RISK SECTION
DH Reinsurance operates in a market with a specific insurance risk profile. In addition to the underwriting risk, market risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, commercial risk, operational risk and integrity risk also play a role. DH Reinsurance's business operations are aimed at recognizing, quantifying and managing these risks. The policy regarding risk management is set out in the Management Board's report.
DH Reinsurance has set a solvency ratio of 200% as an internal standard. This standard is in line with a high creditworthiness as laid down in Article 199 of the Delegated Regulation EU 2015/35. This sets out which solvency ratio matches the creditworthiness of the company. In credit quality category 1, the rated company has a very strong ability to meet its financial obligations. The probability of default at 0.01% is related to a solvency ratio of 196%. We have rounded this to a standard of 200%.
The stress tests conducted as part of the ORSA process show that, under this standard, DH Reinsurance, taking into account the risk factors identified in this risk section, can continue to meet its obligations without the need for significant remedial measures.
The results of the calculation of the capital requirements under the current solvency regime are as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Eligible Own Funds (EOF) | 68.625 | 64.575 | |
| Solvency Capital Requirement (SCR) | 29.840 | 26.697 | |
| Ratio of EOF to SCR | 230% | 242% | |
Compared to the end of 2024 the solvency ratio slightly decreased. The Eligible Own funds increased by 4.049 mainly due to an increase in the value of equity. The Solvency Capital Requirement also increased, from 26.697 to 29.840. This increase is mainly caused by the increase in market risk by 11%. Within market risk, currency risk in particular increased due to the growing number of non-euro-denominated investments.
The SCR is structured as follows:
Breakdown of Solvency Capital Requirement (SCR)
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Market risk | 25.069 | 22.507 | |
| Counterparty default risk | 4.900 | 2.916 | |
| Underwriting risk | 7.227 | 7.483 | |
| Diversification effect | -7.625 | -6.467 | |
| Basic Solvency Capital Requirement (BSCR) | 29.570 | 26.438 | |
| Operational risk | 270 | 259 | |
| SCR | 29.840 | 26.697 |
The SCR consists of the Basic Solvency Capital Requirement (BSCR) plus the required capital for operational risk. Under certain strict conditions, the loss-absorbing capacity of deferred taxes (LAC DT) may be deducted from this. DH Reinsurance has decided not to apply the LAC DT. This decision is periodically assessed.
Breakdown of market risk
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Interest | 1.383 | 323 | |
| Equity | 19.869 | 20.333 | |
| Spread | 872 | 392 | |
| Currency | 9.811 | 4.927 | |
| Concentration | 449 | 2.188 | |
| Diversification effect | -7.316 | -5.656 | |
| 25.069 | 22.507 | ||
Breakdown of underwriting risk
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Mortality risk | 3.187 | 3.137 | |
| Longevity risk | 209 | 307 | |
| Lapse risk | 2.663 | 2.721 | |
| Expense risk | 3.220 | 3.576 | |
| Catstrophe risk | 1.698 | 1.592 | |
| Diversication risk | -3.750 | -3.850 | |
| 7.227 | 7.483 |
The SCR is 3.143 (12%) higher than last year. Market risk increased because the equity fund invests much more in foreign currencies than DH Reinsurance did in the shares held in 2024. The underwriting risk increased due to increased cost risk.
The following overview shows the reconciliation between own funds according to the annual accounts (BW2 and RJ) and SII. The required capital and the solvency ratio are also stated.
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Own funds annual accounts | 68.444 | 66.138 | |
| Valuation differences of assets | 137 | -347 | |
| Valuation differences between technical balance sheet provisions and best-estimate provision | 3.715 | 1.987 | |
| Valuation differences other liabilities | -374 | -511 | |
| Valuation differences related to deferred taxes | -897 | -291 | |
| Own funds before dividend distribution | 71.025 | 66.975 | |
| Proposed dividend | 2.400 | 2.400 | |
| Eligible Own Funds (EOF) | 68.625 | 64.575 | |
| Solvency Capital Requirement (SCR) | 29.840 | 26.697 | |
| Solvency ration | 230% | 242% | |
In the annual accounts, equity is valued at current market value, except for shares in Guarantee Fund Onderlinge Levensverzekering-Maatschappij 's Gravenhage which are valued at purchase price. On the Solvency II balance sheet, all investments are valued at current market value. The difference between the technical provision and the best-estimate provision is that the technical provision is based on net (rate) principles discounted at a fixed discount rate and that the best-estimate provision is determined on the basis of best estimates (for mortality, costs and lapse). The interest rate curve published by EIOPA without volatility adjustment is used for discounting the cash flows. This provision is increased by a risk margin.
The difference in deferred tax between the annual accounts and the Solvency II balance sheet is explained by different valuation principles.
The Other obligations mainly relate to the De Hoop Leven fund.
The table below shows the impact on own funds and solvency (according to Solvency II) for the most important risk factors if the risk factors undergo significant changes.
Sensitivity to shocks as of 31 December
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| Change in equity¹ |
Change in required solvency SII | Change in SII-solvency ratio in % points |
Change in equity¹ |
Change in required solvency SII | Change in SII-solvency ratio in % points |
||
| Interest rate curve shocked by + 100 BP | (468) | (234) | 0% | 338 | -297 | 4% | |
| Interest rate curve shocked by - 100 bp | 220 | 300 | -2% | -660 | 391 | -6% | |
| No UFR | (700) | 133 | -3% | -239 | 56 | -1% | |
| Equity shocked with + 25% | 7.905 | 4.420 | -7% | 9.013 | 4.752 | -8% | |
| Equity shocked with - 25% | (7.905) | (4.197) | 7% | -9.013 | -4.595 | 10% |
A qualitative and, where necessary, a quantitative explanation is given below for each risk factor.
Commercial risk
Commercial risk is the risk that the company's objectives will not be achieved due to insufficient response to changes in environmental factors. DH Reinsurance operates from a reinsurance position and is therefore dependent on individual life insurers. Market movements but also strategic reconsiderations by these parties have a direct influence on production at DH Reinsurance. The Dutch insurance market is mainly characterized by consolidations, efficiency gains and significant price competition. DH Reinsurance focuses mainly on term life insurance, a product that is mainly taken out in combination with mortgages. Due to these developments, the number of providers on the Dutch market is becoming increasingly smaller. Because DH Reinsurance operates from a reinsurance position, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the end customer to find the route to an insurance solution.
DH Reinsurance carried out a strategic reorientation in 2021 and determined a long-term growth strategy. The implementation of this growth strategy started in 2022. This has now ensured that a new customized track for new policyholders has been set up in the Netherlands with various insurers. In addition, new reinsurancerelationships have been entered into with partners in Germany and the United Kingdom. This has led to substantial growth in recent years.
Marketrisk
Part of the market risk is the interest rate and matching risk that may arise when hedging the insurance liabilities. The interest rate risk arises from market valuations of the underlying portfolios, such as liabilities and fixed-income securities. The liabilities are fully covered by fixed-income securities. Due to the diversification in the duration of the investments and the relatively short duration of the liabilities, interest rate changes have little influence on DH Reinsurance's solvency position. In addition, DH Reinsurance is little affected by the so-called UFR drag due to the shorter insurance liabilities.
Modified duration
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Investments | 4,9 | 4,2 | |
| Technical provisions | 8,2 | 9,0 | |
Although the duration of the investments is shorter than that of the technical provision, the interest rate risk is relatively low, as the value of the investments is almost double that of the technical provision.
The greatest market risk lies within Aegon World Equity Index Fund. Price falls will quickly have a negative impact on the existing own funds. However, in such a case, the required capital also decreases, causing the solvency ratio to increase. Currency fluctuations can also affect the value of the shares. The currency risk is not hedged.
Equity invested in foreign currency (amounts in euros)
| Valuta | 2025 | 2024 | |
| American dollar | 28.723 | 11.255 | |
| Britsh pound | 1.166 | 1.203 | |
| Japanse yen | 1.959 | 986 | |
| Swedisch krona | 348 | 1.792 | |
| Swiss franc | 975 | 4.473 | |
| Totaal | 33.171 | 19.708 | |
| In % of the equity portfolio | 36% | 31% | |
Credit risk
The credit risk is divided into the following components:
Debtor risk
DH Reinsurance has no debtor relationship with consumers. The debtor risk in this context lies with the primary insurance companies. DH Reinsurance has a current account relationship with its ceding insurers. The current account is drawn up and checked every month. As a rule, this is settled monthly. Some foreign ceding insurers are settled annually. The debtor risk is negligible.
Counterparty default risk
No deposit has been made for the reinsurer QBE. The reinsured provision is included in the calculation of the counterparty risk under Solvency II.
DH Reinsurance makes a deposit with a number of foreign ceding insurers equal to the provision for insurance liabilities. This deposit serves as security for the ceding insurer. The risk of this deposit is limited. The cash balances at banks are subject to counterparty default risk. DH Reinsurance mitigates this risk by spreading the liquidity position among banks with at least an A rating.
The mortgage fund also falls under this risk. The mortgage fund is mainly related to guaranteed mortgages (Dutch Mortgage Guarantee) granted after 1 January 2013, where repayment is the norm and overcrediting is capped (loan to value capped at 106%). This shifts the majority of the mortgage fund's debt risk to the Dutch state. The mortgage fund is an investment with a low risk profile. The counterparty default risk is assessed as low.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity is the ability to make the investments on the balance sheet liquid, for example when distributions have to be made or collateral has to be deposited. At DH Reinsurance, the obligations that require liquid assets mainly consist of payments that must be made to the ceding insurers. If mortality increases, higher payments in the portfolio may have to be taken into account than expected. DH Reinsurance pays out the obligations to ceding insurers at the time of claim by the ceding insurer. Claims are settled with the reinsurer on a quarterly basis. The settlements with the foreign ceding insurers are drawn up and processed at the end of the financial year. DH Reinsurance always maintains a reasonable buffer of liquid assets and invests mainly in funds that are relatively easy to liquidate.
DH Reinsurance does not invest in derivatives and therefore runs no risk of having to provide collateral. Part of the liquid assets (GBP 1,000) is in a blocked account at a bank, because the bank in question has issued a letter of credit to a ceding insurer.
Operational and outsourcing risk
DH Reinsurance strives for reliable and auditable administrative processing with its administrative organization, internal controls, reporting lines and processes. These measures are recorded in an AO/IB manual. The size of DH Reinsurance makes the company extra vulnerable to operational risks, especially in the area of continuity of activities. Vital processes are guaranteed by spreading the knowledge of the work among several people and outsourcing to relevant experts. DH Reinsurance uses a number of cloud service providers for the IT infrastructure and office automation. In addition, IT management, asset management, payroll administration, and key functions have been outsourced.
Various control measures are in place regarding services provided by third parties, including appropriate contracts and SLAs, as well as periodic monitoring of risk reports by, and evaluation meetings with the service providers. At least once a year, an assessment is conducted to determine whether continuing the service is appropriate.
Life underwriting risk
Given the high costs, expense risk is the main risk. This concerns the risk that cost coverage in the insurance rates and portfolio is insufficient to finance operational costs. An important part of the insurance risk is formed by acceptance on incorrect conditions. Incorrect assessment of the risk can lead to loss on mortality, damage to existing solvency and loss of confidence among both the ceding insurer and ultimately the consumer. To manage these risks, an acceptance procedure is used that does justice to the special risks that DH Reinsurance wants to reinsure. This procedure is primarily aimed at medical acceptance. For higher insured capitals, in addition to the procedures that the ceding insurer itself uses internally, our own financial acceptance procedure applies. Capital in excess of our own retention is also reinsured with another party. An annual study is conducted into mortality per condition or group of conditions. DH Reinsurance also carries out an annual life adequacy test based on RJ guidelines. The balance sheet provision is tested for adequacy. The results of this test show that the balance sheet provision is adequate (+ 4,484).
Own risk assessment
DH Reinsurance annually carries out an Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) in which a number of stress scenarios relating to these threats are calculated. The most recent ORSA report has shown that it is unreasonable to assume that increased mortality risks pose a threat to the continuity of the company in the medium term. DH Reinsurance's solvency is more than sufficient to counter (temporary or structural) setbacks in any area. The continuity of the company is not jeopardized. Negative economic developments can even have a positive impact on solvency.
The Hague, March 26 2026
Directors
Gilbert Pluym
Henk-Jan Osse
Supervisory Board
Lex Geerdes, president
Evelien Greven, vice president
Martijn Hoogeweegen
Marcel Levi
Réseva Engelaer