

Relative to the level in 2002 and the years before, 

targeted measures within the commercial insurance 

operations resulted in a marked change of level in 

2003. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 40 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Premiums 

The claims level for the personal accident business 

The gross earned premiums for 2003 were DKK 

remained unsatisfactory, which is why this business 

8,242m against DKK 7,411 recorded in 2002, 

area will be subject to considerations as to further price 

equivalent to an increase of 11.2 per cent, which is 

adjustments in 2004. 

higher than the general level in the market.  

This considerable increase was in particular attributable 

force in the middle of 2002, targeted work concerning 

to recent years’ premium increases having materialised.  

active claims handling has been performed within the 

Since the new Danish Damages Liability Act came into 

The premium increases should be viewed as part of the 

initiatives to enhance profitability, among other things in 

connection with the statutory changes concerning The 

Danish Damages Liability Act.  

personal business area. To be specific, this has 

resulted in the establishment of a differentiated and 

targeted administration for handling personal accident 

claims. Experience so far has been positive, and active 

claims handling is, other things being equal, expected 

to reduce the claims expenses within this business 

In connection with the premium increases, Tryg saw 

that the paramount part of its customers chose to 

area.  

continue being insured by Tryg. The reason for this was 

The development in claims under the Workers’ 

partly that the premium increases in particular were 

directed towards the commercial customers in relation 

to whom the insurance agents have a close 

relationship, and partly that the insurers in the Danish 

market in general increased premiums on commercial 

policies in 2003. 

In relation to the personal insurance business in 2003, 

general premium increases were introduced on 

household contents insurance policies by an average of 

14 per cent.  

The initiatives within the commercial insurance 

business were primarily targeted at the relatively large 

Compensation insurance policies was not satisfactory, 

which has necessitated a considerable strengthening of 

the reserves. The negative development resulted in a 

run-off loss of DKK 150m within this area. In order to re-

establish profitability, the premiums of selected 

customer segments have been increased. On 1 

January 2004, a new Act on industrial injuries came into 

force. The Act extends the insurance cover 

considerably. This will among other things lead to 

compensation being payable for back injuries which 

were not covered previously under the Workers’ 

Compensation insurance. The amendment leads to 

premium increases of an average of 55 per cent.  

commercial customers. Consequently, the contents and 

property insurance policies for this customer segment 

Costs 

were on average increased by approximately 48 per 

cent.  

Claims 

In 2003, the claims ratio, net of reinsurance, was 75.5, 

which was an improvement relative to the claims ratio of 

83.4 recorded in 2002. The marked improvement is in 

particular due to the premium increases mentioned on 

commercial policies as well as to loss limiting initiatives, 

which typically comprise an increase in the customers’ 

deductibles and safeguarding requirements.  

The development of expenses in 2003 was satisfactory, 

expressed by an expense ratio, net of reinsurance, of 

21.1, which compared with 2002, was an improvement 

of 1.1 percentage point. The improvement of the 

expense ratio can partly be ascribed to the premium 

increases referred to and partly to the continued focus 

on streamlining internal processes. In addition to this, 

the expense ratio was affected favourably by the Zurich 

business acquired and integrated into Tryg, and by the 

achievement of anticipated synergies in this connection.  

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 41 of 98 

 
 
 
 
Norwegian general insurance 

DKKm
Exchange rate DKK/NOK, average of the year

Gross earned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments

Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Profit/loss on business in run-off, net of reinsurance
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance, NOK

Key ratios
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Key ratios accounted for according to other method
Gross claims ratio
Ceded business in percentage rel. to gross premiums
Gross claims ratio, net of ceded business
Gross expense ratio
Gross combined ratio, net of expenses to reinsurance

Number of full-time employees at the end of the period

2003
93.68

7,161

5,612
339
-4,419
-1,414
-76
42
316

358

-547
8,788
9,940

78.7
25.2
103.9

72.9
7.8
80.7
22.4
103.1

1,460

Pro forma
2002
98.46

Pro forma
2001
92.16

Pro forma
2000
91.71

7,111

5,163
469
-4,404
-1,304
-200
-276
-55

-331

-494
9,030
9,193

85.3
25.3
110.6

75.8
9.2
85.0
22.6
107.6

1,374

5,134

3,818
343
-2,999
-881
-79
202
-42

160

46
6,404
6,868

78.5
23.1
101.6

77.2
2.0
79.2
22.0
101.2

1,272

4,170

3,290
327
-2,752
-825
-37
3
78

81

45
5,763
6,358

83.6
25.1
108.7

86.6
-4.1
82.5
24.4
106.9

1,141

Financial results 

The profit on ordinary activities before tax of the 

Norwegian general insurance operations for 2003 was 

DKK 76m in 2003, which in particular related to 

transfers to the Norwegian Pool of Natural Perils. The 

Norwegian Pool of Natural Perils is primarily employed 

for equalising expenses in connection with storm and 

DKK 358m against a loss of DKK 331 for 2002. The 

flooding.  

profit was composed of a technical result of DKK 42m 

and a profit on investments of DKK 316m.  

Further, the technical result was affected by the falling 

The technical result for 2003 was DKK 42m against a 

loss of DKK 276m reported in 2002. The development 

of the financial results was in general satisfactory and 

was primarily attributable to the profitability measures 

taken and to the fact that 2003 did not see any large 

losses. The equalisation provisions were increased by 

interest rates in Norway, expressed in a technical 

interest of DKK 339m, which was DKK 130m less than 

in 2002. Like in the Danish market, a continued very low 

interest level will, other thing being equal, necessitate 

profitability initiatives in the Norwegian market. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 42 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
The positive development of the technical result was 

Combined ratio, net of reinsurance, Commercial 

expressed in a combined ratio, net of reinsurance, of 

103.9, which was a significant improvement relative to 

the combined ratio, net of reinsurance, recorded in 

2002, which was 110.6. The combined ratio, exclusive 

of run-off losses, was 100.8 per cent in 2003. 

In 2003, the reserves were strengthened considerably 

for the Norwegian operations. The strengthening of the 

reserves – so-called run-off losses – amounted to just 

over DKK 500m, which primarily was attributable to the 

personal accident insurance business. This 

corresponded to an impact on the combined ratio, net of 

reinsurance, of 9.8 percentage points in 2003. 

As appears from the first line in the table above, the 

exchange rate of NOK fell relative to DKK during 2003. 

Consequently, the earnings in Norway, translated to 

Danish kroner, will show a falling trend due to the falling 

exchange rate. 

Key ratios 

Combined ratio, net of reinsurance, Personal 

104.0

101.1

101.7

110

100

90

80

2000*

2001*

2002*

2003

* Pro forma figures 

Throughout the entire period, the personal insurance 

business developed at a satisfactory level, which was 

further improved in 2003. 

124.5

129.4

116.3

106.7

140

130

120

110

100

90

80

2000*

2001*

2002*

2003

* Pro forma figures 

The profitability of the commercial insurance business 

was in general not satisfactory, and consequently there 

is a demand for further initiatives in the years ahead. 

Premiums 

The gross earned premiums for 2003 were DKK 

7,161m compared with DKK 7,111m recorded in 2002. 

In local currency, this corresponds to an increase of 6.3 

per cent. 

commercial insurance portfolio – having materialised. 

Further, it was attributable to Vesta’s customers having 

chosen to remain customers in Vesta, and to a 

satisfactory inflow of new customers.  

The growth in the personal insurance portfolio was 6 

per cent in 2003, whereas the industrial customer 

segment saw a negative growth of 8 per cent, and the 

small and medium-sized commercial customer segment 

experienced a negative growth of 4 per cent. The 

development is in keeping with the wish to alter the 

Norwegian portfolio composition to include a relatively 

larger share of personal insurance policies.  

Moreover, the development within the commercial 

insurance area has been characterised by targeted 

98.5

The growth was in particular attributable to recent 

years’ premium increases – primarily within the 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 43 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
work performed in relation to re-evaluating the 

unsatisfactory, and the expense ratios for the areas 

commercial insurance policies, and within selected 

were 130, 166 and 147 respectively. 

areas premiums have been increased considerably. As 

early as in 2002, considerable premium increases were 

Costs 

introduced in relation to Workers’ Compensation 

insurance policies in order to enhance profitability. The 

effects of the measures initiated are expected to further 

materialise in 2004.  

In 2002, Vesta decided to completely withdraw from 

insuring municipalities, a business area that had been 

unprofitable for several years. Viewed separately, this 

has led to a reduction in the market share of Norwegian 

Workers’ Compensation insurance from 26 per cent at 

the end of 2002 to 19 per cent at the end of 2003. 

Claims 

In 2003, the expense ratio was 25.2, which was a small 

reduction relative to the level of 25.3 in 2002. The 

expense ratio was affected, like in 2002, by provisions 

for pension commitments as a result of the low interest 

level. In 2003, provisions of just over DKK 94m were 

made in respect of pension commitments to the 

employees, corresponding to an increase in the 

expense ratio of 1.7 percentage point. The employees 

of Vesta are guaranteed a fixed monthly retirement 

benefit, and accordingly the company’s pension 

contributions to employees vary in line with interest 

rates.  

In 2003, the claims ratio, net of reinsurance, was 78.7, 

The expenses were affected in the opposite direction by 

which was an improvement relative to the claims ratio of 

a procurement project, which reduced the 

85.3 recorded in 2002. 

administrative expenses. 

The development was satisfactory within the personal 

insurance business and less satisfactory within the 

commercial business area despite the fact that Vesta’s 

commercial customers were spared large losses again 

this year.  

A contributory factor to the unsatisfactory performance 

of the commercial insurance business was that the 

development within the personal insurance business, 

which formed 23 per cent of the total portfolio, 

performed unsatisfactorily. Consequently, it was 

necessary to strengthen the claims reserves 

considerably within this area.  

Most of the increased claims reserves related to losses 

on business written in earlier years, which resulted in 

substantial run-off losses. In the financial results for 

2003, the run-off losses on the personal insurance 

business were approximately DKK 265m. 

It was in particular within the areas: Workers’ 

Compensation, diseases and other personal accident 

insurance in businesses that performance in 2003 was 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 44 of 98 

 
 
 
 
Tryg-Baltica international (TBi) 

DKKm

Gross earned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments

Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Profit/loss on business in run-off, net of reinsurance
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance

Key ratios
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Number of full-time employees at the end of the period

2003

716

655
19
-495
-198
9
-10
10

0

-64
735

75.6
30.2
105.8

30

Pro forma
2002

Pro forma
2001

Pro forma
2000

722

646
24
-506
-271
-5
-112
2

-110

-20
667

78.3
42.0
120.3

32

552

511
24
-369
-194
16
-12
-1

-13

16
621

72.2
38.0
110.2

28

426

374
23
-303
-129
-20
-55
0

-55

18
393

81.0
34.5
115.5

28

Financial results 

The results before tax for TBi were DKK 0 against a 

loss of DKK 110m for 2002. The financial results still 

were not satisfactory, but they express an increased 

focus on profitability over growth, which was in focus in 

earlier years.  

The combined ratio, net of reinsurance, was 105.8, 

which was an improvement of 14.5 percentage points 

relative to the combined ratio of 120.3 recorded in 2002. 

The combined ratio was affected negatively by 

considerable run-off losses for 2001 and earlier, and 

positively by enhanced profitability for 2002 and 2003. 

The technical result amounted to a loss of DKK 10m, 

Premiums 

which was an improvement relative to the negative 

The premium development was formed by two opposite 

results for the previous years.  

trends: Earned premiums were reduced in line with the 

On 31 December 2003, TBi sold its wholly owned 

subsidiary Chevanstell Ltd., in relation to which run-off 

procedures were initiated on 4 September 2003. 

Chevanstell Ltd. was sold to Tryg Forsikring A/S. 

Consequently, the figures relating to Chevanstell Ltd. 

do not appear under TBi, on the other hand, they 

appear under business in run-off. 

plans for this business area since the extent of business 

written was reduced, and simultaneously, the rates 

increased. Therefore, the correlation between premium 

and risk was improved considerably in spite of the 

falling absolute premium level. 

Claims 

The claims ratio, net of reinsurance, was 75.6, which 

was an improvement of 2.7 percentage points on the 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 45 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
figure for 2002. This was especially attributable to the 

fact that Europe, where most of TBi’s business is 

placed, was spared large natural disasters owing to 

mild weather. The intensified demands for profitability of 

the business written also contributed considerably to 

the improved claims ratio. 

Costs 

The expense ratio, net of reinsurance, was 30.2, which 

was an improvement of 11.8 percentage points on the 

figure for 2002. The expenses were considerably 

affected by a one-off income influencing the expense 

ratio positively by 5.4 percentage points. The reduction 

in the administrative expenses was attributable to the 

reinsurance system which was implemented in 2002, 

and which has increased efficiency in the 

administration. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 46 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Finnish general insurance 

DKKm
Exchange rate DKK/EUR, average of the year 

Gross earned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical result
Loss on investments

Loss on ordinary activities before tax

Profit on business in run-off, net of reinsurance
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance

Key ratios
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Number of full-time employees at the end of the period

2003
742.92

Pro forma
2002
743.08

Pro forma
2001
745.74

Pro forma
2000
-

61

60
1
-47
-62
0
-48
-1

-49

1
50

78.2
103.8
182.0

42

21

17
1
-18
-66
0
-66
-1

-67

0
21

2

2
0
-2
-29
0
-29
0

-29

-
-

104.3
389.2
493.5

35

91.1
1,795.1
1,886.2

14

-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

Financial results 

The loss on ordinary activities before tax of the Finnish 

general insurance operations for 2003 was DKK 49m, 

which was an improvement relative to the loss of DKK 

67m recorded in 2002. 

The Finnish operations are still in a start-up phase and 

the most important goal is to achieve a sound and 

profitable business volume. Consequently, the financial 

results of the Finnish operations cannot be compared 

with the levels of the Tryg Vesta Group’s Norwegian 

and Danish general insurance operations, on the other 

hand, the Finnish operations should be viewed as an 

investment in compliance with the Group’s wish to be 

by the growth in the premium volume in spite of an 

unchanged level of expenses. 

Premiums 

The gross earned premiums were DKK 61m, which was 

a trebling relative to the DKK 21m recorded in 2002. 

Insurance policies are sold through Nordea’s branches 

in Finland, which have a market share of approximately 

40 per cent of the Finnish market for banking services. 

Therefore, there is a significant potential for a further 

sizeable increase in premium earnings. 

During the year, the product portfolio was expanded 

with health insurance products among other things. 

present in the Nordic countries, where profitable 

operations are anticipated in the years ahead.  

Claims 

The Finnish operations continued their positive 

development, which among other things was expressed 

The claims ratio, net of reinsurance, was 78.2 for 2003 

against 104.3 for 2002, which was a considerable 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 47 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
improvement. In view of the age of the portfolio, the 

level is considered satisfactory. 

Costs 

The expense ratio for 2003 was 103.8, which was a 

marked reduction relative to the expense ratio of 389.2 

recorded in 2002. The level of expenses reflects the 

fact that the operations in Finland are in a start-up 

phase. In connection with this, the fixed costs will be 

large relative to the total level of expenses.  

The expenses are among other things affected by 

substantial depreciation of investments in an insurance 

technical system. In this way, investments were made 

in an advanced insurance system, which will be able to 

keep up with the continued development in the 

composition of customers and products. These 

expenses influenced the expense ratio, net of 

reinsurance, by 29.3 percentage points. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 48 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Polish general insurance 

DKKm
Exchange rate DKK/PLN, average of the year

Gross earned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments

Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Profit/loss on business in run-off, net of reinsurance
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance

Key ratios
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Number of full-time employees at the end of the period

2003
169.49

Pro forma
2002
194.16

Pro forma
2001
204.69

Pro forma
2000
185.59

491

336
14
-234
-166
1
-49
4

-45

3
276

69.7
49.5
119.2

523

496

320
10
-205
-153
0
-28
32

4

0
275

64.0
47.7
111.7

495

462

290
10
-181
-126
0
-7
-2

-9

-11
263

62.8
43.5
106.3

489

361

212
9
-157
-99
-1
-36
26

-10

-3
198

73.8
46.7
120.5

494

Financial results 

The loss on ordinary activities before tax of the Polish 

general insurance operations for 2003 was DKK 45m, 

which was a deterioration relative to the profit of DKK 

4m recorded in 2002. The financial results were 

unsatisfactory and were composed of a negative 

technical result of DKK 49m and a profit on investments 

of DKK 4m. 

The financial results were impacted by a deliberate 

change of the portfolio composition reflecting a wish for 

a larger share of the personal insurance market. 

Premiums 

The gross earned premiums were DKK 491m, which by 

and large correspond to the level recorded in 2002.  

Further, the development in earned premiums was 

affected by the change towards a relatively larger share 

of personal customers in the portfolio. From a portfolio 

composition where the personal customers’ share of the 

earned premiums was approximately 60 per cent, this 

share is now approximately 70 per cent. 

In 2003, premium increases were implemented in 

relation to comprehensive motor insurance policies, and 

at the same time, it was decided to discontinue the sale 

of certain types of insurance policies due to their 

negative performance.  

Claims 

The claims ratio, net of reinsurance, for 2003 was 69.7 

which was an increase of 5.7 percentage points. This 

was in particular attributable to a poorer performance in 

the motor portfolio, represented by a poorer 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 49 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
performance of claims both within the comprehensive 

and theft insurance products. In addition to this, the 

number of damage to motor cars abroad was relatively 

large. 

For the rest of the portfolio, the claims level 

corresponded by and large to the levels of earlier years. 

Costs 

The expense ratio for 2003 was 49.5, which was a 

slight increase on the level of 47.7 recorded in 2002. In 

2004, efforts will be made to reduce the ratio by way of 

using less cost-consuming sales channels. Further, the 

number of employees in Poland was increased relative 

to 2002. This shall be seen as part of the initiatives to 

set up a less cost-consuming sales force to replace 

agents. 

In 2003, focus was on the implementation and 

distribution of a new IT system for policy and claims 

administration in Tryg Polska, just as electronic 

communications have been established between the 

head office in Radom and the 28 branch offices. 

In addition to this, the expense ratio was affected by a 

one-off adjustment concerning reinsurance 

commissions of DKK 16m. 

New name in 2003 

As a consequence of the spin-off from Nordea, the 

Group’s Polish general insurance company changed its 

name from Nordea Ubezpieczenia to Tryg Polska in 

March 2003. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 50 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Estonian general insurance 

DKKm
Exchange rate DKK/EEK, average of the year

Gross earned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments

Loss on ordinary activities before tax

Profit on business in run-off, net of reinsurance
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance

Key ratios
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Number of full-time employees at the end of the period

Financial results 

The loss on ordinary activities before tax of the 

Estonian general insurance operations for 2003 

amounted to DKK 1m, which was a significant 

improvement on the loss for 2002, which was DKK 

13m. In spite of the improvement, the financial results 

were not satisfactory. 

Premiums 

The gross earned premiums were DKK 39m, which was 

a relatively small decrease of DKK 2m relative to 2002.  

The premium development was characterised by the 

considerable tariff rises implemented in relation to the 

portfolio and by an improved selection procedure in 

relation to customers. A natural consequence of this is 

2003
47.48

Pro forma
2002
47.49

Pro forma
2001
-

Pro forma
2000
-

39

34
1
-23
-13
0
-1
0

-1

2
21

67.2
38.9
106.1

76

41

37
1
-30
-21
0
-13
0

-13

0
20

81.4
55.1
136.5

82

-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

a net loss of customers, however it has also enhanced 

the profitability of the remaining portfolio. 

Claims 

The claims ratio was 67.2 per cent, which was a sharp 

reduction on the level of 81.4 for 2002. The improved 

level was characterised by the mentioned profitability 

enhancement initiatives in relation to the portfolio. 

Costs 

The expense ratio was 38.9 relative to the expense 

ratio of 55.1 for 2002. This was primarily due to a 

change of Estonian legislation, which reduced the fixed 

administrative expenses on motor policies significantly. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 51 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
New name in 2004 

In January 2004, the Tryg Vesta Group’s company in 

Estonia changed its name from Nordea Kindlustus to 

Nordicum Kindlustus. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 52 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Business in run-off 

DKKm

Gross earned permiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical result
Profit/loss on investments

Profit/loss on ordinary activities before tax

Loss on business in run-off, net of reinsurance
Technical provisions, net of reinsurance

Key ratios
Claims ratio, net of reinsurance
Expense ratio, net of reinsurance
Combined ratio, net of reinsurance

Number of full-time employees at the end of the period

2003

631

376
46
-469
-189
-1
-237
-10

-247

-182
828

125.2
50.4
175.6

41

Pro forma
2002

Pro forma
2001

Pro forma
2000

1,211

814
68
-857
-363
46
-292
-5

-297

-170
1,197

105.2
44.6
149.8

63

921

751
68
-575
-240
-21
-17
-3

-20

-32
1,543

76.3
32.0
108.3

55

538

426
74
-325
-138
-31
6
15

21

-21
1,159

76.3
32.3
108.6

49

Background 

Chevanstell Ltd. 

The Tryg Vesta Group’s business in run-off comprises 

In September 2003, after a number of years with 

run-off across the legal structure. It includes primarily 

losses, the Tryg Vesta Group chose to put the activities 

Chevanstell Ltd., which has carried on insurance 

of the company which is now called Chevanstell Ltd. 

business in the London market, a stop-loss agreement 

into run-off.  

between Chevanstell Ltd. and Tryg Forsikring to cover 

run-off from 1999 and earlier in Chevanstell Ltd., a 

relatively small reinsurance portfolio originally written by 

The technical result of Chevanstell Ltd. was a loss of 

DKK 115m relative to a loss of DKK 199m recorded in 

Baltica Forsikring (Tryg Forsikring), run-off in relation to 

2002. 

old mortgage guarantees and the like.  

The technical provisions within the business in run-off 

area were essentially related to Chevanstell Ltd. 

Financial results 

The total technical result was a loss of DKK 237m, 

which was an improvement of DKK 55m relative to 

The earned premiums, net of reinsurance, were as 

planned reduced by more than 50 per cent. After the 

company was put into run-off, no new reinsurance 

treaties have been made. 

The claims ratio, net of reinsurance, was 93.6 relative to 

98.2 in 2002, which is still at a high level. 

2002. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 53 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
The English based actuarial firm, Tillinghast, has 

evaluated that the total reserves and provisions for 

claims reflect the recommendations of Tillinghast.  

The expense ratio, net of reinsurance was 9.1 

percentage points higher than in 2002. The reason for 

this was the lower earned premiums as it has been 

impossible to adjust expenses to the small premium 

earnings. 

The results of the run-off procedures of Chevanstell Ltd. 

involve some uncertainty. In the parent company, Tryg 

Forsikring A/S, provisions of DKK 179m were made to 

cover this uncertainty among other things. Moreover, 

the provisions were made to cover the extraordinary 

expenses incurred in connection with restructuring in 

the Group. 

Other business in run-off 

The technical result of other business in run-off was a 

loss of DKK 122m relative to a loss of DKK 93m in 

2002.  

The loss was primarily attributable to the stop-loss 

agreement between Tryg Forsikring and Chevanstell 

Ltd., which represents a loss of DKK 130m. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 54 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment activities 

Investment activities 

DKKm

Danish general insurance

Norwegian general insurance

TBi

Polish general insurance

Estonian general insurance

Chevanstell Ltd.

Total

Tryg Vesta Group A/S

Total investments

Profit/loss
2003

2002*

Assets (end-year)
2002

2003

699

701

29

18

1

37

1,485

-36

1,448

278

463

27

41

1

52

862

-20

842

13,096

10,379

10,666

10,640

815

369

31

962

688

435

27

1,243

25,939

23,412

-554

-298

25,385

23,114

Transferred to technical interest

Investment income

* Pro forma

-773

-1,017

675

-175

The Tryg Vesta Group’s total profit on investment 

activities before transfer to technical interest was DKK 

1,448m equivalent to a return of 6.2 per cent for the 

financial year 2003. The investment return was affected 

by a positive return on bonds, shares and real property. 

The total return and the return on bonds are calculated 

inclusive of debt in the parent company and all returns 

are calculated inclusive of currency hedges. 

Asset allocation 

As shown in the subsequent table, the proportion of 

shares in the Group was 9.2 per cent as at 31 

December 2003 relative to 8.0 per cent as at 31 

December 2002, as shares worth DKK 351m were 

per cent of the total investment assets against 14.6 per 

cent at the end of 2002. 

As at 31 December 2003, the total investment portfolio 

of the Tryg Vesta Group was allocated with 

approximately DKK 13.9bn in the Danish companies, 

approximately DKK 10.7bn in the Norwegian  

Asset allocation 

DKKm

2003

%

2002

%

Bonds etc.

Shares

Real property

21,035

82.9

2,341

2,009

9.2

7.9

17,903

1,840

3,371

77.5

8.0

14.6

acquired in 2003. During the same period of time, the 

Total

25,385

100.0

23,114

100.0

proportion of bonds was increased from approximately 

77 per cent to approximately 83 per cent. Real property 

worth DKK 1,278 was sold in 2003, reducing the 

portfolio of investment properties to DKK 2.0bn or 7.9 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 55 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment assets

Bonds
etc.

Real
property

Return

Investments

Total

(nominal)

(%)

(net)

companies, and small amounts in the other companies 

of the Tryg Vesta Group. The net investments were 

approximately DKK 3.3bn in 2003. 

Tryg Vesta Group – investment assets, investments and return 

31.12.2003

DKKm

Denmark

Norway

Tryg-Baltica international

Poland

Estonia

Chevanstell

Total

Shares

1,883

457

0

1

0

0

9,873

9,543

815

365

31

962

1,339

667

13,096

10,666

0

3

0

0

815

369

31

962

Tryg Vesta Group A/S

0

-554

0

-554

2,341

20,627

2,009

24,977

Total, Tryg Vesta Group

2,341

21,035

2,009

25,385

1,448

6.2

Return

(nominal)

(%)

328

16.9

906

4.9

215

6.9

1,448

6.2

699

701

29

18

1

37

1,448

-36

6.1

6.8

3.9

4.5

2.6

3.5

-

-

2,491

1,097

118

5

4

-169

3,715

-243

3,302

Bond portfolio 

DKKm

2003

%

2002

%

Norwegian money market, cash etc.*

Danish mortgage bonds

Other corporate bonds

3,041

6,400

1,512

14.5

30.4

7.2

Government bonds and money market

10,082

47.9

1,496

6,066

2,652

7,689

8.4

33.9

14.8

42.9

Total

21,035 100.0

17,903 100.0

* Excl. government certificates in the money market

The return on the total bond portfolio in the Tryg Vesta 

Group, including cash funds and loans, was DKK 906m, 

corresponding to 4.9 per cent for the full year 2003, 

while the return on the bond portfolio, excluding cash 

funds, was 5.4 per cent in Tryg and 6.7 per cent in 

Vesta. By way of comparison, a Danish government 

bond index with a term to maturity of 1-5 years yielded 

4.2 per cent in 2003. 

The proportion of money market placements increased 

during the financial year as a result of Vesta having had 

a large inflow of new funds. The Norwegian money 

market was very attractive in the beginning of the year 

with an interest rate of just over 6 per cent. But as a 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 56 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
result of the Norwegian central bank’s interest rate cuts 

The portfolio is well diversified and consists of high-

from 6.50 per cent at the end of 2002 to 2.25 per cent at 

quality buildings, typically in prime locations in major 

the end of 2003, the money market rate is now close to 

cities in Denmark and Norway. The portfolio mainly 

the level in Denmark and the Euro area. 

comprises office property, but also a small proportion of 

other commercial property and residential property. The 

considerable reduction in the real property portfolio, 

which has taken place this year, has not affected the 

characteristics of the portfolio noticeably.   

Shares 

Most of the equities are in the Danish and Norwegian 

portfolios, while the Polish and Estonian portfolios and 

that of Tryg-Baltica international contain almost no 

shares. 

During the year, the Tryg Vesta Group’s equity portfolio 

has changed so that the ratio between domestic 

equities (Denmark and Norway) and foreign equities 

now is 25/75, relative to 45/55 at the end of 2002. 

Furthermore, most of the international share mandates 

were indexed in an American and a European portfolio, 

where they previously were active mandates and 

different in Denmark and Norway. The domestic 

mandates are still active, but with reduced possibility for 

deviating from benchmark. 

93 per cent of the Tryg Vesta Group’s bond portfolio – 

equivalent to DKK19.5bn – comprises Danish mortgage 

bonds, placements in the Norwegian money market and 

government bonds. The remaining part is invested in 

other corporate bonds with credit quality corresponding 

to investment grade. In the first six months, Tryg’s 

portfolio with Eastern European government bonds was 

sold, both as a consequence of the potential for further 

spread narrowing being limited and of the currency 

exposure. At the end of 2002, the portfolio was DKK 

282m. Furthermore, Tryg’s portfolio of mortgage deeds 

of about DKK 207m was sold in 2003. 

The option-adjusted duration, including cash and cash 

equivalents, of the entire Group’s bond portfolio was 

1.83 years at 31 December 2003, relative to 1.85 years 

at 31 December 2002, due to, among other things, 

Vesta’s strong focus on the money market. 

Real property 

The investment return on real property was DKK 215m, 

corresponding to a total return of 6.9 per cent.  

At the end of 2003, the proportion of real property in 

Tryg was reduced by DKK 1.29bn, which corresponds 

to a halving of the Danish real property portfolio. At the 

end of 2003, the total proportion was 9.6 per cent 

relative to 23.5 per cent at the end of 2002. During the 

year, Vesta’s proportion of real property was reduced 

from 7.2 per cent to 6.3 per cent. 

At the end of 2003, the renting percentage was 94.3 per 

cent against 94.7 per cent at the end of 2002 in Tryg 

and 95.5 per cent against 95.6 per cent in Vesta. There 

are no noticeable real property investments in the other 

companies of the Group.  

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 57 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Geographical spread, shares 

DKKm

Danish

Norwegian

Other European

North American

Other

Total

2003

%

2002

%

418

162

831

876

53

17.9

6.9

35.5

37.4

2.3

601

236

696

271

37

32.7

12.8

37.8

14.7

2.0

2,341 100.0

1,840 100.0

The financial year was very satisfactory for the 

international equity markets with good price rises and 

extraordinarily satisfactory for the Danish and 

Norwegian markets. For the financial year, the return on 

investments in equities was DKK 328m, equivalent to a 

return of 16.9 per cent. 

The Danish listed equities produced a yield of 21.4 per 

cent, whereas the Norwegian listed equities produced a 

yield of 24.6 per cent. The international listed equities 

produced a yield of 19.3 per cent. The total yield was 

negatively affected by the poor, relative performance of 

the non-indexed portfolios of listed equities and by the 

unsatisfactory return on unlisted and illiquid equities. 

Moreover, the calculation of the return was affected by 

considerable changes in the equity portfolio during the 

year. 

Unlisted equities amounted to DKK 226m against DKK 

267m at the end of 2002, and in Vesta particularly, the 

unlisted equity portfolio carries great weight. 

Continuous efforts will be made to reduce this portfolio. 

The total yield on unlisted shares was –3.9 per cent. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 58 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Targets reached in 2003 

Focus areas 

In the Tryg Vesta Group’s financial statements for 2002, 

the Group presented the below-mentioned areas 

targeted for special initiatives in 2003: 

(cid:57) Outsourcing of IT production 

(cid:57) Cost savings 

Denmark 

In connection with the interim financial statements, the 

Group expected that the combined ratio, net of 

reinsurance, for the Danish general insurance 

operations would be improved by 2 percentage points 

relative to the originally expected 102 for the full year 

2003. In connection with the presentation of the 

financial results for the nine months ended 30 

September 2003, the expectations were that the 

combined ratio would be under 100 at the end of 2003. 

The combined ratio for the Danish general insurance 

operations was 96.9, which meets these expectations. 

(cid:57) Procurement in relation to claims 

Norway 

A new Nordic partnership outside banking and finance 

Group expected a combined ratio of 106 in 2003 for its 

In the financial statements for 2002, the Tryg Vesta 

(cid:57) Establishment of the Group’s management 

development programme 

Norwegian general insurance operations. In connection 

with the presentation of the financial results for the six 

months ended 30 June 2003, this expectation was 

downrated to a level a little below the originally 

The establishment of a new Nordic partnership outside 

expected 106. The combined ratio for Norwegian 

banking and finance is still the Tryg Vesta Group’s 

general insurance operations was 103.9, which is better 

target. This may both include partnership models in 

than expected. 

relation to product combinations and in relation to 

distribution like the collaboration with Nordea. Further, it 

may be in relation to procurement. During 2003, the 

Group has discussed different models and talked with 

various potential partners, but since focus mainly was 

on profitability, the target as to a new partnership did 

not materialise. 

Targets reached 

The Group’s profit on ordinary activities of DKK 789m 

meets the expectations of a satisfactory profit on 

ordinary activities before tax for the full year 2003. 

At 30 June 2003, the Group downrated its expectations 

to the technical result due to the relatively low technical 

interest. The Group’s technical result for 2003 was DKK 

136m, which lives up to the expectations of a positive 

technical result.  

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 59 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Outlook 

down administrative expenses, and by ensuring early 

awareness of and reaction to predictable developments. 

Strategic focus areas 

In 2004, the Tryg Vesta Group will work with six 

strategic focus areas. The six areas shall contribute to 

the materialisation of the company’s total strategy 

supported by a Balanced Scorecard. 

The company’s six strategic focus areas are: 

• 

Increased profitability 

Preserve and extend our present profitable 
customer base 

This means that the Tryg Vesta Group shall continue to 

be a customer-oriented company founded on close 

relations to its customers. The company determines 

and measures on current basis customer retention, 

satisfaction and loyalty at all levels of the company, and 

service programmes must exist which ensure a good 

dialogue with the customers. Minimum 90 per cent of 

the customers must renew their insurance policies in 

2004 and function as ambassadors for the companies 

•  Preserve and extend our present profitable 

of the Group. 

customer base 

•  Adjust the resources and extend group synergies 

•  Optimise the industrial portfolio 

Adjust the resources and extend Group synergies 

The individual companies of the Tryg Vesta Group must 

be brought closer together, and the interaction between 

the units of the Group must be encouraged. The Group 

•  Growth in the personal and commercial portfolios 

will gather its resources to harvest synergies and create 

even better results in future to the benefit of 

•  Create a common identity and establish shared 

shareholders, customers and employees. The Group 

values 

In addition, one of the focus areas from 2003 will 

remain in focus: 

•  A new Nordic partnership outside banking and 

finance 

Increased profitability 

With this strategic focus area, the Tryg Vesta Group will 

ensure coherence between claims paid and earned 

premiums, and at the same time optimise the 

company’s expenses relative to earned premiums. The 

target is to reduce the company’s combined ratio to the 

target set for 2004 by identifying and fixing the correct 

price per risk, providing prudent and excellent claims 

handling enabling customers to understand the 

handling and settlement of their claims, implementing 

efficient work processes in the entire company to keep 

will specify the areas within which a coherent 

organisation, common processes, values and policies 

are to be established, and it will use resources on 

implementing new and up-to-date technology and on 

establishing a coherent IT strategy for the entire Group. 

Optimise the industrial portfolio 

The Tryg Vesta Group will improve the coherence 

between price, risk and return on shareholders’ equity 

within its industrial portfolio, and will continue its efforts 

to create a portfolio, which from an overall perspective 

is even more balanced. Based on a sound risk analysis, 

the Group will examine its industrial business area and 

improve its underwriting guidelines so that they reflect 

the actual capital expenditure and create an even better 

coherence between price and risk. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 60 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Growth in the personal and commercial portfolios 

increase in the requirements to the combined ratio in 

The Tryg Vesta Group sees great possibility of growth 

order to maintain the return on the shareholders’ equity. 

in the existing profitable part of the personal and 

On the basis of the falling rates and other measures 

commercial portfolios in the Nordic region. The Group 

taken, the Group intensified its target for combined ratio 

will target and develop the profitable part of the 

in connection with the presentation of the financial 

portfolio, and turn single-product customers into multi-

results for the nine months ended 30 September 2003. 

product customers. The Group will attract new 

Therefore, the combined ratio for 2004 was fixed close 

customers based on a managed process – always 

to 100 for 2004 – aiming at a level of about 95 for 2005. 

taking profitability into mind – and the Group will focus 

An ambitious but realistic target. 

on offering concepts creating peace of mind, rather than 

on selling single products. 

Create a common identity and establish shared 
values 

By this strategic focus area, the Tryg Vesta Group 

means that focus must be on establishing one common 

identity and a set of shared values, which will serve as 

guidance for all of the Group’s activities in relation to 

customers, partners and employees. The Tryg Vesta 

Group is a Nordic insurance business based on Nordic 

values, and the employees must perceive their 

workplace as one united Group. Areas where it is 

These expectations are still intact. In order to reflect the 

natural movements in the business, the target for 2004 

has been expressed by an interval delimited by 

“favourable development” and “negative development”. 

This allows for external circumstances, which are 

beyond the control of the Tryg Vesta Group. Such 

external circumstances may affect earnings – and 

consequently also the level of the combined ratio. A 

mild winter, few storms, few large losses and loyal 

customers affect the financial results positively, 

whereas a winter with changeable weather, many 

heavy storms and relatively many large losses will have 

crucial to share a common approach, and areas where 

a negative effect. To be specific, this means – as 

the national differences and characteristics of the Group 

mentioned under the paragraph on risk management – 

will continue to be its competitive strength, must be 

specified. Targets and policies will be established 

centrally – but business will be carried out locally. 

Targets 

In the financial statements for 2002, the Tryg Vesta 

Group expressed its expectations for a combined ratio 

of 102 in 2004 and 100 in 2005. In connection with the 

presentation of the financial results for the six months 

ended 30 June 2003, these expectations were 

preserved. But in connection with the financial results 

that should the Tryg Vesta Group incur a claim of 

between DKK 100m and DKK 300m, it would affect the 

combined ratio, net of reinsurance, by between 0.5 

percentage point and 0.7 percentage point, and would 

impact the financial results by between DKK 65m and 

DKK 95m. While a storm in Denmark resulting in claims 

between DKK 600m and DKK 3bn, would affect the 

Group’s combined ratio, net of reinsurance, by 1.3 

percentage point to 1.7 percentage point, 

corresponding to a negative effect on the result of DKK 

185m to DKK 240m. 

for the nine months ended 30 September 2003, the 

The movements have been illustrated by the 

results achieved so far by the Group as well as the 

subsequent graph.  

increased focus on earnings within the actual insurance 

operations motivated an upgrading of the expectations.  

The background of focusing on earnings was the falling 

interest rates. A fall in the interest rates causes an 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 61 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Combined ratio: Actual, targets and scenarios 

The return on investments for 2004 is expected to be 

112

103

115

110

105

100

95

90

DKK 300-400m after transfer of technical interest, 

corresponding to a return on investment assets of 3.8 

per cent. The expectations to the return on investments 

are based on the assumption that shares will produce a 

yield of 7.2 per cent, bonds a yield of 3.5 per cent and 

real property investments 6.8 per cent for the full year 

100

2004. 

95

The expectations to the profit/loss on ordinary activities 

before tax correspond to a return on the shareholders’ 

equity before tax of 14 per cent for 2004.  

On the whole, all expectations relate to 2004 and 

quarterly deviations are expected during the year – for 

instance seasonal variations resulting from the weather.  

2002

2005

2004

2003
Actual
Expected
Negative development
Favourable development
Previously expected

As mentioned, the Tryg Vesta Group has a target for a 

combined ratio of 100 for 2004. As a result of the risks 

involved in the operations, this means an expected 

combined ratio for 2004 within the level 98-102. 

Expectations to the results for 2004  

DKKm

Technical result
Profit on investments
Operating profit pre-tax

Combined ratio (%)

Actual
2003

136
675
789

102.8

Expected

Favourable

Negative
2004 development development

475
300
750

100

700

150

98

102

The reason for the relatively large spread in the 

expectations to the technical result is that a deviation of 

one percentage point in relation to the combined ratio 

will affect the financial results by approximately DKK 

150m in case of anticipated earned premiums, net of 

reinsurance, of DKK 15bn in 2004. During the year, the 

Tryg Vesta Group will relate the actual results to the 

expectations and targets, and examine whether 

deviations, if any, merely result from operational 

movements or from actual deviations from the targets. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 62 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management’s signatures 

financial position and results as wells as cash flows of 

the Group. 

Today, the annual report for 2003 for Tryg Vesta Group 

annual report be adopted. 

We propose to the Annual General Meeting that the 

A/S and the Tryg Vesta Group was considered by the 

Supervisory Board and the Executive Management and 

approved by the Supervisory Board. 

The annual report has been prepared in accordance 

with the Danish Consolidated Insurance Business Act 

and the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority’s 

executive orders. We consider the accounting policies 

adopted appropriate to the effect that the annual report 

gives a true and fair view of the assets and liabilities, 

Ballerup, 17 March 2004 

Executive Management 

Stine Bosse 

Erik Gjellestad 

Morten Hübbe 

/Fatiha Benali 

Supervisory Board 

Mikael O. Olufsen 

Chairman   

Mogens Jacobsen 

Deputy Chairman 

Per Skov  

Deputy Chairman 

Jørn Wendel Andersen  

John R. Frederiksen 

Jørn Hesselholt 

Håkon J. Huseklepp 

Jens Lyngbo   

Peter Wagner Mollerup 

Birthe Petersen 

Niels Erik Schultz-Petersen 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 63 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Internal auditors’ report 

We have audited the annual report of Tryg Vesta Group 

A/S for the financial year 2003. 

Supplementary information 

As appears from the applied accounting policies on 

The annual report is the responsibility of the company’s 

page 66-67, the annual report contains pro forma 

Management. Our responsibility is to express an 

comparative figures for the financial years 2000, 2001 

opinion on the annual report based on our audit. 

and 2002 for the Group. The Tryg Vesta Group was 

established on 28 June 2002 via payment in kind of the 

Nordea AB Group’s general insurance activities in Tryg 

Vesta Group A/S. Therefore, the pro forma figures 

represent accounting figures for a period of time during 

which the Group did not exist as a legal entity. 

Reference is made to the Executive Management’s 

description of the basis for stating the pro forma figures. 

We agree with the Executive Management on its 

comments on pro forma comparative figures and 

support the view that the pro forma comparative figures 

add increased informative value to the technical 

operations. 

Basis of opinion 

We conducted our audit on the basis of the Danish 

Financial Supervisory Authority’s executive order on the 

presentation of consolidated financial statements by 

financial enterprises and financial Groups and in 

accordance with Danish Auditing Standards. Based on 

materiality and risk we have evaluated the business 

procedures, the accounting policies used and the 

significant estimates made and verified the basis for 

amounts and disclosures in the annual report. We 

believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for 

our opinion. 

Our audit has not resulted in any qualifications. 

Opinion 

In our opinion, the annual report gives a true and fair 

view of the Group and parent company’s assets, 

liabilities and financial positions at 31 December 2003 

and of the results of the Group and the parent 

company’s operations and of the Group’s cash flows for 

the financial year 2003 in accordance with Danish 

Accounting Standards.  

Ballerup, 17 March 2004 

Gert Stubkjær 

Chief Internal Auditor 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 64 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auditors’ report 

To the shareholder of Tryg Vesta Group A/S 

We have audited the annual report of Tryg Vesta Group 

A/S for the financial year 2003. 

The annual report is the responsibility of the company’s 

Management. Our responsibility is to express an 

opinion on the annual report based on our audit. 

Basis of opinion 

We conducted our audit in accordance with Danish 

Auditing Standards. These standards require that we 

plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable 

assurance that the annual report is free of material 

misstatement. An audit included examining, on a test 

basis, evidence supporting the amounts and 

disclosures in the annual report. An audit also included 

assessing the accounting policies used and significant 

estimates made by the Management, as well as 

evaluating the overall annual report representation. We 

believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for 

our opinion. 

Our audit has not resulted in any qualifications. 

Opinion 

In our opinion, the annual report gives a true and fair 

view of the Group and parent company’s assets, 

liabilities and financial positions at 31 December 2003 

and of the results of the Group and the parent 

company’s operations and of the Group’s cash flows for 

the financial year 2003 in accordance with Danish 

Accounting Standards.  

Supplementary information 

As appears from the applied accounting policies on 

page 66-67, the annual report contains pro forma 

comparative figures for the financial years 2000, 2001 

and 2002 for the Group. The Tryg Vesta Group was 

established on 28 June 2002 via payment in kind of the 

Nordea AB Group’s general insurance activities in Tryg 

Vesta Group A/S. Therefore, the pro forma figures 

represent accounting figures for a period of time during 

which the Group did not exist as a legal entity. 

Reference is made to the Executive Management’s 

description of the basis for stating the pro forma figures. 

We agree with the Executive Management on its 

comments on pro forma comparative figures and 

support the view that the pro forma comparative figures 

add increased informative value to the technical 

operations. 

Copenhagen, 17 March 2004 

Deloitte 

Grant Thornton 

Statsautoriseret Revisionsaktieselskab 

Statsautoriseret Revisionsaktieselskab 

Lone Møller Olsen 

Thomas Elsborg Jensen 

Christian Fløistrup 

State Authorised 

State Authorised 

Public Accountant 

Public Accountant 

State Authorised 

Public Accountant 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 65 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounting policies 

Basis of preparation 

The consolidated financial statements and financial 

statements of Tryg Vesta Group A/S have been 

prepared in accordance with the Danish Consolidated 

Insurance Business Act and the Danish Financial 

Supervisory Authority’s executive orders on the 

presentation of consolidated financial statements by 

insurance companies and financial statements by 

general insurance companies.  

In principle, the parent company, Tryg Vesta Group 

A/S, is subject to the provisions of the Danish Financial 

Statements Act. As the object of the parent company is 

to own subsidiary undertakings whose activities are 

primarily focused on insurance business, the parent 

company financial statements have been presented in 

accordance with the Danish Consolidated Insurance 

Business Act to which the consolidated financial 

statements are subject.  

Apart from the changes described below, the 

accounting policies are unchanged from last year. 

‘Intangible assets’ includes capitalised development 

costs and software, which are amortised on a straight-

line basis over four years. 

With reference to the transitional provisions of section 

83(3) of the executive order on general insurance 

companies relating to recognition and measurement of 

goodwill, development costs and software in future 

periods, comparative figures have not been restated.  

The above changes in the accounting policies do not 

affect the results for the year and shareholders’ equity.  

A few items in the income statement and balance sheet 

have been reclassified relative to last year. The 

reclassifications do not affect the results and 

shareholders’ equity. 

International accounting standards 

The Tryg Vesta Group intends to implement 

international accounting standards for the consolidated 

financial statements as at 1 January 2005. 

The Group has set up a working group to analyse the 

impact on the Group’s financial reporting of 

implementing the international accounting standards.  

The rules for accounting for goodwill, development 

Pro forma comparative figures 

costs and software were changed effective 1 January 

The management’s review, the financial highlights and 

2003. Goodwill, development costs and software 

key ratios, the income statement and the notes to the 

acquired after 1 January 2003 are recognised and 

financial statements present pro forma comparative 

measured as follows: 

Any difference (goodwill) at the time of acquisition 

between the cost and the proportionate share of the 

acquired undertakings’ shareholders’ equity made up in 

figures for 2000, 2001 and 2002 prior to the formation of 

Tryg Vesta Group A/S as at 28 January 2002 and the 

company’s subsequent acquisition of the general 

insurance activities of Nordea AB as at 28 June 2002. 

accordance with the accounting policies applied by Tryg 

These sections of the annual report specify where pro 

Vesta Group A/S is recognised in the item ‘Intangible 

forma comparative figures are included. Pro forma 

assets’. Goodwill is amortised on a straight-line basis 

comparative figures are included in the annual report in 

over the expected useful life. 

order to make the annual report more informative with 

respect to the technical operations of the general 

insurance companies forming part of the Tryg Vesta 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 66 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Group irrespective of the former ownership of the 

more than 50 per cent of the voting rights or is 

companies.  

otherwise able to exercise or actually exercises a 

Pro forma comparative figures are stated on the basis 

of a consolidation of the companies forming part of the 

Group as at 31 December 2003. See the Group 

overview on page 92. 

The following should be taken into account when 

evaluating the pro forma comparative figures: 

controlling influence. 

Minority interests 

The proportionate share of the profit and shareholders’ 

equity of subsidiaries attributable to minority interests is 

stated separately in the statement of the consolidated 

profit and consolidated shareholders’ equity. 

Tryg Forsikring A/S and Vesta Forsikring AS are stated 

Basis of consolidation 

net of their life and pension insurance activities, which 

The consolidated financial statements are prepared on 

were operated by wholly-owned subsidiaries. 

Tryg Polska SA and Nordicum Kindlustuse Eesti AS are 

included from the date when the companies were 

the basis of the financial statements of the parent 

company and its subsidiary undertakings by adding 

items of a uniform nature. 

acquired by Tryg Forsikring A/S and the Nordea Group, 

The financial statements of undertakings that present 

respectively. 

Insurance portfolios acquired from other companies, 

such as Zurich’s Danish and Norwegian general 

insurance portfolio, are included from the date of 

acquisition of the relevant portfolio. 

Tryg Ejendomme I A/S, which was divested on 31 

December 2003, is included in the pro forma figures for 

the full period.  

Where the accounting policies have been changed 

during the period, the comparative figures of each 

financial statements under other legislative rules are 

restated to the accounting policies applied by the Group 

unless the result of such restatement is immaterial to 

the true and fair view. 

On consolidation, intragroup income and expenses, 

intragroup accounts and dividends, and gains and 

losses arising on transactions between the consolidated 

undertakings are eliminated.  

Shares in subsidiary undertakings are set off against 

the parent company’s proportionate share of the 

shareholders’ equity of the undertakings at 31 

company have to the extent possible been adjusted on 

consolidation to comply with the current accounting 

December. 

policies. Such adjustments have only a minor impact on 

Goodwill arising on acquisitions represents the 

the amounts of the pro forma figures. 

difference at the time of acquisition between the 

acquisition price and the proportionate share of the 

Consolidated financial statements 

shareholders’ equity of the acquired undertaking made 

The consolidated financial statements comprise the 

up in accordance with the accounting policies applied 

financial statements of Tryg Vesta Group A/S (the 

by Tryg Vesta Group A/S. The full amount of goodwill 

parent company) and undertakings (subsidiary 

was previously amortised through the income statement 

undertakings) controlled by the parent company. See 

in the year of acquisition. As from and including the 

the Group overview on page 92. Control is achieved 

2003 financial year, goodwill is capitalised. See ‘Basis 

where the parent company directly or indirectly holds 

of preparation’ above.  

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 67 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Newly acquired or divested subsidiary undertakings are 

Technical interest 

consolidated at the results for the period subsequent to 

Technical interest represents a calculated return on the 

acquisition or prior to divestment, respectively. 

average technical provisions. The interest rate applied 

Any gains or losses arising on divestment of subsidiary 

undertakings are included in the income statement 

under ‘Investment gains or losses’.  

Currency translation 

The results of foreign subsidiary undertakings are 

based on translation of the items in the income 

statement at quarterly average exchange rates. Income 

and expenses in domestic undertakings denominated in 

foreign currency are translated at the exchange rate 

ruling on the date of the transaction. Assets and 

is the year’s average pre-tax yield to maturity on all 

bonds with a term to maturity of less than three years. 

Claims incurred 

Claims incurred represent claims paid during the year 

adjusted for changes in provisions for claims less 

reinsurers’ share. Amounts to cover expenses incurred 

to combat and contain losses and to survey and assess 

claims are included in the item. In addition, the item 

includes run-off results regarding previous years. The 

part of the increase in technical provisions that can be 

ascribed to discounting is transferred to technical 

liabilities denominated in foreign currency are translated 

interest. 

at the exchange rate at year-end. 

All currency translation gains and losses are included in 

the income statement under the item ‘Exchange rate 

adjustments’. 

Intragroup transactions 

Intragroup services are settled on a cost-covering basis 

or on market terms. 

Bonus and premium rebates 

Bonus and premium rebates represent anticipated and 

reimbursed premiums where the amount reimbursed 

depends on the claims record, and for which the criteria 

for payment have been laid down prior to the financial 

year or when the business was written. 

Insurance operating expenses 

Intragroup transactions in securities and other 

Insurance operating expenses represent acquisition 

investment assets are settled at market value. 

costs and administrative expenses less reinsurance 

Income statement 

Earned premiums and claims incurred in relation to 

general insurance comprise general insurance as well 

as simple types of cover on death related to general 

insurance policies written by the general insurance 

companies. 

Premiums 

Earned premiums represent gross premiums during the 

year, net of outward reinsurance premiums and 

changes in unearned premium provisions, 

commissions received. Expenses relating to acquiring 

and renewing the insurance portfolio are recognised at 

the time of writing the business. Administrative 

expenses are accrued to match the financial year. 

Depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis over 

three to five years. Minor acquisitions costing less than 

DKK 100,000 are recognised as an expense in the year 

of acquisition, except for assets acquired as part of a 

specific project. Computer equipment held under 

finance leases is recognised and depreciated as if 

purchased by the company. 

corresponding to an accrual of premiums to the risk 

Costs are based on estimated time consumed or the 

period of the policies. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

estimated cost charge and are distributed in the 

18 March 2004 

page 68 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
statement by line of insurance and between acquisition 

Extraordinary items 

and administrative expenses. 

Reinsurance accepted 

Premiums, claims and commissions relating to 

Extraordinary items include amounts which by their 

nature are unusual for the company and which are 

clearly different from the ordinary operations. 

reinsurance accepted are generally included in the 

Tax 

income statement on an estimated and assessed basis 

The item ‘Tax’ represents estimated Danish and foreign 

and accrued relative to expiry of the contracts. 

corporation taxes for the year and movements in 

Commissions relating to unearned premium provisions 

deferred tax or tax asset. Tax on the profit for the year 

are included under ‘Prepayments and accrued income’. 

is calculated based on the pre-tax profit for the year 

Investment activities 

Profit from group undertakings includes the parent 

company’s share of the profit on ordinary activities of 

the subsidiary undertakings. Exchange differences 

arising on the translation of the net asset value of 

foreign subsidiary undertakings at the beginning of the 

year are included under the item ‘Exchange rate 

adjustments’. 

adjusted for non-taxable income and expenses. 

Tryg Vesta Group A/S is jointly taxed with the parent 

company Tryg i Danmark smba and the majority of the 

company’s subsidiary undertakings, including the 

subsidiary Tryg Forsikring A/S. Tax relating to the jointly 

taxed income is recognised in the jointly taxed Danish 

companies in proportion to their profit. Changes in 

deferred taxes or deferred tax assets are recognised in 

the companies having the liability or the claim. 

Income from land and buildings before value 

adjustment represents the profit from property 

Balance sheet 

operations less property management expenses. 

Intangible assets 

Interest, dividends etc. represent interest earned, 

dividends received etc. during the financial year. In 

addition, the item includes gains and losses on bonds 

drawn for redemption. 

Realised and unrealised investment gains and losses, 

including value adjustment of land and buildings, are 

recognised in the income statement.   

Development costs and capitalised software are 

measured at cost less amortisation. The assets are 

amortised on a straight-line basis over four years from 

the date they are taken into use. 

Goodwill acquired after 1 January 2003 is measured as 

the difference at the time of acquisition between the 

cost and the proportionate share of the acquired 

undertaking’s shareholders’ equity made up in 

Realised and unrealised gains and losses on derivative 

accordance with the accounting policies applied by Tryg 

financial instruments are also recognised in the income 

Vesta Group A/S.  Goodwill is amortised on a straight-

statement. 

line basis over the expected useful life. 

Investment management charges represent expenses 

relating to the management of investments. Brokerage 

and commission have been included in the purchase 

and sales price of the investment assets. 

Investments 

Land and buildings 

Land and buildings are measured at market value in 

accordance with the guidelines issued by the Danish 

Financial Supervisory Authority. The guidelines provide 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 69 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
for the market value of the Group’s land and buildings 

Other assets 

to be determined based on a systematic annual 

assessment of each individual property taking into 

account expected future operating return and a return 

requirement for each property.  

New developments and property under construction are 

measured at cost. 

Capital participation in subsidiary undertakings 

Capital participation in subsidiary undertakings is 

measured at the parent company’s proportionate share 

of the subsidiary undertakings’ shareholders’ equity at 

31 December made up in accordance with the Group’s 

accounting policies. 

Listed shares, unit trust units, bonds etc. 

Listed shares, unit trust units, bonds etc. are measured 

at the most recent prices quoted at the end of the year. 

Unquoted shares, fixed-interest loans etc. are 

measured at a conservatively estimated market value at 

the end of the year based on the companies’ most 

recent financial statements available. 

Operating equipment 

Operating equipment is measured at cost less 

accumulated depreciation. Operating equipment is 

depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated 

useful economic lives of the assets, which are three to 

five years. 

Computer equipment held under finance leases is 

treated as if purchased by the company. The lease debt 

is included in ‘Other debt’. 

Tax asset 

The tax asset comprises deferred net tax assets 

calculated as 30 per cent of the present value of net 

positive timing differences between accounting and 

taxable values, plus tax losses to the extent they are 

expected to be offset against future taxable income. 

Accruals and deferred income 

Prepaid acquisition costs mainly comprise the part of 

commission expenses to other insurance companies 

etc. relating to unearned premiums provisions. 

Derivative financial instruments 

Other accruals and deferred income comprise prepaid 

Derivative financial instruments are measured at the 

expenses and claims expenses paid in respect of future 

market value at the end of the year. Derivative financial 

settlements with cedants. 

instruments are used to the extent they enable the 

Group to manage its assets and liabilities more 

efficiently, thereby reducing risk or causing only a small 

increase in risk. 

Dividend 

Proposed dividends are recognised as a liability when 

adopted by the shareholders at the general meeting. 

Dividends expected to be declared for the year are 

Deposits with ceding undertaking, receivable 

shown in the profit allocation. 

Deposits comprise amounts owed to the company in 

respect of reinsurance business accepted, and retained 

Technical provisions 

by the ceding undertaking pursuant to the reinsurance 

contract. 

Amounts owing 

Unearned premium provisions represent the proportion 

of premiums and reinsurance premiums collected which 

relates to subsequent financial years. 

Amounts owing are measured at nominal value less a 

Provisions for claims represent amounts to cover claims 

provision for any losses. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

incurred before the balance sheet date, whether 

18 March 2004 

page 70 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
reported or not. Provisions for claims are calculated on 

Provisions for other risks and charges 

the basis of information available concerning the extent 

Provisions for other risks and charges comprise 

of the losses plus an amount based on past experience 

amounts intended to cover liabilities or expenses 

to cover claims incurred but not reported. The 

attributable to the past financial year or prior financial 

provisions include direct costs of combating, containing, 

years, and which on the balance sheet date are likely or 

inspecting and assessing claims.  Long-tail provisions 

certain, but uncertain in respect of size or time of 

calculated using statistical methods are discounted. 

payment. 

Provisions for bonus and premium rebates represent 

The commitment relating to the pension scheme in 

amounts expected to be paid to policyholders in view of 

Vesta, which is a defined benefit plan, has been marked 

the claims experience during the financial year. 

to estimated market employing Norwegian assumptions 

in relation to the long-term real economy, pension and 

Provisions for annuities relate to compulsory Workers’ 

Compensation insurance in Denmark, which is settled 

mortality. 

by payment of annuities. The provisions are calculated 

Provisions for tax comprise deferred net tax amounts 

using actuarial principles at the present value by 

calculated as 30 per cent of the present value of net 

discounting expected future payments.  

positive timing differences between accounting and 

Equalisation provisions represent amounts included to 

equalise future claims, net of reinsurance, in areas 

where experience has shown that claims vary.  

Equalisation provisions in credit and guarantee 

insurance are calculated in accordance with rules laid 

down by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority. 

For Workers’ Compensation insurance in Denmark, 

equalisation provisions are calculated as the difference 

between the technical provisions made up at basic 

interest rates of 2.00 per cent and 2.75 per cent, 

respectively. In addition, equalisation provisions 

comprise the compulsory Norwegian Pool of Natural 

Perils in Vesta, Norway. The rules governing the setting 

up and application of equalisation provisions are laid 

down by the regulatory authorities of the relevant 

countries. 

taxable values less tax losses to the extent that they are 

expected to be offset against future positive taxable 

income. 

Deferred tax is not provided on untaxed contingency 

reserves. It is not expected that future movements in 

technical provisions will result in a crystallisation of tax 

on the contingency reserve. The untaxed contingency 

reserves are disclosed in the notes to the financial 

statements under shareholders’ equity. 

Deposits with ceding companies, payable 

Deposits comprise amounts due in respect of 

reinsurance business accepted and retained pursuant 

to the reinsurance contracts. 

Debt 

Debt is generally measured at nominal value. 

Other technical provisions represent provisions for risk 

not yet run off. The provisions represent the amounts 

Cash flow statement 

deemed necessary, in addition to unearned premiums 

The cash flow statement is presented in accordance 

provisions and future premium rates, to cover future, 

with the indirect method based on premiums. 

anticipated expenses and settlement of claims not yet 

incurred within the period of coverage of the policies. 

The cash flow statement shows the actual inflow and 

outflow of payments for the year divided into cash inflow 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 71 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
from operations, and changes in liquidity resulting from 

purchases or sales of investments as well as funding 

activities. The item ‘Cash and cash equivalents’ 

comprises cash at bank and at hand and demand 

deposits. 

.

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 72 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Income statement, balance sheet and cash flow 
statement, the Tryg Vesta Group 

Income Statement

DKKm

Note

General Insurance

Earned Premiums
Gross premiums written
Ceded reinsurance premiums
Change in the gross provisions for unearned premiums
Change in the reinsurers' share of the provisions for unearned premiums

1

2

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance

Technical interest, net of reinsurance

Claims incurred
Gross claims paid
Reinsurance recoveries
Change in the gross provisions for claims
Change in the reinsurers' share of the provisions for claims

3

Claims incurred, net of reinsurance

Change in other insurance provisions, net of reinsurance

Bonus and premium rebates

Insurance operating expenses
Acquisition costs
Administrative expenses
Acquisition costs and administrative expenses
Commission and profit commission from the reinsurers

4

Total insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance

Change in the equalisation provisions

5

Technical result

2003

17,053
-2,552
336
-215

14,622

641

-10,967
1,672
-1,808
-256

-11,359

15

-56

-2,080
-1,885
-3,965
339

-3,626

-101

136

Pro forma
2002

28.01.-31.12.2002 *)

17,073
-3,730
-11
39

13,371

899

-11,992
2,528
-1,255
-583

-11,302

17

-60

-2,038
-2,091
-4,129
552

-3,577

-199

-851

7,230
-1,771
2,001
-357

7,103

449

-5,769
1,194
-1,030
-269

-5,874

12

-34

-1,037
-1,044
-2,081
321

-1,760

-181

-285

*) Subsidiaries included from 28 June 2002

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 73 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Income Statement

DKKm

Note

Investment activities

Income from investment assets
Income from non-consolidated undertakings 
Income from land and buildings
Interest and dividends, etc.
Realised gains on investment assets

6
7

Total income from investment assets

7

Unrealised gains on investment assets

Charges relating to investment assets
Investment management charges
Interest expenses

Total charges relating to investment assets

7

Unrealised losses on investment assets
Exchange rate adjustments

Return on investment activities before transfer
to insurance activities

2

Technical interest transferred to insurance activities

Total return on investment activities

4

Other ordinary expenses

Profit/loss from ordinary activities before tax

8

Extraordinary expenses 

Profit/loss before tax

9

Tax

Profit/loss for the year

The minority interests share of the profit/loss

Tryg Vesta Group's share of the profit/loss for the year

2003

Pro forma
2002

28.01.-31.12.2002 *)

0
193
883
165

1,241

476

-55
-77

-132

0
-137

1,448

-773

675

-22

789

0

789

-48

741

1

742

17
230
978
286

1,511

0

-49
-34

-83

-450
-136

842

-1,017

-175

-52

-1,078

-1,256

-2,334

243

-2,091

0

-2,091

0
112
541
60

713

0

-18
-19

-37

-3
-62

611

-518

93

-52

-244

-1,482

-1,726

47

-1,679

0

-1,679

*) Subsidiaries included from 28 June 2002

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 74 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet as at 31 December

DKKm

Note

Assets

10

Intangible assets

11

12

Investment assets
Land and buildings

Other financial investment assets
Capital participation
Unit trust units
Bonds
Loans secured by mortgage
Other loans
Deposits in credit institutions

13

Total other financial investment assets

Deposits with ceding undertakings, receivable

Total investment assets 

Amounts owing
Amounts owing in connection with direct insurance business
From policyholders
From insurance brokers
Total amounts owing in relation to direct insurance business 
Amounts owing from insurance companies
Amounts owing from subsidiary undertakings

14 Other amounts owing

Total amounts owing

Other assets
Furniture, equipment, computer hardware, motor vehicles, etc.
Cash in hand and at bank
Tax assets
Other

15

Total other assets

Prepayments and accrued income
Accrued interest and rent earned
Prepaid acquisition costs
Other prepayments and accrued income

Total prepayments and accrued income

Total assets

Total assets to cover the Danish companies' insurance provisions 

2003

2002

2002

39

2,009

2,323
18
19,968
0
70
415

22,794

142

29,945

803
478
1,281
1,474
51
1,810

4,616

392
558
425
9

1,384

262
41
72

375

31,359

16,791

0

#REFERENCE!

3,371

1,825
14
17,785
200
73
291

3,526

#REFERENCE!
#REFERENCE!

17,785
200
73
291

20,188

#REFERENCE!

147

147

23,706

#REFERENCE!

1,098
764
1,862
1,358

408

468
735

282
86
355

723

1,098
764
1,862
1,358
0
408

3,628

468
735
495

7878

#REFERENCE!

#REFERENCE!

#REFERENCE!

1,776

#REFERENCE!

282
86
355

723

29,833

#REFERENCE!

-

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 75 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet as at 31 December

DKKm

Note

Liabilities

16

Shareholders' equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Retained profits

Total shareholders' equity

Minority interests

Subordinate loan capital

Insurance provisions
Provisions for unearned premiums
Gross provisions
The reinsurers' share
Provisions for unearned premiums, net of reinsurance

Provisions for claims

17 Gross provisions

The reinsurers' share
Provisions for claims, net of reinsurance

Provisions for annuities by Workers' Compensation
Gross provisions
Provisions for annuities, net of reinsurance

18

Provisions for bonuses and premium rebates, net of reinsurance
Equalisation provisions

19
20 Other insurance provisions, net of reinsurance

Total insurance provisions, net of reinsurance

Provisions for other risks and charges
Provisions for pensions and similar obligations

21 Other provisions

Total provisions for other risks and charges

Deposists with ceding undertakings, payable

Debt
Debt related to direct insurance
Debt related to reinsurance
Debt to credit institutions
Corporation tax
Other debt
Dividend for the financial year

22

Total Debt

Accruals and deffered income

Total liabilities

2003

2002

2002

1,700
2,968
692

5,360

4

700

5,239
-393
4,846

18,212
-3,324
14,888

1,159
1,159

76
1,424
82

22,475

141
179

320

0

391
520
656
22
647
50

2,286

214

31,359

1,300
2,968
0

4,268

1010

0

5,711
-667
5,044

17,836
-3,965
13,871

1,139
1,139

64
1,438
50

1,300

#REFERENCE!

#REFERENCE!

0

0

5,711
-667
5,044

17,836
-3,965
13,871

1,139
1,139

64
1,438
51

21,606

#REFERENCE!

185
352

537

6

425
580
1,249
3
953
0

3,210

196

#REFERENCE!

185
352

6

425
580
1,249
3
953
0

#REFERENCE!

196

29,833

#REFERENCE!

Forward transactions, etc.

23 Capital adequacy
24
25 Contingent liabilities
26

Intra-group transactions

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 76 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow statement

DKKm

Cash generated from operations
Premiums
Claims paid
Ceded business
Expenses
Change in other payables and other amounts receivable 
Cash flow from insurance activities
Interest and dividends
Taxes
Total cash generated from operations

Investments
Acquisition/sale of real property (net)
Acquisition/sale of equity investments and unit trust units (net)
Purchase/sale of bonds (net)
Purchase/sale of secured loans and other loan (net)
Purchase/sale of operating equipment (net)
Acquisition of subsidiaries
Total investments

Funding
Capital increase
Subordinate loan capital
Change in debt to credit institutions
Total funding 

Changes in cash and cash equivalents, net
Price adjustment of cash and cash equivalents, beginning-of-year
Additions relating to acquisition of subsidiaries
Changes in cash and cash equivalents, gross
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning-of-year
Cash and cash equivalents, year-end

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balance and demand deposits.

2003

17,479
-11,076
-562
-3,542
-254
2,045
1,393
-256
3,182

22
-394
-3,464
210
-56
-6
-3,688

400
700
-717
383

-123
-54
-177
735
558

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 77 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

1

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
Direct insurance
Indirect insurance

Ceded reinsurance premiums

Direct insurance, by location of the risks
Denmark
Other EU countries
Other countries

2

3

Technical interest, net of reinsurance
Transferred from investment activities
Discounting

Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Direct business
Indirect business

Reinsurance recoveries

Run-off gains/losses previous years, net of reinsurance
Run-off previous year, gross
Run-off previous year, reinsurers' share

2003

16,468
921
17,389
-2,767
14,622

8,114
226
8,128
16,468

773
-132
641

-12,268
-507
-12,775
1,416
-11,359

-1,215
516
-699

Pro forma
2002

28.01.-31.12.2002 *)

16,006
1,056
17,062
-3,691
13,371

7,314
279
8,413
16,006

1,017
-118
899

-12,524
-723
-13,247
1,945
-11,302

-620
-8
-628

8,671
561
9,232
-2,129
7,103

3,920
155
4,596
8,671

518
-69
449

-6,382
-417
-6,799
925
-5,874

-270
-105
-375

*) Subsidiaries included from 28 June 2002

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 78 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

4

Insurance operating expenses, net of reinsurance
Commission regarding direct business
Other acquisition costs 
Total acquisition costs
Total administrative expenses
Insurance operating expenses, gross
Commission, etc. from reinsurers

Insurance operating expenses, gross includes the following 
staff expenditure:
Salaries and wages
Commission
Pensions
Other expenses to social security
Payroll tax, etc.

Average number of full-time employees during the year 

Administrative expenses include fee to the
auditors appointed by the Annual General Meeting
Deloitte 
Grant Thornton
KPMG

Of which services other than audit
Deloitte 
KPMG

Beyond this, other ordinary expenses are defrayed to the Group's Internal Audit Department.

Other ordinary expenses
Holding expenses form part of other ordinary expenses 

Remuneration for the Executive Management is paid by Tryg Forsikring A/S
and Vesta Forsikring AS and is charged to Tryg Vesta Group A/S via
the cost allocation.

Remuneration for the Executive Management
Remuneration for the Supervisory Board

2003

-655
-1,425
-2,080
-1,885
-3,965
339
-3,626

-1,657
-9
-231
-120
-97
-2,114

-4,438

-11.1
-0.6
0.0
-11.7

-5.0
0.0
-5.0

-22

7
2

Pro forma
2002

28.01.-31.12.2002 *)

-527
-1,511
-2,038
-2,091
-4,129
552
-3,577

-1,775
-7
-239
-163
-118
-2,302

4,437

-10.8
0.0
-2.2
-13.0

-4.6
-0.5
-5.1

-52

-
-

-219
-818
-1,037
-1,044
-2,081
321
-1,760

-940
-3
-37
-97
-55
-1,132

4,437

-3.6
0.0
-0.6
-4.2

-3.5
-0.4
-3.9

-52

-
-

Incentive schemes based on shares have not been made with the Executive Management. But the Executive Management has earned
bonuses of DKK 2,5m for 2003.

*) Subsidiaries included from 28 June 2002

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 79 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

5

Technical result, net of reinsurance, distributed on business lines

1

1

2

3

4

5

Accident
and health
insurance

Workers'
compensation
insurance

Motor 
TPL

Comprehensive
motor 
insurance

Marine,
aviation and
cargo

2003

2002

2003

2002

2003

2002

2003

2002

2003

2002

2,597

2,544

3,079

2,973

2,679
-2,477

2,421
-2,082

3,080
-1,798

2,966
-2,070

10
-2
-514
-36
-1
152

-189

92.2

19.2

7
-1
-591
-40
-13
190

-108

85.7

24.4

0
-38
-607
-8
-1
62

691

59.1

20.0

0
-42
-632
-50
3
85

260

70.8

21.6

773

945
-723

0
-3
-214
-182
-1
28

-149

76.7

22.7

1,334

1,385
-888

0
-7
-371
-418
66
53

-179

64.4

26.9

Liability

2003

2002

Credit and
guarantee insurance
2002

2003

Other
insurance

2003

2002

764

802
-593

0
0
-179
-97
-20
45

-42

73.9

22.3

699

714
-386

0
0
-180
-158
-4
64

51

54.1

25.2

130

132
10

7
0
-40
-36
0
6

80

-12.8

30.3

120

122
-6

0
0
-50
-33
0
9

42

5.1

40.9

1,437

1,459

1,478
-1,035

1,521
-881

0
0
-518
39
-67
71

-32

70.1

35.0

5
0
-475
-275
-5
34

-78

57.6

31.3

Gross premiums

Gross earned premiums
Gross claims incurred
Change in other
technical provisions
Bonuses and premium rebates
Gross operating expenses
Profit/loss on ceded business
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical interest, net of reinsurance

Technical result

Gross claims ratio

Gross expense ratio

1,960

1,974

1,987
-2,063

2,000
-2,016

-2
-3
-489
-13
0
111

-471

4
-1
-491
75
-1
147

-281

806

789
-897

0
0
-109
-30
-15
12

-250

774

810
-979

0
0
-141
-5
-5
66

-254

104.1

100.6

113.6

120.8

24.6

24.5

13.8

17.4

Fire and
contents
(personal)
2003

2002

Fire and
contents
(commercial)
2003

2002

Gross premiums

2,833

2,682

2,675

2,514

Gross earned premiums
Gross claims incurred
Change in other
technical provisions
Bonuses and premium rebates
Gross operating expenses
Profit/loss on ceded business
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical interest, net of reinsurance

Technical result

Gross claims ratio

Gross expense ratio

Gross premiums

Gross earned premiums
Gross claims incurred
Change in other
technical provisions
Bonuses and premium rebates
Gross operating expenses
Profit/loss on ceded business
Change in equalisation provisions
Technical interest, net of reinsurance

Technical result

Gross claims ratio

Gross expense ratio

2,768
-1,940

2,560
-1,948

2,728
-1,260

2,563
-1,993

0
-8
-663
-71
8
78

172

70.3

24.0

0
-3
-601
-95
-51
128

-10

76.2

23.5

0
-2
-633
-579
-3
74

325

46.2

23.2

0
-5
-598
-195
-189
123

-295

77.9

23.4

Total

2003

2002

17,053

17,073

17,389
-12,775

17,062
-13,247

15
-56
-3,965
-1,013
-101
641

136

73.6

22.9

17
-60
-4,129
-1,194
-199
899

-851

77.8

24.3

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 80 of 98 

 
  
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

6

7

Interest and dividends, etc.
Dividends on capital participation
Interest on securities, etc.
Capital gains by drawing and servicing 
of securities, etc.

Realised and unrealised gains/losses on investment assets
Land and buildings
Other capital participation
Bonds listed on the stock exchange excl. index-linked bonds
Mortgage loans
Other loans and advances

Allocated to the following items
Net realised gains/losses on investment assets
Net unrealised gains/losses on investment assets

8 Extraordinary expenses

Goodwill in connection with acquisition of subsidiares
Restructuring and run-off expenses

9 Taxation

Taxation regarding previous years
Current tax
Dividend tax foreign equities
Change in deferred tax assets

Tax prepaid

2003

Pro forma
2002

28.01.-31.12.2002 *)

52
917

-86
883

21
252
361
7
0
641

165
476
641

0
0
0

52
-29
-3
-68
-48

250

46
949

-17
978

57
-889
670
0
-2
-164

286
-450
-164

-956
-300
-1,256

10
185
-1
49
243

0

9
542

-10
541

51
-447
455
0
-2
57

60
-3
57

-1,182
-300
-1,482

12
57
-1
-21
47

0

*) Subsidiaries included from 28 June 2002

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 81 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

10

Intangible assets
Acquisition sum
Balance 1 January
Additions during the year
Balance 31 December

Amortisation and write-downs
Balance 1 January
Amortisation during the year
Balance 31 December

Book value 31 December

11

Land and Buildings
Acquisition sum
Balance 1 January
Forein exchange adjustment, beginning-of-year
Additions by the acquisition of subsidiares
Additions during the year
Disposals during the year
Balance  31 December

Write-ups
Balance 1 January
Additions by the acquisition of subsidiaries 
Write-ups during the year
Reversal of revaluation
Revaluation, real property disposed of
Balance  31 December

Depreciation and write-downs
Balance 1 January
Additions by the acquisition of subsidiaries 
Write-downs during the year
Reversal of write-downs
Write-downs, real property disposed of
Balance  31 December

Book value 31 December

Book value by type of property
Business property
Office property
Production and warehouse property
Residential property

Of which property used by the companies for their operation

Public land assessment
Non-assessed property

In establishing the market value of the properties, the 
following return percentages were used for each property category

Business property
Office property
Production and warehouse property
Residential property

2003

2002

2002

0
42
42

0
-3
-3

39

3,091
-100
0
289
-1,409
1,871

357
0
77
-19
-223
192

-77
0
-48
5
66
-54

2,009

121
1,694
0
194
2,009

358

1,140
6

-
-
-

-
-
-

-

0
14
3,032
45
0
3,091

0
314
50
-7
0
357

0
-84
-1
8
0
-77

3,371

314
2,798
44
215
3,371

409

2,276

9494

0
14
3,032
45
0
3,092

0
314
50
-7
0
357

0
-84
-1
8

-77

#REFERENCE!

3,526

314
2,798
44
215
3,371

409

2,276

Lowest
%
2003

     Tryg / Vesta
8.00 / -
     6.50 / 8.75
      - / -
 5.50 / -

Average
%
2003

     Tryg / Vesta
8.00 / 
        7.25 / 7.47
       - / -
 6.07 / -

Highest
%
2003

     Tryg / Vesta
8.00 / 
          8.00 / 21.86
       -  / -
  6.50 / -

All properties

      5.50 / 8.75

       7.03 / 7.47

         8.00 / 21.86

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 82 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

12 Capital participation

Book value

Acquisition value

Shareholding of more than 5% of the company share capital 
according to the latest annual reports

Eidsvåg Fabrikker, Bergen
Bilskadeinstituttet, Oslo
Nygårdstangen, Bergen
Finansnærings huset, Oslo
Account Data A/S, Frederiksberg
Forsikringsakademiet A/S, Hørsholm Kommune
A/S Forsikringens Hus, København
Moskenes Fiskindustri, Moskenes
Lofoten Trålerrederi, Stamsund
Norsk Tillitsmann, Oslo
Riksheim Henningsvær, Henningsvær
Minox Technology, Notodden
Industrifinans Boligeiendom, Oslo
Andøy Trafikklag, Andenes
Privathospitalet Hamlet af 1994 A/S, Frederiksberg
Norsk Stålpress, Bergen
Høyteknologisenteret, Bergen

13 Other financial investment assets

Book value
Capital participation
Unit trust units
Ordinary bonds
Foreign bonds
Loans secured by mortgage
Other loans
Deposits in credit institutions

Acquisition value
Capital participation
Unit trust units
Bonds
Loans secured by mortgage
Other loans
Deposits in credit institutions

14 Other amounts owing

The sale of Tryg Ejendom I A/S to Nordea Pension Danmark, livsforsikringsselskab A/S,
forms part of amounts owing by DKK 1,2 bn

15

Tax assets
Land and buildings
Bonds and loans secured by mortgage
Operating equipment and provisions, etc.
Other assets
Debt
Tax loss to be carried forward

2003

2,323

2,218

The company
shareholders' equity

2003

2002

#REFERENCE!

2,113

2002

1,825

2,113

Ownership
share

2003

29
4
20
32
1
31
43
3
46
20
-1
11
33
2
11
5
70

2,323
18
9,302
10,666
0
70
415
22,794

2,218
25
18,987
0
70
100
21,400

63
-59
227
36
23
135
425

28
23
15
15
14
12
12
10
10
10
10
8
7
6
6
6
6

1,825
14
6,935
10,850
200
73
291
20,188

2,113
27
17,584
199
73
291
20,285

69
-2
240
24
15
149
495

#REFERENCE!
#REFERENCE!

6,935
10,850
200
73
291

#REFERENCE!

2,113
27
17,584
199
73
291
20,285

69
-2
240
24
15
149
495

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 83 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

16

Shareholders' equity
Share capital
Balance 1 January
Share capital when founded
Capital contribution by way of non-cash contributions
Capital increase during the year
Balance 31 December
The share capital is distributed in shares of DKK 100 or multiples thereof

Share premium account
Balance 1 January
Premium by way of non-cash contributions
transferred to retained profits
Balance 31 December

Retained profits
Balance 1 January
Balance 1 January before change of accounting policies
Transferred from share premium account
Balance 31 December

Total shareholders' equity

2003

1,300
0
0
400
1,700

2,968
0
0
2,968

0
692
0
692

5,360

In Vesta Forsikring AS and Dansk Kautionsforsikrings-Aktieselskab untaxed provisions for 
contingency fonds form part of the shareholders' equity with NOK 2.026m and DKK 139m respectively

17 Gross provisions

(provisions for claims)
Of which provisions calculated by discounting 
Workers' Compensation (Denmark)
Reduction from discounting

Settlement period
Discounting interest rate
Inflation

Workers' Compensation (Norway)
Reduction from discounting

Settlement period
Discounting interest rate
Inflation

18

Provisions for annuities
Workers' Compensation

Settlement period
Discounting interest rate
Inflation

19

Equalisation provisions
Financial quarantee insurance
Workers' Compensation
Storm and large perils
Equalisation provisions for Norwegian general insurance
Other insurance

18,212

793
54

4,3 year
3.2%
3.2%

2,393
399

4,2 year
3.5%
3.5%

1,159

11,5 year
2.75%
0%

270
94
185
869
6
1,424

2002

0
1
1,000
300
1,300

0
4,647
-1,679
2,968

0
-1,679
1,679
0

2002

0
1
1,000
300
1,300

0

#REFERENCE!

-1,679

#REFERENCE!

0

#REFERENCE!

1,679

#REFERENCE!

4,268

#REFERENCE!

17,836

575
46

4,3 year
3.5%
3.5%

2,355
407

4,8 year
3.5%
3.5%

1,139

12,0 year
2,75%
0%

270
79
166
907

1616

1,438

17,836

575

#REFERENCE!

4,3 år
3.5%
3.5%

#REFERENCE!
#REFERENCE!

4,8 år
3.5%
3.5%

1,139

12 år
2,75%
0%

270
79
166
907

1,438

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 84 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

20 Other insurance provisions, net of reinsurance

Provisions for life insurance, indirect insurance
Provisions for open financial years
Provision for unexpired risk

21 Other provisions

Costs of restructuring and run-off

During the year, DKK 173m has been spent of which DKK 121m
was spent on Chevanstell Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of Tryg Forsikring

22 Debt

Of which debt falling due after more than 5 years

23 Capital adequacy

Shareholders' equity according to the annual report
Capitalised tax assets
Solvency requirements to subsidiary undertakings
Supplementary capital
Capital base

Weighted assets

Solvency pursuant to s. 21, subs.1 of the Commercial Banks and 
Savings Banks, etc. Consolidated Act 

24

Forward transactions, etc.
Forward transactions, etc
Market value
Purchase of interest derivatives
Sale of interest derivatives
Forward purchase of foreign currency
Forward sale of foreign exchange 
Unsettled deals

Acquisition value
Purchase of interest derivatives
Sale of interest derivatives
Forward purchase of foreign currency
Forward sale of foreign exchange 
Unsettled deals

25 Contingent liabilities

Surety, guaranty and lease agreements, etc. 
beyond insurance obligations do not exceed

Additional  circumstances

2003

2002

2002

1
7
42
50

352
352

3,210

#REFERENCE!

1
7
42
51

352
352

67

67

4,268
0
-2,561
0
1,707

2,818

61%

3,307
715
110
3,455
130

3,309
713
109
3,400
130

375

3,307
715
110
3,455
130

3,309
713
109
3,400
130

375

1
0
81
82

179
179

2,286

0

5,360
-6
-2,610
700
3,444

3,999

86%

1,025
1,218
122
5,599
281

1,026
1,212
122
5,795
299

425

Tryg Forsikring A/S has concluded a collaboration agreement with CSC according to which CSC will handle the IT
operations of Tryg Forsikring A/S, amounting to DKK 513m. The agreement is for a period of five years.

Tryg Forsikring A/S has an annual obligation towards Danica  regarding lease of head office in Ballerup.
The annual rent and tax, etc. currently amount to DKK 74m. Remaining contract period is 22 years.

Tryg Forsikring A/S committed itself towards Nordea Pension Danmark, livsforsikringsselskab A/S,
to repurchase one property in connection with spinn-off of the subsidiary, Tryg Ejendomme I. Lease guarantees have 
been issued and consequently, the liabilities provided for amounted to DKK 33m.

Tryg Ejendomme II DKE A/S is jointly and severally liable together with the partly split up company Ejendom I A/S 
for all obligations existing at the time of the publication of the spin-off, however maximum with the 
reversed value of DKK 382m.

Most of the companies of the Tryg Vesta Group are jointly taxed and jointly and severally
liable for payment of imposed corporation tax.

Most of the Danish companies within the Tryg Vesta Group are commonly registered for VAT 
and payroll tax, and are jointly and severally liable for payment of all such direct and indirect taxes.

Companies of the Group are part of some disputes the outcome of which is
not estimated to affect the financial position of the Group.

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 85 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

26

Intra-group transactions

The management fee is fixed on a cost-covering basis.

The companies of the Tryg Vesta Group have concluded reinsurance treaties and agreements
about interest payment on current accounts based on market terms.

Under the item " Gross claims paid", DKK 50m has been recognised as revenue, which can be related
to the fact that Tryg i Danmark smba (Owner of Tryg Vesta Group A/S, which is the parent company
of Tryg Forsikring A/S) has quaranteed and consequently will pay Tryg Forsikring A/S an amount 
corresponding to the loss which Tryg Forsikring may incur in connection with the case: AON 77.

2003

2002

2002

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 86 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Income statement and balance sheet for Tryg Vesta 
Group A/S (parent company) 

Income Statement

DKKm

Note

Investment activities

Income from investment activities
Income from subsidiary undertakings
Interest and dividends, etc.

1
2

Total income from investment assets

Charges relating to investment assets
Investment management charges
Interest expenses

Total charges relating to investment assets

Exchange rate adjustment

Total Return on investment activities

3

Other ordinary expenses

Profit/loss from ordinary activities before tax

4

Extraordinary expenses

Profit/loss before tax

5

Tax

Profit/loss for the year

2003

28.01.-31.12.2002 *)

795
43

838

-10
-57

-67

-13

758

-22

736

0

736

6

742

-425
4

-421

-3
-5

-7

-16

-445

-52

-497

-1,182

-1,679

0

-1,679

*) Subsidiaries included from 28 June 2002

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 87 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet as at 31 December

DKKm

Note

Assets

6
6

7

8

Investments in subsidiary  undertakings
Capital participation in subsidiary undertakings
Loans to subsidiary undertakings
Total investments in
subsidiary undertakings

Other financial investment assets
Deposits in credit institutions

Total other financial investment assets

Total investment assets

Amounts owing
Amounts owing from subsidiary undertakings
Other amounts owing

Total amounts owing

Other Assets
Cash in hand and at bank
Deferred tax assets

Total other assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Shareholders' equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Retained profits

Total shareholders' equity

Subordinate loan capital

Debt
Debt to credit institutions
Other debt
Dividend for the financial year

Total debt

Total liabilities

9
Capital adequacy
10 Contingent liabilities
11

Intra-group transactions

2003

5,929
600

6,529

100

100

6,629

47
0

47

50
6

56

2002

4,584
702

5,286

0

0

5,286

92
1

93

14
0

14

6,732

5,393

1,700
2,968
692

5,360

700

601
21
50

672

6,732

1,300
2,968
0

4,268

0

1,100
25
0

1,125

5,393

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 88 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

2003

28.01.-31.12.2002 *)

1

2

3

4

5

Income from subsidiary undertakings
Tryg Forsikring A/S
Vesta Forsikring AS
Nordicum Kindlustuse Eesti AS

Interest and dividends, etc.
Interest on securities, etc.

Other ordinary expenses
Administrative expenses

Remuneration for the Executive Management is paid by Tryg Forsikring AS
and Vesta Group A/S and is charged to Tryg Vesta Group A/S via the 
cost allocation.

Average number of full-time employees

Remuneration for the Executive Management
Remuneration for the Supervisory Board

Administrative expenses include fee to the auditors appointed by the General Meeting:
Deloitte 
Grant Thornton
KPMG

Of which services other than audit:
Deloitte
KPMG

Beyond this expenses are defrayed to the Group's Internal Audit Department

Extraordinary Expenses
Goodwill in connection with the acquisition of subsidiaries

Tax
Change in deferred tax asset

795
-
-
795

43
43

-22
-22

0

5
2

-1.5
-0.2
0.0
-1.7

-1.0
0.0
-1.0

0
0

6
6

-524
101
-2
-425

4
4

-52
-52

0

-
-

-1.9
0.0
-0.6
-2.5

-1.3
-0.5
-1.8

-1,182
-1,182

0
0

*) Subsidiaries included from 28 June 2002

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 89 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

6

Capital participation in subsidiary undertakings
Acquisition sum
Balance at 1 January
Exchange rate adjustment during the period
Additions by non-cash contributions
Divestments during the year
Capital increase during the period
Balance at 31 December

7

8

Write-downs
Balance 1 January
Write-down by non-cash contribution
Profit/loss for the year of subsidiaries
Write-downs of subsidiaries divested
Dividend
Balance at 31 December

Book Value 31 December

Name and registered office

Tryg Forsikring A/S, Ballerup

The company has advanced a subordinate loan
of DKK 600m to Tryg Forsikring A/S.

Tax asset
Operating equipment and provision etc.

Shareholders' equity
Share capital
Balance 1 January
Share capital when founded
Capital contribution by non-cash contribution
Capital increase
Balance 31 December
The share capital is distributed in shares of DKK 100 or multiples thereof 

Share premium account
Balance 1 January
Premium on non-cash contribution
Transferred to Retained profits
Balance 31 December

Retained profits
Balance 1 January
Transferred from share premium account
Transferred cf. distribution of profit
Balance 31 December

Total Shareholders' Equity

In Vesta Forsikring AS and Dansk Kautionsforsikring-Aktieselskab, untaxed provisions
for contingency fonds form part of the shareholders' equity with NOK 2.026m
and DKK 139m, respectively.

2003

6,190
0
2,546
-2,527
600
6,809

-1,606
0
795
-19
-50
-880

5,929

2002

0
43
5,647
0
500
6,190

0
-1,182
-424
0
0
-1,606

4,584

Ownership 
interest  %

Profit
for the year

Shareholders'
equity as at 31.12.2003

100

795

5,929

6
6

1,300
0
0
400
1,700

2,968
0
0
2,968

0
0
692
692

5,360

0
0

0
1
1,000
300
1,300

0
4,647
-1,679
2,968

0
1,679
-1,679
0

4,268

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 90 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

DKKm

9

Capital adequacy
Shareholders' equity according to the annual report
Capitalise tax assets
Solvency requirements to affiliated undertakings
Tier 2 capital
Capital base

Weighted assets

Solvency pursuant to s. 21, subs. 1 of the Commercial Banks and
Savings Banks, etc. Consolidated Act

10 Contingent Liabilities

2003

5,360
-6
-2,610
700
3,444

3,999

86%

2002

4,268
0
-2,561
0
1,707

2,818

61%

The company is jointly taxed together with most companies of the Tryg Vesta Group, and together
they are jointly and severally liable for payment of imposed tax.

The company is commonly registered for VAT and pay roll tax together with most of the Danish companies 
within the Tryg Vesta Group, and together they are jointly and severally liable for payment
of all such direct and indirect taxes.

The company is part of some disputes the outcome of which is not estimated to affect the financial position of the company.

11

Intra-Group transactions

The management fee is fixed on a cost-covering basis.

The companies of the Tryg Vesta Group have concluded reinsurance treaties
and agreements about interest payment on current accounts based on market terms.

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 91 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group overview 

Tryg Vesta Group A/S has the following 
subsidiaries: 

Overview

DKKm

Tryg Vesta Group A/S

Tryg Forsikring A/S

Vesta Forsikring AS
Enter Forsikring
Slettebakksveien
Respons Inkasso
Thunes Vei 2

Dansk Kautionsforsikrings-Aktieselskab

ApS SMBK nr. 98

Tryg-Baltica Forsikring, internationalt forsikringsselskab A/S
Tryg Forsikring II A/S  *)
Tryg Forsikring, Rejse og Sundhed A/S  *)
Tryg Polska Towarzystwo Ubezpieczen S.A.
Chevanstell Ltd.
Nordicum Kindlustuse Eesti AS
ApS KBIL 9 nr. 2032
Tryg Ejendomme II / DKE A/S

*) Expected to have merged into Tryg Forsikring A/S as at 1 January 2004.

Registered
office

Profit/loss
for the year Ownership

Share Shareholders'
equity
capital
31.12.2003
2003 share in % 31.12.2003

Country

Denmark
Ballerup
Norway
Bergen
Norway
Bergen
Norway
Bergen
Norway
Bergen
Norway
Bergen
Denmark
Ballerup
Denmark
Ballerup
k
Denmar
Ballerup
Denmark
Ballerup
Denmark
Ballerup
Radom
Poland
London United Kingdom
Estonia
Tallinn
Denmark
Ballerup
k
Denmar
Ballerup

795
381
64
1
2
4
87
0
-258
41
10
-41
-257
-1
0
0

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
98
100
100
100
100

1.100
0
44
6
0
46
193
0
850
160
3
190
624
0
0
1

5.929
2.573
149
26
1
49
491
0
458
278
69
139
158
9
0
381

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 92 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supervisory Board and 
Executive Management 

Supervisory Board 

Member of the Supervisory Board of Arla Foods 

Holding A/S, CEO Arla Foods International A/S. 

Mr John R. Frederiksen 

Born in 1948 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of A/S 

Kollektivhuset Hellebo, Chairman of the Supervisory 

This overview shows the executive positions of the 

Board of Ejendomsselskabet Norden A/S, Chairman of 

members of the Supervisory Board in Danish 

the Supervisory Board of Ejendomsselskabet Storken 

companies which are not fully owned by the Tryg Vesta 

A/S, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 

Group. 

Mr Mikael Olufsen, Chairman 

Born in 1943 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Danish Cereal 

Holding A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Egmont International Holding A/S. 

Mr Mogens Jacobsen, Deputy Chairman 

Born in 1944  

Member of the Supervisory Board of Nordea Pension 

Danmark, livsforsikringsselskab A/S. 

Mr Per Skov, Deputy Chairman 

Born in 1941 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Utility 

Development A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Dagrofa A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Denerco Oil A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Denerco Petroleum A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of DSV, De Sammensluttede Vognmænd af 

13.7.1976 A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Kemp & Lauritzen A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of Nordlux A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of Privathospitalet Hamlet A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Superfos A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Superfos Industries A/S. 

Mr Jørn Wendel Andersen 

Born in 1951 

Member of the Supervisory Board of AF A/S, Member 

of the Supervisory Board of Arla Foods Finance A/S, 

Ejendomsselskabet Uglen A/S, Chairman of the 

Supervisory Board of Jacob Holm & Sønner A/S, 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Jacob Holm & 

Sønner Finans A/S, Chairman of the Supervisory Board 

of Jacob Holm Industries A/S, Chairman of the 

Supervisory Board of Jacob Holm Industriinvest A/S, 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of JHS af 27. 

februar 1997 A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Danarota Technic A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of Dønnerup A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of Fortunen A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of Freja Ejendomme A/S (Statens Ejendomssalg 

A/S), Member of the Supervisory Board of Højgård 

Ejendomme A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Holdingselskabet Allindemaglegård A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Holdingselskabet Dønnerup Agri 

A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of Oak Property 

Invest A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of RGS 

90 Industrimiljø, Stigsnæs A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Råstof og Genanvendelse 

Selskabet af 1990 A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of Sjælsø Enterprise A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Sjælsø Gruppen A/S, Member of 

the Supervisory Board of RENOFLEX-GRUPPEN A/S, 
CEO Fortunen A/S, CEO Oak Property Invest A/S. 

Mr Jørn Hesselholt 

Born in 1944 

CEO Hesselholt Fisk Eksport A/S. 

Mr Håkon J. Huseklepp, employee representative 

Born in 1955 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 93 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Mr Jens Lyngbo 

Born in 1943 

Member of the Supervisory Board of Nordea Pension 

Danmark, livsforsikringsselskab A/S. 

Mr Peter Wagner Mollerup, employee representative 

Born in 1966 

Ms Birthe Petersen, employee representative 

Born in 1949 

Mr Niels Erik Schultz-Petersen 

Born in 1941 

Deputy Chairman H.A.G. A/S. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 94 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
Executive Management 

Ms Stine Bosse, Group CEO 

Born in 1960 

Joined Tryg in 1987 

Education 

2002: LinKS, University of Pennsylvania, USA 

2001: LinKS, Insead, France 

1997: Knowledge Management, ICBI, London 

1990: The Danish Employers’ Association’s Executive 

Training at Bøgehøj 

1987: LLM, University of Copenhagen 

Executive positions 

CEO Tryg i Danmark smba, CEO Tryg Forsikring A/S, 

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Tryg Forsikring, 

Rejse og Sundhed A/S, Chairman of the Supervisory 

Board of Tryg-Baltica Forsikring, internationalt 

Mr Erik Gjellestad, Member of the Group Executive 

Management 

Born in 1953 

Joined Vesta in 2002 

Education  

2001-2002: Corporate Entrepreneurship, Babson 

College – USA  

1995: Leadership Development, Henley management 

College, Great Britain 

1976: B. Com., Norway Business School 

Executive positions 

CEO Vesta Forsikring AS, Member of the Executive 

Management of Tryg Forsikring A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Tryg Forsikring II A/S, Member of 

the Supervisory Board of Fjord Line AS, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Finansnæringens 

Hovedorganisation (the Norwegian Financial Service 

Association), Representative, Nordea Liv AS. 

forsikringsselskab A/S, Chairman of the Supervisory 

Previous positions 

1997-2002: CEO, Sparebank1 Skadeforsikring AS 

1996-1997: European IT Development Centre Manager, 

General Accident plc. 

1991-1996: Director, Aktiv Forsikring AS 

1989-1991: CEO, NICE AS 

1986-1988: Head of Insurance operations, Aktiv 

Forsikring AS 

1981-1986: Product Manager, Marketing Manager, 

Deputy Manager, Storebrand Skadeforsikring AS 

1977-1981: Advertisement Sales Representative, 

Market Analyst, Sales Manager, Det Beste AS

Board of Vesta Forsikring AS, Chairman of the 

Supervisory Board of Tryg Forsikring II A/S, Chairman 

of the Supervisory Board of ApS KBIL 9 NR. 2032, 

Member of the Supervisory Board of Tryg Ejendomme 

II/DKE A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of Center 

For Ledelse, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Flügger A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Forsikring og Pension. 

Previous positions  

1999-2001: Director, Tryg 

1995-1999: Human Resource Director, Tryg 

1993-1995: Personnel Manager, Tryg 

1991-1993: Deputy Functional Manager responsible for 

product and concept development, Claims and 

Underwriting Department, Tryg 

1990-1991: Head of Underwriting Department, Tryg 

1988-1990: Head of Claims Department, Tryg 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 95 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mr Morten Hübbe, Group CFO 

Mr Peter Falkenham, Member of the Group 

Born in 1972 

Joined Tryg in 2003 

Education 

Executive Management 

Born in 1958 

Joined Tryg in 2000 

1996: MSc, Finance and Accounting, Copenhagen 

Education 

Business School 

1984: B. Com (International Trade), Copenhagen 

1994: BSc in International Business Administration and 

Business School 

Modern Languages (Baint. – SPRØK), Copenhagen 

1982: MSc Engineering, The Technical University of 

Business School  

Executive positions 

Member of the Executive Management of Tryg i 

Danmark smba, Member of the Executive Management 

of Tryg Forsikring A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of Tryg Forsikring II A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Tryg-Baltica Forsikring, 

internationalt forsikringsselskab A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Dansk Kautionsforsikrings-

Aktieselskab A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Tryg Ejendomme II/DKE A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Vesta Forsikring AS, Member of 

the Supervisory Board of m Tryg Polska Towarzystwo 

Ubezpieczen SA. 

Previous positions  

2002-2003: CFO, Tryg 

Denmark 

Executive positions 

Member of the Executive Management of Tryg 

Forsikring A/S, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 

Dansk Kautionsforsikrings-Aktieselskab, Chairman of 

the Supervisory Board of Tryg Polska Towarzystwo 

Ubezpieczen SA, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 

Nordicum Kindlustuse Eesti AS, Chairman of the 

Supervisory Board of SafeExIT A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Tryg Ejendomme II/DKE A/S, 

Member of the Supervisory Board of Tryg Forsikring II 

A/S, Member of the Supervisory Board of Tryg 

Forsikring, Rejse og Sundhed A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Tryg-Baltica Forsikring, 

internationalt forsikringsselskab A/S, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of ApS KBIL 9 NR. 2032, Member of 

the Supervisory Board of Vesta Forsikring AS, Member 

2001-2002: Nordic CFO, Zurich Nordic 

of the Supervisory Board of Solar Holding A/S.  

2000-2001: Deputy CFO, Zurich Nordic 

1999-2000: Operations Manager – Nordic Investment 

Previous positions 

Dept., Zurich Nordic 

1996-2000: Managing Director, ABB Energi og Industri 

1997-1999: Financial Analyst, Alm. Brand Forsikring 

A/S 

1991-1997: Controller, Zurich

1989-1996: Managing Director, ABB Komponent A/S 

1988-1989: Managing Director, ABB Cylinda A/S 

1987-1988: Manager, Asea Cylinda A/S, 1987-88 

1985-1987: Head of Export Marketing, LK as 

1985: Management Assistant, LK as 

1982-1984: Project Manager, Crone og Koch 

Rådgivende Ingeniører

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 96 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Mr Stig Ellkier-Pedersen, Member of the Group 

office, Egnssparekassen Lolland-Falster, Sparekassen 

SDS 

1974-1978: Vice President and Head of Central 

Personnel, Copenhagen, Sparekassen SDS 

Mr Bjørn Thømt, Member of the Group Executive 

Management 

Born in 1954 

Joined Vesta in 1981 

Education  

1985: University degree in insurance, Norwegian 

School of Management 

1979: B. Com., Norwegian School of Economics and 

Business Administration  

Executive positions 

Deputy Managing Director of Vesta Forsikring AS, 

Member of the Executive Management of Tryg 

Forsikring A/S, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 

Enter Forsikring AS, Chairman of the Supervisory 

Board of Polygon AS, Member of the Supervisory Board 

of Finansnæringens Hus AS, Member of the 

Supervisory Board of Norsk Varekrigsfond 

Previous positions 

2000-2004; Division Manager, Products, Vesta 

1994-2002: Division Manager, Group Services, Vesta 

1988-1994: Division Manager, Claims Dept., Vesta 

1987-1988: Functional Director, Næringsliv, Vesta 

1985-1987: Product Manager, Fire – Commercial, 

Vesta 

1983-1985: Head of Department, Commercial 

Underwriting, Vesta 

1981-1983: Claims Consultant, Vesta 

1979-1981: First Consultant, Prisdirektoratet  

Executive Management 

Born in 1947 

Joined Tryg in 1999 

Education 

2000: Leadership in the Knowledge Society, Insead, 

France 

1995: Strategy, Change and Leadership, Insead, 

France 

1994-95: Leadership in Organisations, Insead, France 

1971: Machine engineer, Danmarks Ingeniørakademi 

(the Danish Engineering Academy), production line 

Executive positions 

Member of the Executive Management of Tryg 

Forsikring A/S, Member of the Executive Management 

of Tryg Forsikring II A/S, Member of the Supervisory 

Board of Tryg Forsikring, Rejse og Sundhed A/S, 

Member of the Supervisory Board of 

Forsikringshøjskolen Rungstedgård A/S (The Danish 

Insurance Academy), Member of the Supervisory Board 

of FA, Finanssektorens Arbejdsgiverforening (Danish 

Employers’ Association for the Financial Sector). 

Previous positions 

2000-2001: Executive Vice President, Business Area 

Personal, Service Centres and Bank Distribution, Tryg 

1999-2000: Executive Vice President, Business Area 

Personal, Sales East and Bank Distribution, Tryg 

1996-1999: CEO, Livsforsikringsaktieselskabet 

Enhjørningen and Skadeforsikringsaktieselskabet 

Enhjørningen, Unibank 

1994-1996: CEO, Livsforsikringsaktieselskabet 

Enhjørningen, Unibank 

1990-1994: Executive Vice President and Head of 

Personnel and Education and Management 

Development, Unibank  

1986-1990: Executive Vice President and Head of 

Personnel and Education, Copenhagen, Sparekassen 

SDS  

1977-1986: Senior Vice President and Head of main 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 97 of 98 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glossary of technical 
terms 

The financial highlights and key ratios of the Tryg Vesta 

Group have been prepared in accordance with the 

Danish Financial Supervisory Authority’s executive 

order on the presentation of consolidated financial 

statements by general insurance companies. Under 

“Accounting policies”, the items of the income statement 

and balance sheet are further commented. 

Gross earned premiums 

include gross premiums adjusted for reserves (earned 

premiums) with the deduction of bonus and premium 

rebates. 

Net of reinsurance (n.o.r.) 

means that the amount is calculated after deduction of 

reinsurers’ share. 

Return on shareholders’ equity in percentages 

expresses the relation between the profit/loss for the 

year and the average shareholders’ equity for the year. 

Profit/loss for the year x 100 

Average shareholders’ equity 

Key ratios accounted for according to other method 

refers to the fact that the key ratios in the annual report 

of the Tryg Vesta Group are calculated in accordance 

with the rules stipulated by the Danish Financial 

Supervisory Authority, according to which the combined 

ratio, net of reinsurance, is stated as the sum of the 

claims ratio, net of reinsurance, and the expense ratio, 

net of reinsurance. However, the key ratios may also be 

accounted for according to another method, which is 

used by some other players in the Danish insurance 

market. Accoding to this method, the combined ratio is 

calculated as the sum of the gross claims ratio, gross 

expense ratio and the result of ceded business in 

percentage relative to gross premiums. This method 

makes it easier to indentify the actual costs of 

reinsurance. 

Claims ratio, net of reinsurance 

expresses the relation between claims incurred, net of 

Danish general insurance 

reinsurance, and earned premiums, net of reinsurance. 

Claims incurred, net of reinsurance, x 100 

    Earned premiums, net of reinsurance 

consists of the legal companies Tryg Forsikring A/S, 

Tryg Forsikring II A/S (exclusive of the branch in 

Finland), Tryg Rejse og Sundhed as well as Dansk 

Kaution. 

Norwegian general insurance 

consists of Vesta Forsikring AS, including subsidiaries. 

Expense ratio, net of reinsurance 

expresses the relation between insurance operating 

expenses, net of reinsurance, and earned premiums, 

net of reinsurance. 

Insurance operating exp. net of reinsurance, x 100 

         Earned premiums, net of reinsurance 

Combined ratio, net of reinsurance 

is the sum of the expense ratio, net of reinsurance, and 

the expense ratio, net of reinsurance. 

Annual Report 2003 

The Tryg Vesta Group 

18 March 2004 

page 98 of 98