Internal revenue growth, which adjusts for currency and consolidation effects, amounted to 9.8 percent and was supported by all business segments. Total revenues increased by 7.9 percent to 30.5 (third quarter of 2017: 28.3) billion euros. Operating profit grew 20.6 percent to 3.0 (2.5) billion euros, mostly driven by our Property-Casualty business, which experienced lower claims from natural catastrophes, a better underlying claims development and a decreased expense ratio, as well as strong premium growth. An increase in assets under management (AuM) driven revenues and higher performance fees led to an increase in the operating profit from our Asset Management business segment. Our Life/Health business segment operating profit decreased slightly but remained at a good level. Net income attributable to shareholders was up 23.6 percent to 1.9 (1.6) billion euros, mainly driven by the increased operating profit.

Basic Earnings per Share (EPS) increased 12.0 percent to 13.42 (11.98) euros in the first nine months of 2018. Annualized Return on Equity (RoE) amounted to 13.8 percent (full year 2017: 11.8 percent).

Solvency II capitalization ratio amounted to 229 percent at the end of the quarter compared to 230 percent recorded at the end of the second quarter of 2018.

In the first nine months of 2018, operating profit grew 4.8 percent to 8.7 (8.3) billion euros, due to a higher underwriting result from our Property-Casualty business, as well as increased operating revenues (primarily AuM-driven) from our Asset Management business. Life/Health business segment operating profit declined slightly as a result of less favorable foreign currency translation effects and a normalization of the investment margin in the United States. Net income attributable to shareholders increased to 5.8 (5.4) billion euros: a negative impact from the sale of our traditional life insurance portfolio in Taiwan was more than offset by the increase in operating profit and lower income taxes.

Allianz completed its latest share buy-back program in September 2018 with a volume of 1.0 billion euros. All repurchased shares have been cancelled.

“During the first nine months of 2018 Allianz showed a strong performance across the board, now also supported by substantial productivity gains,” said Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE. “Especially in challenging times, customers are looking for a financially solid partner for their insurance and investment needs. Allianz has been that reliable partner year after year. And we are very confident to reach our targets also for this year.”

• PVNBP^[1], the present value of new business premiums, increased to 13.4 (12.0) billion euros in the third quarter of 2018, mainly due to higher sales of fixed-indexed annuities in the United States and of capital-efficient products in the German life insurance business. This was partly offset by lower sales in Asia.
• The new business margin (NBM) strengthened to 3.5 (3.4) percent due to a favorable business mix and favorable economic conditions in the United States. The value of new business (VNB) increased to 476 (410) million euros in the third quarter driven by strong sales of capital-efficient products.
• Operating profit decreased slightly to 1,052 (1,069) million euros.

“Our Life and Health insurance segment is performing well and generates growing revenues and good margins,” said Giulio Terzariol. “The value of new business grew by 16 percent in the third quarter of 2018, and the new business margin increased to 3.5 percent.”

In the first nine months of 2018 PVNBP¹ increased to 42.4 (40.3) billion euros largely because of the higher sales of our capital-efficient products in the German life business. Operating profit decreased slightly to 3,197 (3,351) million euros as a result of less favorable foreign currency translation effects and a normalized level of investment margin in the United States compared to the first nine months of 2017. This was partly offset by the increased income from unit-linked business in Italy and Taiwan. The NBM increased to 3.4 (3.3) percent bringing the VNB to 1,456 (1,332) million euros.

^[1]PVNBP is shown after non-controlling interests unless otherwise stated.

• Third-party assets under management (AuM) grew by 23 billion euros (1.6 percent) to 1,487 billion euros compared to the end of the second quarter of 2018. Thereby, we recorded third-party net inflows of 15 billion euros after net outflows in the second quarter of 2018. Market, foreign currency and other effects also added to the positive development. Total AuM reached a record level of 2,015 billion euros.
• The cost-income ratio (CIR) increased by 0.6 percentage points to 62.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018 compared to last year’s respective quarter due to one-off expenses and investments in business growth.
• Operating profit increased by 10.6 percent to 650 (588) million euros in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017. This was due to an increase in AuM-driven revenues, supported by both higher average AuM and a slightly improved margin, as well as an increase in performance fees.

“Our Asset Management business once again achieved excellent results. Both, Allianz Global Investors and PIMCO recorded net inflows, adding up to 15 billion euros in the third quarter,” said Giulio Terzariol. “With a double digit operating profit growth, the Asset Management segment has again made an important contribution to the profitability of Allianz.”

In the first nine months of 2018, operating revenues increased by 7.2 percent to 5.0 billion euros, mainly driven by increased average third-party AuM and an increase in third-party AuM-driven margins at both PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors. Operating revenue growth was also supported by higher performance fees at Allianz Global Investors. The cost-income ratio improved by 0.6 percentage points to 62.0 percent, as revenue growth outpaced the increase in expenses. Operating profit rose 8.8 percent to 1,897 (1,743) million euros. Third-party AuM increased by 40 billion euros compared to year-end 2017, as third-party net inflows and favorable foreign currency effects outweighed negative market effects.

The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with more than 88 million retail and corporate customers. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing over 660 billion euros on behalf of its insurance customers while our asset managers Allianz Global Investors and PIMCO manage more than 1.4 trillion euros of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we hold the leading position for insurers in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2017, over 140,000 employees in more than 70 countries achieved total revenues of 126 billion euros and an operating profit of 11 billion euros for the group.

These assessments are, as always, subject to the disclaimer provided below.