AXA enters into exclusivity for the potential disposal of its European Variable Annuities carrier, with expected total cash proceeds of Euro 1.2 billion

AXA announced today that it has received an irrevocable offer from Cinven for the potential sale of AXA Life Europe (ALE), a specialized platform which designed, manufactured and distributed AXA’s Variable Annuity products across Europe.

The total cash proceeds generated for AXA Group would be Euro 1,165 million, which includes Euro 925 million (representing an implied 1.0x BV multiple*) from the potential sale of ALE shares to be fully paid in cash at closing, and a capital distribution from ALE to AXA S.A. of Euro 240 million, prior to the transaction, in June 2018.

Based in Dublin with over 60 employees, ALE delivers strong financial risk management capabilities and manages a portfolio of ca. 248,000 insurance contracts with ca. Euro 5 billion reserves*. It distributed products across Europe through the networks of AXA entities (namely Germany, France, UK, Spain, Italy, and Portugal*) and third-party distribution channels, and has a reinsurance arrangement with AXA Japan. ALE has been closed to new business since 2017. The German insurance contracts account for more than 70% of ALE’s portfolio*, and the policy administration services for these contracts will continue to be provided by AXA Germany.

This transaction is expected to result in a positive impact on AXA Group Solvency II ratio of ca. 2 points. The Underlying Earnings (UE) generated from the business under consideration were Euro 19 million in FY17.

The proposed transaction is subject to customary conditions, including completing the information and consultation of the relevant works councils as well as obtaining required regulatory approvals, and is expected to be finalized by the end of 2018 or early 2019.

*Excluding Other Comprehensive Income

*IFRS Reserves as of FY17

*AXA Portugal was sold to Ageas in 2016

*In terms of reserves