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Wed 24 Feb 2010, 9:30 DSY - Discovery Holdings - Unaudited interim results and cash dividend
DSY
DSY                                                                             
DSY - Discovery Holdings - Unaudited interim results and cash dividend          
declaration for the six months ended 31 December 2009                           
Discovery Holdings Limited                                                      
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number: 1999/007789/06)                                           
JSE share code: DSY & ISIN: ZAE000022331                                        
UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS AND CASH DIVIDEND DECLARATION FOR THE SIX MONTHS      
ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009                                                          
www.discovery.co.za                                                             
UP 54%                                                                          
Headline earnings                                                               
increase to R755 million                                                        
UP 49%                                                                          
Profit from operations                                                          
increase to R1 184 million                                                      
UP 16%                                                                          
New business API                                                                
R3 246 million                                                                  
UP 29.4%                                                                        
Interim dividend                                                                
33 cents per share                                                              
Introduction                                                                    
Discovery Holdings posted pleasing results during the period under review,      
with strong financial performance, healthy new business growth and important    
structural progress for all Discovery`s businesses. The business environment    
during this period remained complex and volatile, with the economy continuing   
to experience the recessionary effects of the global economic crisis. Added     
to this, the economic crisis has also caused significant shifts in health       
policy debates and financial regulation internationally as governments face     
dramatic budget deficit increases. In South Africa specifically, this           
resulted in important healthcare regulatory debates around a National Health    
Insurance system. To meet the challenges posed by the current macro-economic    
and operating environment, and to achieve our long-term objectives, Discovery   
focused strongly on the following strategies:                                   
1.   Ensuring that the business models and structures within each business      
create a sustainable competitive advantage to uniquely meet clients`        
    needs. In particular, Discovery focused on restructuring PruHealth and      
    PruProtect to more effectively replicate Discovery`s integrated business    
    model                                                                       
2.   The pursuit of a number of new opportunities, most notably the pending     
    acquisition of a minority stake in Ping An Health, the health insurance     
    subsidiary of China`s second-largest insurer, Ping An Group                 
3.   A continued and intensive focus on innovation and product excellence to    
ensure that products across the group are competitive, unique and           
    provide exceptional value for money. This is particularly important         
    during the difficult economic climate                                       
4.   A focus on financial prudence to ensure risks are carefully managed to     
significantly enhance the Group`s financial strength.                           
The result of these strategies is a strong financial performance, with          
headline earnings increasing by 54% to R755 million, and operating profit       
increasing by 49% in the comparative 2008 period.                               
The Group embedded value increased by 4% from June 2009, to R20.9 billion.      
The main contributors to the embedded value growth were good profits from new   
business, the expected return on existing business, positive experience         
variances and strong investment performance. These positive impacts were to a   
degree offset by strengthening of the assumption set. The Group embedded        
value does not allow for the Health new business joining on 1 January 2010.     
Allowing for this new business would have increased the Group embedded value    
by a further 2% to R21.3 billion.                                               
Discovery Health                                                                
Discovery Health`s performance was excellent and exceeded expectation. During   
the period under review, we focused on strengthening the operational,           
clinical and actuarial assets and capabilities of Discovery Health. At the      
same time, Discovery Health continues to build a robust healthcare system,      
while providing affordable access to high quality healthcare for our members.   
Discovery Health`s strong performance, when viewed against the challenges the   
industry faces, clearly illustrates that in the healthcare market, scale and    
technological sophistication are fundamental attributes for success. To         
further strengthen Discovery Health`s performance, we focused on three          
specific areas during the period under review:                                  
1.   Ensuring members` benefits provided as comprehensive coverage as           
possible. We specifically focused on closing gaps in coverage, for          
    example, the launch of the Medical Savings Booster enables members to       
    use discounts on HealthyFoodTrade Mark spend to close gaps in cover.        
2.   Continued and intense focus on achieving closer ties with doctors,         
hospitals and other healthcare providers. By the end of the period, 80%     
    of members` consultations with GPs and 85% of visits with specialists       
    took place in the Discovery Health GP Network or specialist payment         
    arrangements, resulting in less out-of-pocket costs for members. In         
terms of hospitalisation, the continued enhancement of the KeyCare and      
    Delta hospital networks and the benefit plans around them, created          
    enhanced efficiency and affordability for members.                          
3.   Increased investment in operational, risk and managed care capabilities    
resulted in the development of further healthcare assets for the            
    Discovery Health Medical Scheme. The successful launch of ProPBM,           
    Discovery`s inhouse pharmacy benefit management system, ensured that all    
    Discovery Health pharmacy claims were managed through this system, with     
significant savings to the Discovery Health Medical Scheme.                 
The combination of these strategies translated into excellent results for       
both Discovery Health and the Discovery Health Medical Scheme. The Discovery    
Health Medical Scheme`s contribution increase for 2010, one of the lowest in    
the industry, was in line with the industry benchmark set by the Council for    
Medical Schemes. The Scheme also has one of the largest capital funds in        
South Africa with reserves of R6 billion, exceeding the 25% statutory           
requirement. New business levels accelerated dramatically during the period,    
with total new business production the highest in Discovery Health`s history.   
In addition, Discovery Health`s ability to retain members - the Scheme`s        
record-low level lapse rate of 3.1% - illustrates our competitive ability.      
Despite the real affordability challenge for members, 98% of members            
maintained or enhanced their benefit choices for 2010 with only 2% opting to    
buy down their benefit choice. KeyCare, Discovery Health`s product for the      
lower-income market, also performed exceptionally well: during our year-end     
process for January 2010, more than                                             
22 000 members joined the KeyCare Plan and we estimate that almost 15 000 of    
these members were not previously covered by medical schemes. KeyCare`s         
performance continues to demonstrate Discovery Health`s ability to grow the     
market and to extend the reach of private healthcare into the lower-income      
market.                                                                         
In terms of the broader South African healthcare environment, the debate        
around healthcare policy and the implementation of a National Health            
Insurance system continued. Discovery Health remains firmly committed to        
assisting the healthcare reform process towards building a healthcare system    
that is more inclusive and equitable for all South Africans. To this end, we    
have been actively providing input into the debate. We have also been           
focusing on areas where we can work with the Department of Health to build      
capacity in the public healthcare system to help meet the Millennium            
Development Goals to which South Africa has committed itself. The Discovery     
Foundation, one of our capacity-building initiatives in the healthcare          
sector, has entered its fourth year and has to date, awarded R37 million in     
grants to 63 recipients for further medical research and training.              
Over the course of 2010, Discovery Health will look to leverage our             
sophisticated risk management, clinical and provider assets in the closed       
schemes environment. Discovery Health`s current 8% market share in this         
segment represents a significant growth opportunity given the breadth and       
competitiveness of our managed care and wellness capability. We are pleased     
with our early progress, with the activation of two new closed schemes,         
Remedi and Altron, over the first half of 2010. This brings to 14 the number    
of closed schemes that Discovery Health administers.                            
Discovery Life                                                                  
The performance of Discovery Life was pleasing despite the current difficult    
economic environment. Independent surveys and industry recognition illustrate   
the company`s strong and dominant position in the life assurance protection     
market. The company has enhanced its competitive position in the market with    
a 24% market-share of all broker business, and a 26% market share in the        
large policies market, which is Discovery Life`s core focus. While overall      
new business decreased by 2%, this largely reflected the reduction in           
inflation resulting in a decrease in the automatic increase component of new    
business. However, the core individual risk new business grew by 16%.           
During the period under review, Discovery Life worked on the following          
strategies:                                                                     
1.   Continued focus on ensuring the business model is capital efficient and    
    cash flow generative. This was achieved by largely removing the lapse       
    risk from emerging negative reserve assets generated by the sale of new     
business, and using these to back guaranteed capital bonds, sold through    
    Discovery Invest. The result is significantly enhanced liquidity with       
    reduced negative reserve risk. Discovery Life covered its Capital           
    Adequacy Requirement more than 8.6 times.                                   
2.   The understanding and management of policy lapses are particularly         
    important during the difficult economic climate, with lapse rates           
    falling within the assumptions laid out in the embedded value. While        
    Discovery Life took a conservative view of lapse rates going forward and    
further strengthened the embedded value basis, during the period under      
    review, lapse rates stabilised and began to drift downwards.                
3.   A continued focus on relevant and appropriate product innovation and       
    excellence. During the period under review, we launched the Financial       
IntegratorTrade Mark series - a range of products aimed at providing        
    policyholders with life assurance protection that flexes according to       
    economic conditions. This unique product range dynamically protects         
    policyholders during a life-changing event or should they retire during     
weak economic conditions when assets are depressed. Despite this product    
    only being launched towards the end of 2009, by early 2010, 25% of all      
    new business written included the Financial IntegratorTrade Mark.           
4.   Enhancing and growing the company`s distribution capability with the       
continued roll-out of an agency force of the highest quality and top-       
    producing agents. By December 2009, we employed over 250 agents,            
    generating an average monthly production of around R110 000 per agent.      
    The contribution of the agency force to new business has increased          
steadily over the past year, with 20% of total Discovery Life and           
    Discovery Invest new business currently being generated by the agency       
    channel.                                                                    
Discovery Invest                                                                
Over the period, Discovery Invest`s performance was exceptional in all          
respects, despite the difficulties introduced to long-term savings businesses   
by the economic climate. New business API grew by 74% over the comparative      
period while maintaining margins. Intermediary support improved substantially   
from the levels seen at the start of the year, and performance from the         
company`s broad range of funds was excellent, with the flagship Equity Fund     
consistently ranked as a top performer. Discovery Invest is currently           
attracting approximately 8% of net industry inflows in the retail linked-       
product market, equivalent to those of established players such as ABSA and     
Investec. By 31 December 2009, Discovery Invest had grown its assets under      
management to more than R6.5 billion. Importantly, the majority of assets       
continue to be invested in Discovery Invest`s higher-margin, proprietary        
funds.                                                                          
During the period, we continued to develop our assets and capabilities, with    
a specific emphasis on enhancing our distribution footprint and penetration.    
Over 2009, the company`s products gained increasing recognition and support     
in the intermediary market, with average broker support levels increasing       
from around a 1 000 a month at the start of the year, to almost 3 000 every     
month. In addition, Discovery Invest is in the process of developing a          
Specialist Franchise that will target large investment brokers who are not      
yet supporters of Discovery Invest. This initiative is currently in the early   
stages of development, and will continue to be rolled out over 2010.            
During the period, Discovery Invest focused on:                                 
1.   The launch of Discovery Invest Offshore, which enables clients to access   
a broad range of best-of-breed international fund managers and apply        
    Discovery`s proprietary product design to these                             
2.   Using Discovery`s integration capability to develop products that are      
    highly differentiated and offer added value. One of the initiatives         
launched during the period, the InvestBoosterTrade Mark, leverages the      
    Vitality HealthyFoodTrade Mark structure to allow members to channel        
    discounts on their HealthyFoodTrade Mark spend into their investment        
    vehicles.                                                                   
Financially, Discovery Invest made significant progress towards reaching a      
break-even position, with a 75% reduction in losses over the comparative        
period in 2008. We remain confident that the business is well positioned for    
continued growth in assets in the coming period.                                
Discovery Vitality                                                              
Discovery Vitality serves as the primary point of integration across each of    
Discovery`s businesses and facilitates the development of differentiated        
products with unique appeal. Early in 2009, Vitality launched the Vitality      
HealthyFoodTrade Mark benefit in conjunction with Pick n Pay and during the     
second half of 2009 successfully rolled out the benefit.                        
Since the launch of the benefit, over 180 000 members have activated the        
Vitality HealthyFoodTrade Mark benefit, buying over three million trolleys of   
HealthyFoodTrade Mark valued at over R275 million.                              
Given the success of the HealthyFoodTrade Mark benefit, we see significant      
opportunity to leverage the benefit in product development initiatives.         
During the 2010 development cycle, a number of key initiatives were launched    
with HealthyFoodTrade Mark at their core; as discussed in the Discovery         
Health and Discovery Invest sections earlier, the Medical Savings Booster and   
InvestBoosterTrade Mark allow members to forego the cash backs on               
HealthyFoodTrade Mark spend for more significant health or investment           
benefits. Discovery will continue to leverage the appeal of the benefit in      
future product design.                                                          
The HealthyFoodTrade Mark benefit has further been instrumental in elevating    
the profile of the DiscoveryCard, with almost 40% of HealthyFoodTrade Mark      
activations being made through the DiscoveryCard. In December 2009, card        
turnover exceeded R1 billion for the first time, thereby strengthening the      
DiscoveryCard`s strong gain in point-of-sale market share at the expense of     
the current banking institutions. Over the year, DiscoveryCard gained almost    
1.5% market share, and now holds 7% of the total credit card market.            
DiscoveryCard`s credit performance has also been exceptional, with our          
current experience better than both competitor experience and credit cycle      
averages.                                                                       
Going forward, Vitality is investigating how best to evolve the credibility     
of its science and broad-based appeal into a social development context. In     
this regard, Discovery has successfully launched an employee Corporate Social   
Investment initiative - the Vitality Healthy Giving campaign - that links       
employees` Vitality engagement to donations to charities. During 2009, almost   
R1 million was raised for charity through this initiative.                      
PruProtect and PruHealth                                                        
The period under review was a particularly significant one for Discovery`s      
joint venture with The Prudential in the UK. The joint venture represents a     
considerable initiative and opportunity for Discovery and, in this context,     
important work was done with both PruHealth and PruProtect to facilitate        
this. PruProtect made considerable strides during this period and the           
company`s performance exceeded expectation. New business grew by 245% to R100   
million, while operating losses reduced by 58%. Notably, the quality of new     
business exceeded expectation with average premiums and the take-up of          
additional benefits higher than expected. While still too early to gauge,       
lapse rates and claims levels are better than expected. In addition, both the   
franchise and telephone account management distribution channels grew           
extensively and gained considerable traction.                                   
PruHealth`s performance reflected the negative effects of the economy and the   
impact of negative business mix changes, which saw a drop in the proportion     
of individual members. In addition to the expected increased claims levels      
during recessionary periods, the mix change further increased the loss ratio,   
as the individual members were on average lower claimants. The combination of   
these created an increased loss ratio during the period under review,           
negatively impacting the financial performance. Despite the immediate           
negative impact, the loss ratio has begun to decrease, as expected. PruHealth   
has, however, made good progress with lives covered growing by 15% to 219 000   
and operating losses reducing by 13% to R53 million.                            
Most importantly, the period under review reflected the significant strategy    
of restructuring both PruHealth and PruProtect to create an integrated          
business model that more effectively replicates the Discovery model in South    
Africa. We anticipate that this will create greater expense efficiencies and    
better profit margins that will enable more competitive product offerings.      
Importantly, it will enable the joint venture to offer unique and powerful      
integrated protection products to the UK market. In addition, the strong        
distribution channels that already exist within PruHealth, combined with the    
rapidly emerging franchise distribution channel of PruProtect, will provide     
the joint venture with considerable reach for both products.                    
Prospects                                                                       
The progress made and work done in all of Discovery`s businesses, positions     
the Group well for further growth.                                              
MI Hilkowitz                                                                    
Chairperson                                                                     
A Gore                                                                          
Chief Executive Officer                                                         
Income statement                                                                
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
Group      Group                 Group                 
                         Six months Six months            Year                  
                         ended      ended                 ended                 
                         December   December              June                  
2009       2008         %        2009                  
R million                 Unaudited  Unaudited    change   Audited              
Insurance premium         3 278       2 535       29       5 186                
revenue                                                                         
Premium revenue from      1 865      -                     -                    
investment contracts                                                            
transferred to insurance                                                        
contracts                                                                       
Reinsurance premiums      (592)       (384)                (870)                
Net insurance premium     4 551       2 151                4 316                
revenue                                                                         
Fee income from           1 592       1 356       17       2 885                
administration business                                                         
Receipt arising from      -           750                   750                 
reinsurance contracts                                                           
Investment income          106        115                   236                 
Net realised gains on      86         62                    65                  
available-for-sale                                                              
financial assets                                                                
Net fair value             326        (93)                 (9)                  
gains/(losses) on                                                               
financial assets at fair                                                        
value through income                                                            
Vitality income            525        443         19        944                 
Net income                7 186       4 784                9 187                
Claims and                (1 194)     (1 238)              (2 583)              
policyholders` benefits                                                         
Insurance claims           393        362                   707                 
recovered from                                                                  
reinsurers                                                                      
Net claims and            (801)       (876)                (1 876)              
policyholders` benefits                                                         
Acquisition costs         (1 112)     (753)                (1 313)              
Marketing and             (2 249)     (2 116)              (4 329)              
administration expenses                                                         
Recovery of expenses       74         101                   223                 
from reinsurers                                                                 
Transfer from             (1 692)     (337)                 106                 
assets/liabilities under                                                        
insurance contracts                                                             
- change in assets         744        584                  1 292                
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts                                                                       
- change in liabilities                                                         
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts -                                                                     
premium deficiency         18         (27)                 (21)                 
reserve                                                                         
- change in liabilities   (2 454)    (120)                 (306)                
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts - other                                                               
- change in liabilities   -           (774)                (859)                
arising from reinsurance                                                        
contracts                                                                       
Fair value adjustment to  (219)       59                   (35)                 
liabilities under                                                               
investment contracts                                                            
Profit before impairment  1 187       862         38       1 963                
and BEE expenses                                                                
Impairment of financial                                                         
instruments held as                                                             
available-for-sale        -           (63)                 (96)                 
BEE expenses              (3)         (7)                  (13)                 
Profit from operations    1 184       792         49       1 854                
Finance costs             (5)         (9)                  (16)                 
Foreign exchange loss     (6)        -                     (23)                 
Share of loss from        -          -                     (1)                  
associate                                                                       
Profit before tax         1 173       783         50       1 814                
Income tax expense        (346)       (282)                (590)                
Profit for the period      827        501         65       1 224                
Profit attributable to:                                                         
- equity holders           829        490                  1 212                
- minority interests       (2)        11                    12                  
                          827        501                  1 224                 
Earnings per share for                                                          
profit attributable to                                                          
the equity holders of                                                           
the company during the                                                          
period (cents):                                                                 
- basic                    149.6      89.3        68        219.9               
- diluted                  149.1      88.7        68        219.3               
Statement of comprehensive income                                               
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
Group       Group                 Group                 
                        Six months  Six months            Year                  
                        ended       ended                 ended                 
                        December    December              June                  
2009        2008         %        2009                  
R million                Unaudited   Unaudited    change   Audited              
Profit for the year       827         501         65       1 224                
Other comprehensive                                                             
income:                                                                         
Change in available-for-  188         (197)                (187)                
sale financial assets                                                           
- unrealised              305         (230)                (253)                
gains/(losses)                                                                  
- capital gains tax on   (43)         34                    39                  
unrealised                                                                      
gains/(losses)                                                                  
- realised gains         (86)         (62)                 (65)                 
transferred to income                                                           
- capital gains tax on    12          7                     9                   
realised gains                                                                  
- impairment             -            63                    96                  
transferred to income                                                           
- capital gains tax on   -            (9)                  (13)                 
impairment                                                                      
Currency translation     (19)         (21)                 (55)                 
differences                                                                     
Cash flow hedges         (18)         12                    43                  
- realised               (30)         4                    12                   
(gains)/losses                                                                  
transferred to income                                                           
- tax on realised        (1)          (1)                   (2)                 
gains/(losses)                                                                  
- unrealised gains       16           13                    34                  
- tax on unrealised      (3)          (4)                   (1)                 
gains                                                                           
                                                                                
Other comprehensive       151         (206)                (199)                
income for the period,                                                          
net of tax                                                                      
Total comprehensive       978         295         232      1 025                
income for the period                                                           
Attributable to:                                                                
- equity holders          980         284                  1 013                
- minority interests      (2)         11                    12                  
Total comprehensive       978         295                  1 025                
income for the period                                                           
Headline earnings                                                               
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
Group       Group                 Group                 
                        Six months  Six months            Year                  
                        ended       ended                 ended                 
                        December    December              June                  
2009        2008         %        2009                  
R million                Unaudited   Unaudited    change   Audited              
Headline earnings per                                                           
share (cents):                                                                  
- undiluted              136.4       89.2         53       224.7                
- diluted                135.9       88.6         53       224.1                
The reconciliation                                                              
between earnings and                                                            
headline earnings is                                                            
shown below:                                                                    
Net profit attributable   829         490                  1 212                
to equity shareholders                                                          
Adjusted for:                                                                   
- realised profit on     (74)        (55)                  (56)                 
available-for-sale                                                              
investments net of CGT                                                          
- impairment on                                                                 
available-for-sale                                                              
investments                                                                     
net of CGT               -            54                    82                  
Headline earnings         755         489         54       1 238                
Weighted number of       553 796     548 060      1        551 043              
shares in issue (000`s)                                                         
Diluted weighted number  555 733     551 819      1        552 591              
of shares (000`s)                                                               
Balance sheet                                                                   
at 31 December 2009                                                             
                                              Group       Group                 
December    June                  
                                              2009        2009                  
R million                                      Unaudited   Audited              
ASSETS                                                                          
Assets arising from insurance contracts         6 186       5 449               
Property and equipment                          243         199                 
Investment property                             20          20                  
Intangible assets including deferred            387         520                 
acquisition costs                                                               
Financial assets                                                                
- Equity securities                            3 331       2 469                
- Equity linked notes                           1 243       693                 
- Debt securities                               546         488                 
- Inflation linked securities                   19          20                  
- Money market                                  1 532       958                 
- Derivatives                                   61          68                  
- Loans and receivables including insurance     1 566       1 846               
receivables                                                                     
Deferred income tax                             299         239                 
Current income tax asset                        110         83                  
Reinsurance contracts                           158         142                 
Cash and cash equivalents                       2 240       1 737               
Total assets                                    17 941      14 931              
EQUITY                                                                          
Capital and reserves                                                            
Share capital and share premium                 1 553       1 548               
Other reserves                                  695         540                 
Retained earnings                               5 560       4 925               
Total equity                                    7 808       7 013               
LIABILITIES                                                                     
Liabilities arising from insurance contracts    4 267       1 778               
Liabilities arising from reinsurance contracts  1 098       1 104               
Financial liabilities                                                           
- Investment contracts at fair value through    1 406       2 161               
profit or loss                                                                  
- Borrowings at amortised cost                  28          32                  
- Derivatives                                   10          12                  
Deferred income tax                             1 669       1 402               
Deferred revenue                                108         86                  
Provisions                                      78          65                  
Trade and other payables                        1 469       1 278               
Total liabilities                               10 133      7 918               
Total equity and liabilities                    17 941      14 931              
Cash flow statement                                                             
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
                               Group        Group        Group                  
                               Six months   Six months   Year                   
                               ended        ended        ended                  
December     December     June                   
                               2009         2008         2009                   
R million                       Unaudited    Unaudited    Audited               
Cash flow from operating         1 066        458          1 211                
activities                                                                      
Cash generated by operations     2 229        1 184        2 547                
Policyholder net investments     (1 240)      (652)        (1 270)              
Working capital changes          179          (4)          102                  
1 168        528          1 379                 
Dividends received               17           27           67                   
Interest received                96           107          216                  
Interest paid                    (5)          (9)          (16)                 
Taxation paid                    (210)        (195)        (435)                
Cash flow from investing         (343)        264          (50)                 
activities                                                                      
Net (purchases)/disposals of     (183)        328          105                  
investments                                                                     
Net (purchases)/disposals of     (108)        30           (21)                 
equipment                                                                       
Purchase of intangible assets    (52)         (94)         (134)                
Cash flow from financing         (199)        (17)         (177)                
activities                                                                      
Proceeds from issuance of        2            111          111                  
ordinary shares                                                                 
Dividends paid to equity         (194)        (134)        (278)                
holders                                                                         
Minority share buy-back          -            (4)          (5)                  
(Repayment)/increase in          (7)          10           (5)                  
borrowings                                                                      
                                                                                
Net increase in cash and cash    524          705          984                  
equivalents                                                                     
Cash and cash equivalents at     1 737        812          812                  
beginning of year                                                               
Exchange losses on cash and      (21)         (10)         (59)                 
cash equivalents                                                                
Cash and cash equivalents at     2 240        1 507        1 737                
end of period                                                                   
Statement of changes in equity                                                  
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
Attributable to equity holders of                  
                             the Company                                        
                   Share     Share-                                             
                   capital   based                                              
and       pay-      Invest-   Trans-                         
                   share     ment      ment      lation  Hedging                
R million           premium   reserve   reserve   reserve reserve               
Period ended                                                                    
31 December 2009                                                                
At beginning of      1 548     307       112      96       25                   
period                                                                          
Profit for the       -         -         -         -       -                    
period                                                                          
Other                -         -         188       (19)    (18)                 
comprehensive                                                                   
income                                                                          
Total                                                                           
comprehensive                                                                   
income for the       -         -         188       (19)    (18)                 
period                                                                          
Transactions with                                                               
owners:                                                                         
Shares issued to     -         -         -         -       -                    
minorities                                                                      
Profit from the      5         -         -         -       -                    
sale of treasury                                                                
shares                                                                          
Employee share                                                                  
option schemes:                                                                 
- Value of           -         4         -         -       -                    
employee services                                                               
Dividends relating   -         -         -         -       -                    
to June 2009                                                                    
Total transactions   5         4         -         -       -                    
with owners                                                                     
At end of period     1 553     311       300       77      7                    
Period ended                                                                    
31 December 2008                                                                
At beginning of      1 468     289       299      151      (18)                 
period                                                                          
Profit for the       -         -         -         -       -                    
period                                                                          
Other                -         -         (197)     (21)    12                   
comprehensive                                                                   
income                                                                          
Total                -         -         (197)     (21)    12                   
comprehensive                                                                   
income for the                                                                  
period                                                                          
Transactions with                                                               
owners:                                                                         
Profit from the      4         -         -         -       -                    
sale of treasury                                                                
shares                                                                          
Employee share                                                                  
option schemes:                                                                 
- Proceeds from      107       -         -         -       -                    
shares issued                                                                   
- Value of           -         9         -         -       -                    
employee services                                                               
Dividends relating   -         -         -         -       -                    
to June 2008                                                                    
Minority share buy-  -         -         -         -       -                    
back                                                                            
Realised profit on   -         -         -         -       -                    
minority share buy-                                                             
back                                                                            
Total transactions   111       9         -         -       -                    
with owners                                                                     
At end of period     1 579     298       102       130     (6)                  
                       Attributable to equity                                   
                       holders of the Company                                   
Retained                Minority                         
R million               earnings      Total     interest  Total                 
Period ended                                                                    
31 December 2009                                                                
At beginning of period   4 925         7 013     -         7 013                
Profit for the period    829           829       (2)       827                  
Other comprehensive      -             151       -         151                  
income                                                                          
Total comprehensive                                                             
income for the period    829           980       (2)       978                  
Transactions with                                                               
owners:                                                                         
Shares issued to         -             -         2         2                    
minorities                                                                      
Profit from the sale     -             5         -         5                    
of treasury shares                                                              
Employee share option                                                           
schemes:                                                                        
- Value of employee      -             4         -         4                    
services                                                                        
Dividends relating to    (194)         (194)     -         (194)                
June 2009                                                                       
Total transactions       (194)         (185)     2         (183)                
with owners                                                                     
At end of period         5 560         7 808     -         7 808                
Period ended                                                                    
31 December 2008                                                                
At beginning of period   3 975         6 164     -         6 164                
Profit for the period    490           490       11        501                  
Other comprehensive      -             (206)     -         (206)                
income                                                                          
Total comprehensive      490           284       11        295                  
income for the period                                                           
Transactions with                                                               
owners:                                                                         
Profit from the sale     -             4         -         4                    
of treasury shares                                                              
Employee share option                                                           
schemes:                                                                        
- Proceeds from shares   -             107       -         107                  
issued                                                                          
- Value of employee      -             9         -         9                    
services                                                                        
Dividends relating to    (134)         (134)     -         (134)                
June 2008                                                                       
Minority share buy-      -             -         (11)      (11)                 
back                                                                            
Realised profit on       7             7         -         7                    
minority share buy-                                                             
back                                                                            
Total transactions       (127)         (7)       (11)      (18)                 
with owners                                                                     
At end of period         4 338         6 441     -         6 441                
Segmental information                                                           
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
R million                 SA        SA Life  SA        SA Vitality  UK          
Health             Invest                 Health       
                                                                                
                                                                                
31 December 2009                                                                
Income statement                                                                
Insurance premium revenue  13        2 076    833       -            321        
Premium revenue from       -         -        1 865     -            -          
investment contracts                                                            
transferred to insurance                                                        
contracts                                                                       
Reinsurance premiums       (1)       (448)    -         -            (132)      
Net insurance premium      12        1 628    2 698     -            189        
revenue                                                                         
Fee income from            1 469     46       50        20           1          
administration business                                                         
Investment income          13        45       32        9            -          
Net realised gains on      -         86       -         -            -          
available-for-sale                                                              
financial assets                                                                
Net fair value gains on    -         132      194       -            -          
financial assets at fair                                                        
value through income                                                            
Vitality income            -        -        -          510          -          
Net income                 1 494     1 937    2 974     539          190        
Claims and policyholders`  (6)       (886)    (34)      -            (237)      
benefits                                                                        
Insurance claims           -         287      -         -            104        
recovered from reinsurers                                                       
Net claims and             (6)       (599)    (34)      -            (133)      
policyholders` benefits                                                         
Acquisition costs          -         (660)    (304)     (33)         (29)       
Marketing and              (917)     (464)    (86)      (480)        (149)      
administration expenses                                                         
Recovery of expenses from  -         -        -          -           69         
reinsurers                                                                      
Transfer from                                                                   
assets/liabilities under                                                        
insurance contracts                                                             
- change in assets         -         674      (2)        -           -          
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts                                                                       
- change in liabilities    -         -        -          -           -          
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts - premium                                                             
deficiency reserve                                                              
- change in liabilities    -         (47)    (2 406)     -           (1)        
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts - other                                                               
- change in liabilities    -         (2)      -          -           -          
arising from reinsurance                                                        
contracts                                                                       
Fair value adjustment to   -         (57)     (162)      -           -          
liabilities under                                                               
investment contracts                                                            
Profit/(loss) before BEE   571       782      (20)       26          (53)       
expenses                                                                        
BEE expenses               (3)       -        -          -           -          
Profit/(loss) from        568       782      (20)       26          (53)        
operations                                                                      
Finance costs              -         -        -          -           -          
Foreign exchange loss      (4)       (2)      -          -           -          
Profit before tax          564       780      (20)       26          (53)       
Income tax expense         (159)     (198)    6          (3)         9          
Profit for the period      405       582      (14)       23          (44)       
31 December 2008                                                                
Income statement                                                                
Insurance premium revenue  12        1 848    103        -           350        
Reinsurance premiums       (1)       (318)    -          -           (55)       
Net insurance premium      11        1 530    103        -           295        
revenue                                                                         
Fee income from            1 302     27       16         11          -          
administration business                                                         
Receipt arising from       -         750      -          -           -          
reinsurance contracts                                                           
Investment income          17        66       4          10          3          
Net realised gains on      -         62       -          -           -          
available-for-sale                                                              
financial assets                                                                
Net fair value losses on   -         (88)     (5)        -           -          
financial assets at fair                                                        
value through income                                                            
Vitality income            -         -        -          426         -          
Net income                 1 330     2 347    118        447         298        
Claims and policyholders`  (4)       (737)    (1)        -           (236)      
benefits                                                                        
Insurance claims           1         295      -          -           35         
recovered from reinsurers                                                       
Net claims and             (3)       (442)    (1)        -           (201)      
policyholders` benefits                                                         
Acquisition costs          -         (636)    (22)       (27)        (25)       
Marketing and              (815)     (417)    (77)       (387)       (211)      
administration expenses                                                         
Recovery of expenses from  -         -        -          -           88         
reinsurer                                                                       
Transfer from                                                                   
assets/liabilities under                                                        
insurance contracts                                                             
- change in assets         -         584      -          -           -          
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts                                                                       
- change in liabilities    -         -        -          -           -          
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts - premium                                                             
deficiency reserve                                                              
- change in liabilities    -         (3)      (103)      -           (10)       
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts - other                                                               
- change in liabilities    -         (774)    -          -           -          
arising from reinsurance                                                        
contracts                                                                       
Fair value adjustment to   -         53       6          -           -          
liabilities under                                                               
investment contracts                                                            
Profit/(loss) before       512       712      (79)       33          (61)       
impairment and BEE                                                              
expenses                                                                        
Impairment on financial    -         (63)     -          -           -          
instruments held as                                                             
available-for-sale                                                              
BEE expenses               (6)       (1)      -          -           -          
Profit/(loss) from         506       648      (79)       33          (61)       
operations                                                                      
Finance costs              -         -        (3)        -           -          
Profit before tax          506       648      (82)       33          (61)       
Income tax expense         (147)     (164)    23         (9)         (10)       
Profit for the period      359       484      (59)       24          (71)       
                                                                                
R million              UK Life   USA      New business   All other   Total      
Health   development    segments                
                                                                                
                                                                                
31 December 2009                                                                
Income statement                                                                
Insurance premium       34        1        -              -           3 278     
revenue                                                                         
Premium revenue from    -         -        -              -           1 865     
investment contracts                                                            
transferred to                                                                  
insurance contracts                                                             
Reinsurance premiums    (11)      -        -             -            (592)     
Net insurance premium   23        1        -              -           4 551     
revenue                                                                         
Fee income from         -         -        -              6           1 592     
administration                                                                  
business                                                                        
Investment income       -         -        -              7           106       
Net realised gains on   -         -        -              -           86        
available-for-sale                                                              
financial assets                                                                
Net fair value gains    -         -        -             -            326       
on financial assets at                                                          
fair value through                                                              
income                                                                          
Vitality income         -         -        15            -            525       
Net income              23        1        15             13          7 186     
Claims and              (4)       (27)     -             -           (1 194)    
policyholders`                                                                  
benefits                                                                        
Insurance claims        1         1        -             -            393       
recovered from                                                                  
reinsurers                                                                      
Net claims and          (3)       (26)     -              -           (801)     
policyholders`                                                                  
benefits                                                                        
Acquisition costs       (77)      -        (9)           -           (1 112)    
Marketing and           (61)      (15)     (68)           (9)        (2 249)    
administration                                                                  
expenses                                                                        
Recovery of expenses    5         -        -             -            74        
from reinsurers                                                                 
Transfer from                                                                   
assets/liabilities                                                              
under insurance                                                                 
contracts                                                                       
- change in assets      72        -        -              -           744       
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts                                                                       
- change in             -         18       -              -           18        
liabilities arising                                                             
from insurance                                                                  
contracts - premium                                                             
deficiency reserve                                                              
- change in             -         -        -              -          (2 454)    
liabilities arising                                                             
from insurance                                                                  
contracts - other                                                               
- change in             2         -        -              -           -         
liabilities arising                                                             
from reinsurance                                                                
contracts                                                                       
Fair value adjustment   -         -        -             -            (219)     
to liabilities under                                                            
investment contracts                                                            
Profit/(loss) before    (39)      (22)     (62)          4            1 187     
BEE expenses                                                                    
BEE expenses            -         -        -              -           (3)       
Profit/(loss) from     (39)      (22)     (62)           4           1 184      
operations                                                                      
Finance costs           -         (1)      -              (4)         (5)       
Foreign exchange loss   -         -        -              -           (6)       
Profit before tax       (39)      (23)     (62)           -           1 173     
Income tax expense      16        -        4              (21)        (346)     
Profit for the period   (23)      (23)     (58)           (21)        827       
31 December 2008                                                                
Income statement                                                                
Insurance premium       11        211      -              -           2 535     
revenue                                                                         
Reinsurance premiums    -         (10)     -              -           (384)     
Net insurance premium   11        201      -              -           2 151     
revenue                                                                         
Fee income from         -         -        -              -           1 356     
administration                                                                  
business                                                                        
Receipt arising from    -         -        -              -           750       
reinsurance contracts                                                           
Investment income       -         1        -              14          115       
Net realised gains on   -         -        -              -           62        
available-for-sale                                                              
financial assets                                                                
Net fair value losses   -         -        -              -           (93)      
on financial assets at                                                          
fair value through                                                              
income                                                                          
Vitality income         -         -        17             -           443       
Net income              11        202      17             14          4 784     
Claims and              (3)       (257)    -              -          (1 238)    
policyholders`                                                                  
benefits                                                                        
Insurance claims        2         29       -              -           362       
recovered from                                                                  
reinsurers                                                                      
Net claims and          (1)       (228)    -              -           (876)     
policyholders`                                                                  
benefits                                                                        
Acquisition costs       (22)      (10)     (11)           -           (753)     
Marketing and           (76)      (50)     (74)           (9)        (2 116)    
administration                                                                  
expenses                                                                        
Recovery of expenses    13        -        -              -           101       
from reinsurer                                                                  
Transfer from                                                                   
assets/liabilities                                                              
under insurance                                                                 
contracts                                                                       
- change in assets      -         -        -              -           584       
arising from insurance                                                          
contracts                                                                       
- change in             -         (27)     -              -           (27)      
liabilities arising                                                             
from insurance                                                                  
contracts - premium                                                             
deficiency reserve                                                              
- change in             (18)      14       -              -           (120)     
liabilities arising                                                             
from insurance                                                                  
contracts - other                                                               
- change in             -         -        -              -           (774)     
liabilities arising                                                             
from reinsurance                                                                
contracts                                                                       
Fair value adjustment   -         -        -              -           59        
to liabilities under                                                            
investment contracts                                                            
Profit/(loss) before    (93)      (99)     (68)           5           862       
impairment and BEE                                                              
expenses                                                                        
Impairment on           -         -        -              -           (63)      
financial instruments                                                           
held as available-for-                                                          
sale                                                                            
BEE expenses            -         -        -              -           (7)       
Profit/(loss) from      (93)      (99)     (68)           5          792        
operations                                                                      
Finance costs           -         (1)      -              (5)        (9)        
Profit before tax       (93)      (100)    (68)           -          783        
Income tax expense      29        -        3              (7)        (282)      
Profit for the period   (64)      (100)    (65)           (7)        501        
                                                                                
Review of Group results                                                         
New business annualised premium income and gross inflows under management       
include flows of the schemes Discovery administers and 100% of the business     
conducted together with its joint venture partners.                             
New business annualised premium income excluding Destiny increased 16% for      
the six months ended 31 December 2009.                                          
New business annualised premium income                                          
                                   December   December  %                       
R million                           2009       2008      change                 
Discovery Health                    1 787      1 456     23                     
Discovery Life                      782        801       (2)                    
Discovery Invest                    334        192       74                     
Discovery Vitality                  78         53        47                     
PruHealth                           165        271       (39)                   
PruProtect                          100        29        245                    
New business API excluding Destiny  3 246      2 802     16                     
Destiny Health                      *          76                               
New business API of Group           3 246      2 878     13                     
* amount is less than R500 000                                                  
Gross inflows under management increased 19% for the six months ended 31        
December 2009.                                                                  
Gross inflows under management                                                  
December   December   %                    
R million                             2009       2008       change              
Discovery Health                      12 758     11 211     14                  
Discovery Life                        2 121      1 984      7                   
Discovery Invest                      2 614      1 102      137                 
Discovery Vitality                    545        454        20                  
Destiny Health                        4          266        (99)                
PruHealth                             644        701        (8)                 
PruProtect                            68         22         209                 
Gross inflows under management        18 754     15 740     19                  
Less: collected on behalf of third    (13 359)   (11 406)   17                  
parties                                                                         
Discovery Health                      (11 269)   (9 897)    14                  
Discovery Invest                      (1 732)    (1 092)    59                  
Destiny Health                        (2)        (55)       (96)                
PruHealth                             (322)      (351)      (8)                 
PruProtect                            (34)       (11)       209                 
Gross income of Group                 5 395      4 334      24                  
Reinsurance contracts                                                           
Included in cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2009 is the balance of     
R750 million received in terms of a quota share treaty entered into by          
Discovery Life in December 2008. This treaty effectively reinsures              
approximately 15% of the negative reserve as at that date. The liability in     
respect of this treaty has been included in liabilities arising from            
reinsurance contracts. At                                                       
31 December 2008, this amount was shown as a receipt arising from reinsurance   
contracts on the face of the income statement and the full amount was           
transferred out through the change in liabilities under reinsurance             
contracts.                                                                      
In December 2008, Discovery Life also entered into a reinsurance contract to    
reinsure lapse risk (for the next five years) of up to R1.1 billion of the      
negative reserve in-force as at that date.                                      
LifeBooster benefit                                                             
In December 2009, the LifeBooster benefit was added to all Discovery Invest     
Endowment Plans, Recurring Retirement Plans and Linked Retirement Income        
Plans. The LifeBooster was added to existing and new policies. The              
LifeBooster differentiates the Discovery Invest offering in an otherwise        
commoditised environment by introducing a death benefit linked to Vitality      
status. Given that significant insurance risk is introduced by this benefit     
the status of the affected contracts change from Investment management          
contracts to Insurance contracts under IFRS.                                    
The policyholder liabilities relating to these Discovery Invest policies were   
previously accounted for in terms of IAS 39: Financial instruments, as          
Investment contracts at fair value through profit or loss. Insurance            
contracts are accounted for under IFRS 4: Insurance contracts.                  
This had the following effect on the interim results:                           
- Policyholder liabilities under investment contracts were reduced by R1.8      
billion, being the value of the Investment contracts as at 30 November 2009.    
- R1.8 billion was included in insurance premium income and then transferred    
to liabilities arising from insurance contracts, in the income statement.       
- DAC and DRL previously raised in respect of the investment contracts were     
reversed to acquisition costs and fee income respectively, and an asset under   
insurance contracts (negative reserve) was raised in respect of the insurance   
contracts. The net effect on the income statement is an increase in             
acquisition costs deferred of approximately R58 million (R46 million relates    
to contracts in-force at 30 June 2009).                                         
Impairment of available-for-sale financial instruments                          
Discovery has classified its shareholder investments as available-for-sale      
financial instruments. As such, gains and losses are ordinarily taken           
directly to reserves, until realised. When realised, the resulting gain or      
loss is taken to profit and loss but excluded from the calculation of           
headline earnings.                                                              
Due to the significant decrease in the equity markets during the last six       
months of the 2008 calendar year, Discovery had to assess whether objective     
evidence existed that the equity instruments classified as available-for-sale   
financial assets were impaired at 31 December 2008. A significant or            
prolonged decline in the fair value of an investment in an equity instrument    
below its cost is objective evidence of impairment. Discovery has taken the     
view that a 30% decline in the fair value of an investment in an equity         
instrument below cost would be classified as significant and a period of nine   
months or more would be a prolonged decline.                                    
Based on this view, Discovery impaired equity instruments classified as         
available-for-sale financial assets that had a decline of 30% or more in the    
fair value of the asset below cost or has met the prolonged decline criteria.   
This amounted to                                                                
R63 million at 31 December 2008 and was taken through profit and loss.          
Subsequent to December 2008, the equity market has recovered somewhat and       
many of the shares are above the December 2008 price. As noted previously,      
the adjustment will be taken directly to the Investment Reserve in the          
Statement of comprehensive income and will only be realised in the income       
statement when the shares are sold.                                             
No further impairments have been recorded in the income statement for the six   
months ended 31 December 2009.                                                  
Share-based payments                                                            
The issue of 38.7 million shares by Discovery in terms of its BEE transaction   
in 2005 has been accounted for in terms of IFRS2. These shares are not          
accounted for as issued in the consolidated accounts of Discovery but rather    
as a share option transaction. These shares have been considered in the         
calculation of diluted HEPS and diluted EPS.                                    
The BEE transaction has resulted in a charge to the income statement of R3      
million in the six months ended 31 December 2009 (2008: R7 million) in          
accordance with the requirements of IFRS 2.                                     
An additional R79 million (2008: R37 million) in respect of options granted     
under employee share incentive schemes has been expensed in the income          
statement for the period in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 2.         
The Group entered into transactions to hedge its exposure in the phantom        
share scheme related to changes in the Discovery share price. As at 31          
December 2009, approximately 62% (2008: 66.6%) of this exposure was hedged.     
Taxation                                                                        
All South African entities are in a tax paying position. South African income   
tax has been provided at 28% (2008: 28%) and secondary tax on companies at      
10% in the financial statements and embedded value statements.                  
Discovery obtained tax relief for half of the PruHealth losses in respect of    
the calendar year ending 31 December 2009, as this tax asset was ceded to       
Prudential Assurance Company in the UK ("Prudential"). R9 million in respect    
of this tax relief has been included in income tax at 31 December 2009.         
At 31 December 2008 however, Discovery obtained no tax relief for the           
PruHealth losses in respect of the calendar year ending                         
31 December 2008. As Discovery recognised a tax benefit at 30 June 2008 in      
respect of these losses, R10 million was reversed to income tax at 31           
December 2008.                                                                  
Tax relief is obtained for 100% of the PruProtect losses through Prudential.    
Balance Sheet                                                                   
Investments have increased due to the sale of Discovery Invest products.        
The increase in the assets arising from insurance contracts of                  
R737 million is primarily as a result of profitable new business written by     
Discovery Life.                                                                 
The deferred tax liability is primarily attributable to the application of      
the Financial Services Board directive 145. This directive allows for the       
zeroing on a statutory basis of the assets arising from insurance contracts.    
The statutory basis is used when calculating tax payable for Discovery Life,    
resulting in a timing difference between the tax base and the accounting        
base.                                                                           
At 30 June 2009, Destiny Health raised a Premium Deficiency Reserve of US$2.4   
million (R21 million). This related to future losses that would be incurred     
on a block of business due to an onerous contract. This reserve was included    
in liabilities arising from insurance contracts and has been reversed in full   
in the six months ending 31 December 2009.                                      
Directorate                                                                     
Mr Richard Farber was appointed as an executive director of the board of        
Discovery with effect from 1 July 2009.                                         
Dividend policy and capital                                                     
A final dividend of 33 cents per share was paid on 19 October 2009.             
The directors are of the view that the Discovery Group is adequately            
capitalised at this time. On the statutory basis the capital adequacy           
requirements of Discovery Life was R258 million (2008: R242 million) and was    
covered 8.6 times (2008: 6.4 times).                                            
Cash dividend declaration:                                                      
The board has declared an interim dividend of 33 cents per share. The salient   
dates are as follows:                                                           
- Last date to trade "cum" dividend     Friday, 12 March 2010                   
- Date trading commences "ex" dividend  Monday, 15 March 2010                   
- Record date                           Friday, 19 March 2010                   
- Date of payment                       Tuesday, 23 March 2010                  
Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between          
Monday, 15 March 2010 and Friday, 19 March 2010, both days inclusive.           
Accounting policies                                                             
The interim results have been prepared in accordance with International         
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) including                                  
IAS 34, as well as the South African Companies Act 61 of 1973, as amended.      
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with the accounting policies     
applied in the last annual report and the corresponding prior year period       
except as follows:                                                              
IAS 1 (Revised) Presentation of Financial Statements                            
The financial information set out herein incorporates changes introduced as a   
result of the publication of a revised version of IAS 1 `Presentation of        
Financial Statements`, effective for accounting periods commencing on or        
after 1 January 2009. The principal change is that an entity must present all   
non-owner changes in equity in a statement of comprehensive income. All owner   
changes in equity are recognised in a statement of changes in equity. There     
were no impacts on the Group`s results or net assets as a result of the         
introduction of the revised standard.                                           
IFRS 8 Operating segments                                                       
The Group has prepared its Segmental information using IFRS 8 Operating         
Segments, which requires the disclosure of information based on the             
"management approach" to reporting on the financial performance of operating    
segments. Generally, the information to be reported would be what management    
uses internally for evaluating segment performance and deciding how to          
allocate resources to operating segments.                                       
Reclassifications of comparative segment information have been made to align    
to the Group management reporting structure described above. There was no       
impact on net profit or net assets.                                             
Comparative figures                                                             
There have been no changes to comparative figures except for the disclosure     
changes mentioned above.                                                        
Transfer secretaries                                                            
Computershare Investor Services (Pty) Limited (Registration number              
2004/003647/07) Ground Floor, 70 Marshall Street, Johannesburg 2001 PO Box      
61051, Marshalltown 2107                                                        
Sponsors                                                                        
Rand Merchant Bank (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)                       
Secretary and registered office                                                 
MJ Botha, 155 West Street, Sandton 2146 PO Box 786722, Sandton 2146 Tel:        
(011) 529 2888 Fax: (011) 529 2958                                              
Directors                                                                       
MI Hilkowitz (Chairperson), A Gore* (Chief Executive Officer),                  
Dr BA Brink, P Cooper, SB Epstein (USA), R Farber* **,                          
NS Koopowitz*, Dr TV Maphai, HP Mayers*, AL Owen (UK),                          
A Pollard*, JM Robertson* (CIO), SE Sebotsa, T Slabbert,                        
B Swartzberg*, SV Zilwa *Executive    **Appointed 1 July 2009                   
Embedded value statement                                                        
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
The embedded value of Discovery at 31 December 2009 consists of the following   
components:                                                                     
- the free surplus attributed to the covered business at the valuation date;    
- plus: the required capital to support the in-force covered business at the    
valuation date;                                                                 
- plus: the present value of future shareholder cash flows from the in-force    
business;                                                                       
- less: the cost of required capital and secondary tax on companies (STC).      
The present value of future shareholder cash flows from the in-force covered    
business is calculated as the value of projected future after-tax shareholder   
cash flows of the business in force at the valuation date, discounted at the    
risk discount rate.                                                             
The value of new business is the present value, at the point of sale, of the    
projected future after-tax shareholder cash flows of the new business written   
by Discovery, discounted at the risk discount rate, less an allowance for the   
reserving strain (for Life), initial expenses, cost of capital and STC. The     
value of new business is calculated using the current reporting date            
assumptions.                                                                    
For Life, the shareholder cash flows are based on the release of margins        
under the Statutory Valuation Method (SVM) basis.                               
The embedded value includes the insurance and administration profits of all     
the subsidiaries in the Discovery Holdings Group.                               
In particular, it covers business written through Discovery Life, Discovery     
Invest, Discovery Health, Discovery Vitality and PruHealth. The values for      
PruHealth reflect Discovery`s 50% shareholding in PruHealth. For Destiny        
Health and PruProtect, no published value has been placed on the current in-    
force business.                                                                 
The auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., have reviewed the consolidated       
value of in-force business and value of new business of Discovery Holdings      
Limited and its subsidiaries as included in the embedded value statement for    
the six months ended 31 December 2009. A copy of the auditors` unqualified      
report is available for inspection at the company`s registered office.          
Embedded value statement (continued)                                            
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
Table 1: Group embedded value                                                   
                      31 December    31 December  %       30 June               
R million              2009           2008         Change  2009                 
Shareholders` funds    7 808          6 441        21      7 013                
Adjustment to          (4 398)        (3 809)              (4 012)              
shareholders` funds                                                             
from published                                                                  
basis(1)                                                                        
Adjusted net worth     3 410          2 632        30      3 001                
- Free Surplus         2 418          1 734                2 096                
- Required Capital(2)  992            898                  905                  
Run-down costs for     (30)           (75)                 (42)                 
Destiny Health(3)                                                               
Value of in-force      18 371         18 536               17 939               
covered business                                                                
before cost of                                                                  
capital                                                                         
Cost of required       (324)          (245)                (327)                
capital                                                                         
Cost of STC(4)         (540)          (425)                (531)                
Discovery Holdings     20 887         20 423       2       20 040               
embedded value                                                                  
Number of shares       554.3          554.4                553.6                
(millions)                                                                      
Embedded value per     R37.68         R36.84       2       R36.20               
share                                                                           
Diluted number of      591.3          592.0                591.3                
shares (millions)                                                               
Diluted embedded       R37.37         R36.17       3       R35.83               
value per share(5)                                                              
(1) The published Shareholders` funds has been adjusted to eliminate net        
assets under insurance contracts, deferred tax and deferred acquisition costs   
at December 2009 of R4 374 million (June 2009: R3 984 million; December 2008:   
R3 777 million) in respect of Life and R24 million (June 2009: R28 million;     
December 2008: R32 million) in respect of PruHealth.                            
(2) The required capital at December 2009 for Life is R516 million (June        
2009: R460 million; December 2008: R484 million), for Health and Vitality is    
R367 million (June 2009: R333 million; December 2008: R314 million) and for     
PruHealth is R109 million (June 2009: R112 million; December 2008: R100         
million).                                                                       
(3) The run-down costs for Destiny Health relate to the expected future         
operational costs and risk profits/losses expected in the course of running     
down the existing block of in-force business.                                   
(4) In line with Discovery`s current dividend policy, the cost of STC is        
calculated assuming a 4.5 times dividend cover on the after-tax profits as      
they emerge over the projection term. An STC rate of 10% is assumed. The        
total STC charge has been allocated between the different business entities     
based on their contribution to the total value of in-force covered business.    
(5) The diluted embedded value per share allows for Discovery`s BEE             
transaction where the impact is dilutive i.e. where the current embedded        
value per share exceeds the current transaction value.                          
Table 2: Value of in-force covered business                                     
R million                   Value before     Cost of     Cost of    Value       
                           cost of capital  required    STC        after        
and STC          capital                cost of      
                                                                   capital      
                                                                   and STC      
at 31 December 2009                                                             
Health and Vitality         8 697            (129)       (255)      8 313       
Life and Invest(1)          9 409            (163)       (277)      8 969       
PruHealth(2)                265              (32)        (8)        225         
Total                       18 371           (324)       (540)      17 507      
at 31 December 2008                                                             
Health and Vitality         8 613            (105)       (196)      8 312       
Life and Invest(1)          9 515            (113)       (220)      9 182       
PruHealth(2)                408              (27)        (9)        372         
Total                       18 536           (245)       (425)      17 866      
at 30 June 2009                                                                 
Health and Vitality         8 531            (115)       (252)      8 164       
Life and Invest(1)          9 118            (162)       (270)      8 686       
PruHealth(2)                290              (50)        (9)        231         
Total                       17 939           (327)       (531)      17 081      
(1) Included in the Life and Invest value of in-force covered business is       
R153 million (June 2009: R172 million; December 2008: R121 million) in          
respect of investment management services provided on off balance sheet         
investment business. The net assets of the investment service provider are      
included in the adjusted net worth.                                             
(2) The PruHealth value of in-force has been converted using the closing        
exchange rate of R11.90/GBP (June 2009: R12.71/GBP; December 2008:              
R13.60/GBP).                                                                    
Embedded value statement (continued)                                            
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
Table 3: Group embedded value earnings                                          
                              Six months ended           Year ended             
                              31 December  31 December   30 June                
R million                      2009         2008          2009                  
Embedded value at end of       20 887       20 423        20 040                
period                                                                          
Less: Embedded value at        (20 040)     (17 881)      (17 881)              
beginning of period                                                             
Increase in embedded value     847          2 542         2 159                 
Net increase in capital        (5)          (111)         (80)                  
Dividends Paid                 194          134           269                   
Minority share buy-back        -            4             5                     
Shares issued to minorities    (2)          -             -                     
Transfer to hedging reserve    18           (12)          (43)                  
Embedded value earnings        1 052        2 557         2 310                 
Annualised return on opening   10.8%        30.6%         12.9%                 
embedded value                                                                  
Table 4: Components of Group embedded value earnings                            
R million                  Net worth  Cost of    Value of  Embedded             
                                     required   in-force  value                 
capital    covered                         
                                                business                        
                                                less                            
                                                cost of                         
STC                             
Total profit from new      (922)      (26)       1 561     613                  
business (at point of                                                           
sale)                                                                           
Profit from existing                                                            
business                                                                        
* Expected return          968        (2)        (66)      900                  
* Change in methodology    488        18         (1 379)   (873)                
and assumptions(1)                                                              
* Experience variances     (26)       11         318       303                  
Other initiative costs(2)  (112)      -          -         (112)                
Non-recurring expenses     (41)       -          -         (41)                 
Acquisition costs(3)       (38)       -          -         (38)                 
Foreign exchange rate      (17)       2          (18)      (33)                 
movements                                                                       
Cost of STC                -          -          5         5                    
Return on shareholders`    328        -          -         328                  
funds(4)                                                                        
Embedded value earnings    628        3          421       1 052                
(1) The profits from changes in methodology and assumptions will vary over      
time to reflect adjustments to the model and assumptions as a result of         
changes to the operating and economic environment. The current period`s         
changes are described in detail in Table 5 below (for previous periods refer    
to previous embedded value statements).                                         
(2) This item reflects the expenses relating to the establishment of            
PruProtect and Discovery Invest and the support of Destiny Health. These        
costs have not been projected on a recurring basis in the embedded value due    
to the fact that income from business sold under these initiatives has not      
been projected or the costs are not expected to recur.                          
(3) Acquisition costs relate to commission paid on Life business and expenses   
incurred in writing Health and Vitality business that has been written over     
the period but that will only be activated and on risk after the valuation      
date. These policies are not included in the embedded value or the value of     
new business and therefore the costs are excluded.                              
(4) Return on shareholders` funds is shown net of tax and management charges.   
Table 5: Methodology and assumption changes                                     
Health and Vitality          Life and Invest              
                      Net            Value of in-  Net          Value of        
R million              worth          force         worth        in-force       
Modelling changes      -              -             (2)             (84)        
Economic assumptions   -              (96)          13              (192)       
Benefit enhancements   -              -             (43)            (78)        
Lapse assumption(1)    -              -             44              (182)       
Premium and benefit    -              -             15              63          
increases                                                                       
Mortality and          -              -             (43)            20          
morbidity                                                                       
Expenses               -              (185)         (0)             (0)         
Commission             -              -             -               -           
Reinsurance(2)         -              -             440             (474)       
Vitality               -              (62)          -               -           
Total                  -              (343)         424             (927)       
PruHealth                                   
                                    Net          Value of          Total        
                                    worth        in-force                       
R million                                                                       
Modelling changes                    -            -                 (86)        
Economic assumptions                 -            (2)               (277)       
Benefit enhancements                 -            -                 (121)       
Lapse assumption(1)                  -            -                 (138)       
Premium and benefit increases        -            -                 78          
Mortality and morbidity              -            (14)              (37)        
Expenses                             -            4                 (181)       
Commission                           -            15                15          
Reinsurance(2)                       64           (71)              (41)        
Vitality                             -            (23)              (85)        
Total                                64           (91)              (873)       
(1) To allow for the potential impact of the economic climate on policyholder   
lapses, the June 2009 lapse assumption allowed for an increased lapse rate      
for 24 months until June 2011. Although actual lapse experience has been        
better than assumed, the term of the additional lapse assumption has been       
maintained at 24 months and now extends to December 2011.                       
(2) The reinsurance item relates to the impact of the financing reinsurance     
arrangements.                                                                   
Table 6: Experience variances                                                   
                      Health and Vitality          Life and Invest              
Net            Value of in-  Net          Value of        
R million              worth          force         worth        in-force       
Renewal expenses        (8)           -             (12)         -              
Economic assumptions(1) (1)           174           17           78             
Extended modelling term -             109           -            6              
Lapses and              2             64            22           6              
surrenders(2)                                                                   
Policy alterations      -             5             (95)         (49)           
Mortality and morbidity -             -             62           (2)            
Backdated cancellations -             -             (21)         -              
Tax(3)                  (2)           -             81           (66)           
Reinsurance             -             -             (9)          6              
Premium income          -             -             2            (23)           
Other                   (4)           (1)           (31)         31             
Total                   (13)          351           16           (13)           
                                    PruHealth                                   
Net          Value of          Total        
                                    worth        in-force                       
                                                                                
R million                                                                       
Renewal expenses                     1            1                 (18)        
Economic assumptions(1)              -            -                 268         
Extended modelling term              -            16                131         
Lapses and surrenders(2)             -            -                 94          
Policy alterations                   -            -                 (139)       
Mortality and morbidity              (22)         (21)              17          
Backdated cancellations              -            -                 (21)        
Tax(3)                               23           7                 43          
Reinsurance                          -            -                 (3)         
Premium income                       -            -                 (21)        
Other                                (31)         (12)              (48)        
Total                                (29)         (9)               303         
(1) For Life and Invest, the economic assumptions variance relates primarily    
to higher than expected premium and benefit increases due to higher than        
expected inflation over the period. For Health and Vitality, it relates to      
the inflation-linked administration and managed care fee increase in 2010       
which was higher than the long-term inflation assumption in the embedded        
value model due to higher than expected inflation over the period.              
(2) Included in the Health and Vitality lapse experience variance is an         
amount of R236 million in respect of members joining existing employer groups   
during the period, offset by an amount of negative R257 million in respect of   
members leaving existing employer groups. A positive variance of R87 million    
is due to lower than expected lapses.                                           
(3) The tax variance for Life and Invest arises due to a movement in the        
deferred tax asset.                                                             
Embedded value statement (continued)                                            
for the six months ended 31 December 2009                                       
Table 7: Embedded value of new business                                         
Six months ended          Year ended                     
                       31 December  31 December  %        30 June               
R million               2009         2008         change   2009                 
Health and Vitality                                                             
Present value of                                                                
future profits from                                                             
new business at point   164          158                   295                  
of sale                                                                         
Cost of required        (6)          (4)                   (11)                 
capital                                                                         
Cost of STC             (10)         (2)                   (9)                  
Present value of        148          152          (3)      275                  
future profits from                                                             
new business at point                                                           
of sale after cost of                                                           
required capital and                                                            
STC                                                                             
New business            576          499          15       1 204                
annualised premium                                                              
income(1)                                                                       
Life and Invest                                                                 
Present value of        478          540                   863                  
future profits from                                                             
new business at point                                                           
of sale(2)                                                                      
Cost of required        (17)         (21)                  (34)                 
capital                                                                         
Cost of STC             (14)         (12)                  (23)                 
Present value of        447          507          (12)     806                  
future profits from                                                             
new business at point                                                           
of sale after cost of                                                           
required capital and                                                            
STC                                                                             
New business            804          654          23       1 246                
annualised premium                                                              
income(3)                                                                       
Annualised profit       6.5%         8.3%                  7.7%                 
margin(4)                                                                       
Annualised profit       9.0%         10.2%                 9.9%                 
margin excluding                                                                
Invest Business                                                                 
PruHealth                                                                       
Present value of        22           45                    41                   
future profits from                                                             
new business at point                                                           
of sale                                                                         
Cost of required        (3)          (4)                   (17)                 
capital                                                                         
Cost of STC             (1)          (3)                   (1)                  
Present value of        18           38           (53)     23                   
future profits from                                                             
new business at point                                                           
of sale after cost of                                                           
required capital and                                                            
STC                                                                             
New business            60           108          (44)     188                  
annualised premium                                                              
income(5)                                                                       
Annualised profit       3.3%         3.9%                  0.9%                 
margin(4)                                                                       
(1) Health new business annualised premium income is the gross contribution     
to the medical schemes.  For embedded value purposes, Health new business is    
defined as individuals and members of new employer groups, and includes         
additions to first year business.  There have been no changes to the            
definition of new business since the previous valuation.                        
The new business annualised premium income shown above excludes premiums in     
respect of members who join an existing employer after the first year, as       
well as premiums in respect of new business written during the period but       
only activated after 31 December 2009.                                          
The total Health and Vitality new business annualised premium income written    
over the period was R1 862 million (June 2009: R3 191 million; December 2008:   
R1 505 million).                                                                
(2) Included in the Life and Invest value of new business is R5 million (June   
2009: R58 million; December 2008: R27 million) in respect of investment         
management services provided on off balance sheet investment business.          
(3) Life new business is defined as Life policies or Discovery Retirement       
Optimiser policies which incepted during the reporting period and which are     
on risk at the valuation date. Invest new business is defined as business       
where at least one premium has been received and which has not been refunded    
after receipt.                                                                  
The new business annualised premium income of R804 million (June 2009: R1 246   
million; December 2008: R654 million) (single premium APE: R210 million (June   
2009: R198 million; December 2008: R88 million)) shown above excludes           
automatic premium increases and servicing increases in respect of existing      
business. The total Life new business annualised premium income written over    
the period, including both automatic premium increases of R196 million (June    
2009: R415 million; December 2008: R201 million) and servicing increases of     
R116 million (June 2009: R259 million; December 2008: R138 million) was R1      
116 million (June 2009: R1 920 million; December 2008: R993 million) (single    
premium APE: R210 million (June 2009: R198 million; December 2008: R88          
million)). Single premium business is included at 10% of the value of the       
single premium.                                                                 
Policy alterations, including Discovery Retirement Optimisers added to          
existing Life Plans are shown in Table 6 as experience variances and not        
included as new business.                                                       
Term extensions on existing contracts are not included as new business.         
(4) The annualised profit margin is the value of new business expressed as a    
percentage of the present value of future premiums.                             
(5) PruHealth new business is defined as individuals and employer groups        
which incepted during the reporting period. The new business annualised         
premium income shown above has been adjusted to exclude premiums in respect     
of members who join an existing employer group after the first month as well    
as premiums in respect of new business written during the period but only       
activated after 31 December 2009. There have been no changes to the             
definition of new business since the previous valuation.                        
Table 8: Embedded value economic assumptions                                    
                                31          31          30                      
December    December    June                    
                                2009        2008        2009                    
Beta coefficient                                                                
South Africa                     0.51        0.44        0.45                   
United Kingdom                   0.51        0.44        0.45                   
Equity risk premium                                                             
South Africa                     3.50        3.50        3.50                   
United Kingdom                   4.00        4.00        4.00                   
Risk discount rate (%)                                                          
- Health and Vitality            10.785      9.04        10.575                 
- Life and Invest                10.785      9.04        10.575                 
- PruHealth                      6.99        6.00        6.40                   
Rand/GB Pound Exchange                                                          
Rate                                                                            
Closing                          11.90       13.60       12.71                  
Average                          12.43       14.75       14.08                  
Medical inflation (%)                                                           
South Africa                     8.00        7.50        8.00                   
United Kingdom                   Current     Current     Current                
                                levels      levels      levels                  
reducing    reducing    reducing                
                                to 7.00%    to 6.00%    to 7.00%                
                                over the    over the    over the                
                                projection  projection  projection              
period      period      period                  
Expense inflation and                                                           
CPI (%)                                                                         
South Africa                     5.00        4.50        5.00                   
United Kingdom                   3.75        3.00        3.75                   
Pre-tax investment                                                              
return (%)                                                                      
South Africa            - Cash   7.50        6.00        7.50                   
- Bonds  9.00        7.50        9.00                    
                       - Equity 12.50       11.00       12.50                   
United Kingdom          - Cash   4.45        3.75        2.65                   
Dividend cover ratio             4.5 times   4.5 times   4.5 times              
Income tax rate (%)                                                             
South Africa                     28.00       28.00       28.00                  
United Kingdom                   28.00       28.00       28.00                  
Projection term                                                                 
- Health and Vitality            20 years    20 years    20 years               
- Group Life                     10 years    10 years    10 years               
- PruHealth                      20 years    20 years    20 years               
Life mortality, morbidity and lapse assumptions were derived from internal      
experience, where available, augmented by reinsurance and industry              
information. An additional lapse rate is assumed over the next 24 months to     
allow for the potential impact of the current economic climate on               
policyholder lapses.                                                            
The Health lapse assumptions were based on the results of recent experience     
investigations. The lapse rate for the projection term after 10 years was set   
above current experience. An additional lapse rate is assumed over the next     
18 months to allow for the potential impact of the current economic climate     
on lapses.                                                                      
The PruHealth assumptions were derived from internal experience augmented by    
industry information. Best estimate morbidity assumptions and forecast          
Vitality costs allow for the impact of management actions. The lapse rate       
over the short-term is assumed to be higher than the long-term expected lapse   
rate to allow for the impact of the current economic climate on lapses.         
Renewal expense assumptions were based on the results of the latest expense     
and budget information. A notional allocation of corporate overhead expenses    
has been made to each of the subsidiary companies based on managements` view    
of each subsidiary`s contribution to overheads.                                 
The initial expenses included in the calculation of the value of new business   
are the actual costs incurred, except for Invest business where the initial     
expenses are based on medium term expectations which are lower than the         
current total costs. This reflects a realistic position for Invest.             
The investment return assumption was based on a single interest rate derived    
from the risk-free zero coupon government bond yield curve. Other economic      
assumptions were set relative to this yield. The current and projected tax      
position of the policyholder funds within the Life company has been taken       
into account in determining the net investment return assumption.               
Sensitivity to the embedded value assumptions                                   
The embedded value has been calculated in accordance with the Actuarial         
Society of South Africa`s Professional Guidance Note PGN 107: Embedded Value    
Reporting. The updated guidance note was applied for the first time in          
December 2008. The risk discount rate, calculated in accordance with the        
updated guidance note, uses the CAPM approach with specific reference to the    
Discovery beta coefficient. The Discovery beta coefficient reflects the         
historic performance of the Discovery share price relative to the market and    
infers a lower allowance for non-market related and non-financial risk.         
Previously, the potential cost of these risks to shareholders was allowed for   
through a higher margin in the risk discount rate. Investors may want to form   
their own view on an appropriate allowance for the non-financial risks which    
have not been modelled explicitly.                                              
The sensitivity of the embedded value and the value of new business at 31       
December 2009 to changes in the risk discount rate is shown below. In           
determining the values at different risk discount rates, all other              
assumptions have been left unchanged.                                           
Table 9: Embedded value sensitivity to risk discount rate                       
R million                       Risk       Published    Risk                    
                               discount   risk         discount                 
                               rate - 1%  discount     rate + 1%                
rate                                  
Adjusted net worth less run-    3 380      3 380        3 380                   
down costs for Destiny Health                                                   
Value of in-force covered       20 108     18 371       16 903                  
business before cost of                                                         
capital                                                                         
Cost of required capital        (332)      (324)        (318)                   
Cost of STC                     (628)      (540)        (474)                   
Discovery Holdings embedded     22 528     20 887       19 491                  
value                                                                           
Table 10: Value of new business sensitivity to risk discount rate               
R million                       Risk       Published    Risk                    
discount   risk         discount                 
                               rate - 1%  discount     rate + 1%                
                                          rate                                  
Present value of future                                                         
profits from new business at                                                    
point of sale                   808        664          537                     
Cost of required capital        (28)       (26)         (25)                    
Cost of STC                     (25)       (25)         (15)                    
Present value of future                                                         
profits from new business                                                       
at point of sale after cost of                                                  
required capital and STC        755        613          497                     

Date: 24/02/2010 09:30:02 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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