Not logged in
  Home   Markets   Shares   Funds   Portfolio   Toolbox   Charting   Alerts   Directory   
 Admin   

Thu 23 Feb 2006, 9:14 Discovery - Unaudited interim financial results fo
DSY
 DSY                                                                             
Discovery - Unaudited interim financial results for the six months ended 31     
            December 2005                                                       
DISCOVERY HOLDINGS LIMITED                                                      
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number: 1999/007789/06)                                           
ISIN: ZAE000022331                                                              
Share Code: DSY                                                                 
("Discovery")                                                                   
Unaudited interim financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2005   
-    Operating profit + 32% to R526 million                                     
-    Post-tax profits + 73%, after BEE deal - 1%                                
-    New business of R2.1 billion                                               
-    Embedded value +27% to R10 billion                                         
Financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2005                     
Discovery"s core purpose is to make people healthier and enhance and protect    
their lives. Discovery"s business model revolves around our ability to          
understand consumer needs and develop products that meet them, positioning      
Discovery well to capitalise on the world-wide trend towards consumerism. The   
result is a modern insurance organisation that has grown organically through    
four distinct businesses built around people"s needs.                           
During the six months under review, we have worked hard to drive this people-   
centred vision in our local businesses. Discovery Health"s consumer-driven      
healthcare model provides the platform for health assurance products that place 
consumers in control of their health care spending. In the case of Discovery    
Life, we have responded to consumers" demand for flexible life assurance        
products that meet their benefit expectations. In our international operations, 
Destiny Health and PruHealth, our focus has been on unlocking our unique        
consumer-driven health care capability in the context of new, global markets.   
Operating profits for the group grew strongly by 32% during the period under    
review to R526m (2004: R399m), despite a disappointing performance from Destiny 
Health and before the once-off expense associated with our recent BEE           
transaction. PruHealth grew strongly and in line with expectations, achieving   
the 35 000 client milestone as forecast. Discovery Health"s annualised new      
business premium grew by 8%, off a high base, while Discovery Life achieved new 
business growth of 18% and a 29% increase in profit.                            
PruHealth                                                                       
In October 2004, we launched PruHealth in partnership with the Prudential plc,  
with the aim of creating a company that would lead the trend towards consumerism
in the UK private medical insurance market. To date, PruHealth"s performance has
been exceptional. The investment in PruHealth of R68m (2004: R80m) and new      
business growth of R77m (2004: R5m) over the period were in line with our       
forecasts.                                                                      
The growth in PruHealth"s distribution footprint and operational capability has 
exceeded our expectations. We believe this reflects the combination of an       
elegant, easy-to-use product that is attractive to consumers on the one hand    
and, on the other, the rapid, effective roll-out of Discovery"s operational     
framework to support product distribution and operations. PruHealth has quickly 
developed a nation-wide Vitality footprint, providing clients with access to    
Vitality wellness benefits across the UK. We have also been encouraged by the   
significant broker support across the market by well-known intermediary brands  
and PruHealth"s ability to attract young and healthy lives.                     
This combination of product and back-office efficiency has allowed us to gain a 
significant competitive price advantage, further bolstering our growth          
opportunities. The result is a business of exceptional quality that, despite its
small size, has proven its ability to compete against traditional, established  
players, generating strong new business flows at an acceptable medical loss     
ratio. Based on its strong foundational position, we are cautiously optimistic  
of the outlook for PruHealth and have set a bold short-term goal of 100,000     
lives by 1 January 2007.                                                        
Destiny Health                                                                  
To our disappointment, the period under review saw further operational losses of
R80m (2004: R41m) for Destiny Health. While new business growth has been strong 
in the Mid-Atlantic, Wisconsin and Massachusetts markets, the underlying market 
dynamics in Illinois have negatively impacted Destiny. The operating losses     
incurred are attributable to slower-than-anticipated expansion into new markets 
and an over-concentration in the Illinois market, where a significant pricing   
disadvantage exists relative to the dominant insurer in that market. This placed
Destiny under increasing price pressure, resulting in increased lapses and      
underwriting losses during the period under review. Destiny Health"s progress in
the three other markets it competes in has demonstrated that our focus must be  
on rapid expansion into new markets and on providing the technical sales        
infrastructure to support new business growth in these new markets.             
The strategy which has exposed Destiny to a concentration of risk within the    
Illinois market has been addressed during the period under review with a view to
rapidly reversing the negative financial trend in Destiny"s results. Premiums   
have been significantly increased at policy renewal dates and expansion plans   
have been accelerated to address the claims losses and market concentration in  
Illinois. Initial results are promising: the rates adjustments are translating  
into lower loss ratios with target retention rates having been achieved and we  
have been operational in the Texas market since 31 January 2006, where we have  
received a positive response.                                                   
The category of consumer-driven health care is gaining increasing support in the
US, especially at a national health policy level, creating favourable conditions
for Destiny Health; this is especially true of the Texas market. Combined with  
the power of Discovery"s consumer-driven health care capability and our joint   
ventures with Guardian and Tufts Health Plan, we believe there are significant  
opportunities for Destiny Health in the year ahead.                             
A rigorous, disciplined approach to the measurement and evaluation of Destiny"s 
progress is being applied on a quarterly basis. The immediate short-term target 
is to achieve a run-rate of 3,000 new members per month and consistently improve
quarter-on-quarter financial results. We remain cautiously optimistic that the  
achievement of these goals will lead to a viable business and profitability in  
the medium term.                                                                
Discovery Health                                                                
Discovery Health continues to deliver robust growth and financial performance   
with operating profit increasing by 9% to R266m (2004: R245m), despite a        
reduction in real terms of administration fees and loss of re-insurance income  
over time. The combined membership of the schemes under Discovery Health"s      
administration grew to 1,883,879 as at 1 January 2006  (2005: 1,704,240         
members). This reflects continued growth in new business to R1211m (2004:       
R1175m) - which, coming off a high base has exceeded our expectations - as well 
as a reduction in the lapse rate to 3.3% (2004: 3.7%).                          
Over the last 13 years, Discovery Health has demonstrated a capability to       
deliver innovative products that empower the consumer combined with the ability 
to navigate a complex, evolving regulatory environment. Going forward, Discovery
Health must use its leadership position to ensure access to the best quality of 
care for its members. This is a function of Discovery Health"s unmatched scale, 
which in the period under review manifested in the launch of the Discovery 911  
emergency response network, the Discovery Hospital Rating Index (an objective   
cost and quality assessment tool,) as well as successful negotiations with      
various provider groups to contain cost increases into 2006. Evidence is also   
starting to emerge establishing the value of Vitality"s role in lowering health 
care costs.                                                                     
By combining its scale and focus on lowering health care spend by promoting     
healthy lifestyles, Discovery Health is able to operate at a discount to its    
competitors. Coupled with its unique footprint and the quality of its client    
base, Discovery Health is well-positioned to continue delivering growth and more
affordable access to quality health care in its existing market. In addition,   
these attributes position Discovery Health well to capitalise on developments in
the emerging and low income markets. Discovery"s KeyCare product (aimed at the  
R3 500-R6 500 income market) now exceeds 100,000 members, more than half of     
which are new entrants to the private healthcare industry and the development of
Discovery Health"s primary care network has progressed well with over 1,500     
doctors now represented within the network.                                     
Operationally, Discovery Health"s performance is at the best levels ever - from 
service to customer retention to the ability to manage costs on behalf of our   
members. A significant focus has been applied to improving efficiencies and     
enhancing service further during the period under review. The front-line        
servicing and back-office operations, representing over 2,000 staff members,    
have recently been merged to support this strategy and generate annualised      
administrative savings in excess of R50 million over the next 12 months.        
Discovery Life                                                                  
Discovery Life"s performance has exceeded expectations with operating profit    
growing 29% to R246m (2004: R190m) and new business growing 18% to R392m (2004: 
332%). Unlike other players in the market who employ a banc assurance model that
centres on investments and cross-selling, Discovery Life has adopted a "health- 
assurance" model. This model integrates our health management capabilities with 
Discovery"s risk management expertise. The ability to accurately price health   
risk and encourage health improvements through integration with Vitality and    
Discovery Health, has translated into better-than-expected mortality and        
morbidity rates, resulting in exceptional growth in underwriting profits during 
the period under review from R126m to R216m.                                    
The same health insurance mindset has informed our entry into the investment    
market with the Discovery Life retirement Optimiser. The Optimiser makes use of 
"unneeded" life assurance post-retirement to fund much needed retirement income 
and provides real guarantees regarding benefit expectations. We are already     
seeing the Optimiser gain traction, with an estimated 17% of the retirement     
funding business written by independent brokers being written with Discovery    
Life, just six months after the launch of the Optimiser product.                
We are cautiously optimistic about Discovery Life"s future prospects.           
In addition to growing its primary risk assurance business by continuing to     
leverage the integration opportunities with other Discovery products and        
businesses, Discovery Life will aim to solidify its entry into the retirement   
funding market by securing 20% of the independent broker new business market    
during the current financial year.                                              
The future                                                                      
While each of Discovery"s businesses is at a different stage of its evolution,  
we are cautiously optimistic of their future growth prospects.                  
PROSPECTS                                                                       
All of Discovery"s businesses are well positioned for strong growth going       
forward without requiring recourse to additional capital.                       
By order of the board                                                           
LL Dippenaar                   A Gore                                           
Chairman                       Chief Executive Officer                          
22 February 2006                                                                
DIRECTORS                                                                       
LL Dippenaar (Chairman), A Gore (Chief Executive Officer), JM Robertson*, Dr BA 
Brink, JP Burger, Dr NJ Dlamini, SB Epstein (USA), MI Hilkowitz (Israel), NS    
Koopowitz*, Dr TV Maphai**, HP Mayers*, S Sebotsa**, B Swartzberg*, SV Zilwa, SD
Whyte*                                                                          
*Executive  **Appointed 8 December 2005                                         
TRANSFER SECRETARIES                                                            
Computershare Investor Services 2004 (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                                                             
INCOME STATEMENT                                                                
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
                       Group      Group                  Group                  
Six months Six months             Year                   
                       ended      ended                  ended                  
                       December   December               June                   
                       2005       2004       %           2005                   
R million              Unaudited  Unaudited  change      Audited                
Premium income         1 277      824                    1 820                  
Other income           1 246      1 016                  2 209                  
Gross income of Group  2 523      1 840                  4 029                  
Outward reinsurance                                                             
premiums               (229)      (145)                  (378)                  
Investment income      105        85                     124                    
Realised and unrealised                                                         
gains and losses       118        82                     157                    
Net income             2 517      1 862                  3 932                  
Policyholder benefits  (681)      (370)                  (841)                  
Recoveries from                                                                 
reinsurers             201        99                     262                    
Net policyholder                                                                
benefits               (480)      (271)                  (579)                  
Acquisition costs      (440)      (363)                  (714)                  
Operating and                                                                   
administration                                                                  
expenses               (1 288)    (1 034)                (2 166)                
Transfer from                                                                   
assets/liabilities                                                              
under insurance                                                                 
contracts              293        296                    574                    
Fair value adjustment                                                           
to liabilities under                                                            
investment contracts   (76)       (91)                   (122)                  
Profit from operations                                                          
after BEE expenses     526        399        32          925                    
Local operations       668        517                    1 154                  
Foreign operations     (142)      (118)                  (229)                  
BEE expenses           (144)      -                      -                      
Profit from operations                                                          
after BEE expenses     382        399                    925                    
Financing costs        (10)       (28)                   (64)                   
Foreign exchange loss  -                                                        
unrealised             -          (33)                   (8)                    
Profit before taxation 372        338        10          853                    
Taxation               (178)      (143)                  (305)                  
Profit after taxation  194        195        (1)         548                    
Attributable to:                                                                
Ordinary shareholders  194        195                    557                    
Minority shareholders  -          -                      (9)                    
                       194        195                    548                    
Basic earnings per                                                              
share (cents)                                                                   
- undiluted            36,8       37,7       (2)         107,3                  
- diluted              35,9       36,7       (2)         103,0                  
Weighted number of                                                              
shares in issue                                                                 
(000"s)                528 468    518 793                519 188                
Diluted weighted number                                                         
of shares (000"s)      553 749    549 271                553 227                
BALANCE SHEET                                                                   
at 31 December 2005                                                             
                                             Group       Group                  
                                             December    June                   
2005        2005                   
R million                                    Unaudited   Audited                
ASSETS                                                                          
Cash and cash equivalents                    1 031       916                    
Money market                                                                    
- available-for-sale                         55          53                     
- at fair value through profit and loss      110         106                    
Government and public authority stocks                                          
- available-for-sale                         147         146                    
- at fair value through profit and loss      49          40                     
Equity investments                                                              
- available-for-sale                         1 142       922                    
- at fair value through profit and loss      407         337                    
Investment in associate                      7           4                      
Investment assets                            2 948       2 524                  
Loans and receivables                        483         557                    
Deferred taxation                            43          35                     
Assets arising from insurance contracts      2 186       1 881                  
Intangible assets                            49          45                     
Property and equipment                       216         219                    
Total assets                                 5 925       5 261                  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS" FUNDS                                             
Liabilities                                                                     
Trade and other payables                     995         951                    
Provisions                                   31          30                     
Taxation                                     37          17                     
Deferred taxation                            421         323                    
Financial liabilities                        710         619                    
- Investment contracts at fair                                                  
value through  profit and loss               554         483                    
- Borrowings at amortised cost               156         136                    
Liabilities arising from                                                        
insurance contracts                          12          -                      
Liabilities arising from                                                        
reinsurance contracts                        27          31                     
Total liabilities                            2 233       1 971                  
Shareholders" funds                                                             
Share capital and share premium              1 346       1 336                  
Reserves                                     2 346       1 887                  
                                             3 692       3 223                  
Minority interest                            -           67                     
Total shareholders" funds                    3 692       3 290                  
Total liabilities and shareholders" funds    5 925       5 261                  
CASH FLOW STATEMENT                                                             
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
                                  Group      Group       Group                  
                                  Six months Six months  Year                   
                                  ended      ended       ended                  
December   December    June                   
                                  2005       2004        2005                   
R million                         Unaudited  Unaudited   Audited                
Health                            327        316         691                    
Life                              (64)       80          25                     
- operating activities            (64)       (120)       (175)                  
- quota share deposit             -          200         200                    
Vitality                          19         15          52                     
Holdings                          (1)        -           (1)                    
Destiny                           (90)       (27)        (42)                   
PruHealth                         (73)       (77)        (150)                  
Cash generated by operations      118        307         575                    
Working capital changes           128        (41)        10                     
                                  246        266         585                    
Dividends received                15         11          23                     
Interest received                 79         40          72                     
Financing costs                   (5)        (3)         (93)                   
Taxation paid                     (83)       (114)       (179)                  
Cash flow from operating                                                        
activities                        252        200         408                    
Cash flow from investing                                                        
activities                        (104)      (67)        (210)                  
Investment purchases              (249)      (109)       (801)                  
Proceeds on disposal of                                                         
investments                       207        91          724                    
Purchase of equipment             (46)       (36)        (106)                  
Purchase of intangible assets     (16)       (16)        (30)                   
Decrease in loans receivable      -          3           3                      
Cash flow from financing                                                        
activities                        (33)       59          (134)                  
Proceeds from shares issued       12         18          71                     
Share issue costs written off                                                   
against share capital             (2)        (1)         (1)                    
Dividends paid to Destiny Health                                                
preference shareholders           (1)        -           (1)                    
Minority share buy-back           -          (1)         (1)                    
Increase/(decrease) in borrowings 25         43          (202)                  
Redemption of Destiny preference                                                
shareholders                      (67)       -           -                      
Net increase in cash and cash                                                   
equivalents                       115        192         64                     
Cash and cash equivalents at                                                    
beginning of year                 916        845         845                    
Effects of exchange rate changes                                                
on cash and cash equivalents      -          (8)         7                      
Cash and cash equivalents at                                                    
end of year                       1 031      1 029       916                    
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY                                                  
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
                           Attributable to ordinary shareholders                
                           Share       Share-                                   
                           capital and based     Invest-   Trans-               
share       payment   ment      lation               
R million                  premium     reserve   reserve   resesrve             
31 December 2005                                                                
Balance at 1 July 2005     1 336       20        209       98                   
Issue of capital           12          -         -         -                    
Share issue expenses       (2)         -         -         -                    
Net profit for the period  -           -         -         -                    
Movement in share-based                                                         
payment reserve            -           157       -         -                    
Unrealised gains on                                                             
investments                -           -         155       -                    
Realised gains on                                                               
investments transferred                                                         
to income statement        -           -         (42)      -                    
Revaluation of forward                                                          
exchange contract          -           -         -         -                    
Translation of foreign                                                          
subsidiary                 -           -         -         (2)                  
Redemption of Destiny                                                           
Health preference shares   -           -         -         -                    
Balance at                                                                      
31 December 2005           1 346       177       322       96                   
31 December 2004                                                                
Balance at 1 July 2004     1 276       -         51        69                   
Issue of capital           18          -         -         -                    
Share issue expenses       (1)         -         -         -                    
Movement in share-based                                                         
payment reserve            -           7         -         -                    
Net profit for the period  -           -         -         -                    
Dividends paid to Destiny                                                       
Health preference                                                               
shareholders               -           -         -         -                    
Unrealised gains on                                                             
investments                -           -         163       -                    
Realised gains on                                                               
investments transferred                                                         
to income statement        -           -         (15)      -                    
Revaluation of forward                                                          
exchange contract          -           -         -         -                    
Translation of foreign                                                          
subsidiary                 -           -         -                              
Balance at                                                                      
31 December 2004           1 293       7         199       78                   
*Amount is less than R500 000                                                   
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY                                                  
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
                              Attributable to                                   
                              ordinary                                          
shareholders                                      
                           Hedging     Retained  Minority                       
R million                  reserve     earnings  interest  Total                
31 December 2005                                                                
Balance at 1 July 2005     3           1 557     67        3 290                
Issue of capital           -           -         -         12                   
Share issue expenses       -           -         -         (2)                  
Net profit for the period  -           194       -         194                  
Movement in share-based                                                         
payment reserve            -           -         -         157                  
Unrealised gains on                                                             
investments                -           -         -         155                  
Realised gains on                                                               
investments transferred                                                         
to income statement        -           -         -         (42)                 
Revaluation of forward                                                          
exchange contract          (3)         -         -         (3)                  
Translation of foreign                                                          
subsidiary                 -           -         -         (2)                  
Redemption of Destiny                                                           
Health preference shares   -           -         (67)      (67)                 
Balance at                                                                      
31 December 2005           -           1 751     -         3 692                
31 December 2004                                                                
Balance at 1 July 2004     (6)         1 002     67        2 459                
Issue of capital           -           -         -         18                   
Share issue expenses       -           -         -         (1)                  
Movement in share-based                                                         
payment reserve            -           -         -         7                    
Net profit for the period  -           195       -         195                  
Dividends paid to Destiny                                                       
Health preference                                                               
shareholders               -           (1)       -         (1)                  
Unrealised gains on                                                             
investments                -           -         -         163                  
Realised gains on                                                               
investments transferred                                                         
to income statement        -           -         -         (15)                 
Revaluation of forward                                                          
exchange contract          6           -         -         6                    
Translation of foreign                                                          
subsidiary                 -           -         -         9                    
Balance at                                                                      
31 December 2004           -           1 196     67        2 840                
*Amount is less than R500 000                                                   
SEGMENTAL INFORMATION                                                           
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
                                      Health                                    
United                                    
                            South      States of United                         
R million                   Africa     America   Kingdom   Life                 
31 December 2005                                                                
New business annualised                                                         
premium income              1 211     383        77        392                  
Gross inflows under                                                             
management                  7 874     647        43        820                  
Income statement                                                                
Gross income of Group       931       436        21        820                  
Outward reinsurance                                                             
premiums                    (2)       (45)       -         (182)                
Investment income           15        3          3         79                   
Realised and unrealised                                                         
gains and losses            -         -          -         118                  
Net policyholder benefits   (5)       (339)      (15)      (121)                
Acquisition costs           -         (22)       (2)       (382)                
Operating and administration                                                    
expenses                    (658)     (110)      (72)      (182)                
Transfer from assets/                                                           
liabilities arising                                                             
from insurance contracts    -         -          -         216                  
Fair value adjustments                                                          
to liabilities under                                                            
investment contracts        -         -          -         (76)                 
Return on assets arising                                                        
from insurance contracts    -         -          -         77                   
Profit/(loss) from                                                              
operations before                                                               
BEE expenses                281       (77)       (65)      367                  
BEE expenses                                                                    
Financing costs                                                                 
Profit before taxation                                                          
Cash flow statement                                                             
Cash generated by                                                               
operations                  327       (90)       (73)      (64)                 
Cash flow from financing                                                        
activities                  -         (39)       -         -                    
31 December 2004                                                                
New business annualised                                                         
premium income              1 175     409        5         332                  
Gross inflows under                                                             
management                  6 884     375        *         587                  
Income statement                                                                
Gross income of Group       782       237        *         587                  
Outward reinsurance                                                             
premiums                    (2)       (3)        -         (140)                
Investment income           17        1          2         61                   
Realised and unrealised                                                         
gains and losses            -         -          -         82                   
Net policyholder benefits   (3)       (171)      *         (97)                 
Acquisition costs           -         (20)       *         (325)                
Operating and administration                                                    
expenses                    (532)     (84)       (80)      (131)                
Transfer from assets/                                                           
liabilities under                                                               
insurance contracts         -         -          -         232                  
Fair value adjustment to                                                        
liabilities under investment                                                    
contracts                   -         -          -         (91)                 
Return on assets arising                                                        
from insurance contracts    -         -          -         64                   
Profit/(loss) from                                                              
operations                  262       (40)       (78)      242                  
Financing costs                                                                 
Foreign exchange loss -                                                         
unrealised                                                                      
Profit before taxation                                                          
Cash flow statement                                                             
Cash generated by                                                               
operations                  316       (27)       (77)      80                   
Cash flow from financing                                                        
activities                  -         42         -         -                    
*Amount is less than R500000.                                                   
SEGMENTAL INFORMATION                                                           
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
R million                             Vitality   Holdings  Total                
31 December 2005                                                                
New business annualised premium                                                 
income                                51         -         2 114                
Gross inflows under management        315        -         9 699                
Income statement                                                                
Gross income of Group                 315        -         2 523                
Outward reinsurance premiums          -          -         (229)                
Investment income                     4          1         105                  
Realised and unrealised gains                                                   
and losses                            -          -         118                  
Net policyholder benefits             -          -         (480)                
Acquisition costs                     (34)       -         (440)                
Operating and administration expenses (265)      (1)       (1 288)              
Transfer from assets/liabilities                                                
arising from insurance contracts      -          -         216                  
Fair value adjustments to                                                       
liabilities under investment                                                    
contracts                             -          -         (76)                 
Return on assets arising from                                                   
insurance contracts                   -          -         77                   
Profit/(loss) from operations before                                            
BEEexpenses                          20         -          526                  
BEE expenses                                               (144)                
Financing costs                                            (10)                 
Profit before taxation                                     372                  
Cash flow statement                                                             
Cash generated by operations          19         (1)       118                  
Cash flow from financing activities   -          6         (33)                 
31 December 2004                                                                
New business annualised premium                                                 
income                                36         -         1 957                
Gross inflows under management        234        -         8 080                
Income statement                                                                
Gross income of Group                 234        -         1 840                
Outward reinsurance premiums          -          -         (145)                
Investment income                     4          -         85                   
Realised and unrealised gains                                                   
and losses                            -          -         82                   
Net policyholder benefits             -          -         (271)                
Acquisition costs                     (18)       -         (363)                
Operating and administration expenses (207)      -         (1 034)              
Transfer from assets/liabilities                                                
under insurance contracts             -          -         232                  
Fair value adjustment to liabilities                                            
under investment contracts            -          -         (91)                 
Return on assets arising from                                                   
insurance contracts                   -          -         64                   
Profit/(loss) from operations         13         -         399                  
Financing costs                                            (28)                 
Foreign exchange loss - unrealised                         (33)                 
Profit before taxation                                     338                  
Cash flow statement                                                             
Cash generated by operations          15         -         307                  
Cash flow from financing activities   -          17        59                   
*Amount is less than R500 000.                                                  
FINANCIAL COMMENTARY                                                            
REVIEW OF GROUP RESULTS                                                         
Gross inflows under management increased 20% for the six months ended 31        
December 2005. Gross inflows under management includes flows of the schemes     
Discovery administers and 100% of the business conducted together with its joint
venture partners.                                                               
                              December      December                            
                              2005          2004         %                      
Gross inflows under                                                             
management                    R million     R million    change                 
Discovery Health              7 874         6 884        14                     
Discovery Life                820           587          40                     
Discovery Vitality            315           234          35                     
Destiny Health                647           375          73                     
PruHealth                     43            -            -                      
Gross inflows under                                                             
management                    9 699         8 080        20                     
Less: collected on behalf of                                                    
third parties                 (7 176)       (6 240)                             
Discovery Health              (6 943)       (6 102)                             
Destiny Health                (211)         (138)                               
PruHealth                     (22)          -                                   
Gross income of Group         2 523         1 840        37                     
EARNINGS                                                                        
The following table shows the main components of the increase in profit from    
operations before BEE expense for the six months:                               
                              December      December                            
                              2005          2004         %                      
Earnings source               R million     R million    change                 
Discovery Health              266           245          9                      
Discovery Life                246           190          29                     
Discovery Vitality            16            9            78                     
Destiny Health                (80)          (41)         (95)                   
PruHealth                     (68)          (80)         15                     
Discovery Holdings            (1)           -            -                      
Profit from operations before                                                   
investment income             379           323          17                     
Investment income             105           85                                  
Realised and unrealised gains                                                   
and losses                    118           82                                  
Fair value adjustment to                                                        
liabilities under investment                                                    
contracts                     (76)          (91)                                
Profit from operations before                                                   
BEE expense                   526           399          32                     
HEADLINE EARNINGS                                                               
Headline earnings in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS) increased by 64%, excluding the impact of the BEE transaction.           
Unrealised gains of R155 million on available-for-sale investments for the six  
months have been taken directly to equity and are not included in earnings or   
headline earnings.                                                              
The reconciliation between earnings and headline earnings is shown below:       
December      December                            
                              2005          2004         %                      
                              R million     R million    change                 
Net profit attributable to                                                      
ordinary shareholders pre IFRS                                                  
and other adjustments         356           206          73                     
Adjustments for:                                                                
IFRS 2: Share-based payments  (157)         (7)                                 
Leases                        (5)           (4)                                 
Net profit attributable to                                                      
ordinary shareholders post                                                      
IFRS and other adjustments    194           195          (1)                    
Adjustment for realised profit                                                  
on available-for-sale                                                           
investments net of CGT        (42)          (15)                                
Headline earnings             152           180          (16)                   
Headline earnings per share                                                     
(cents):                                                                        
- undiluted                   28,8          34,7         (17)                   
- diluted                     28,3          33,9         (17)                   
Headline earnings before BEE                                                    
transaction                   296           180          64                     
Headline earnings per share                                                     
before BEE transaction (cents):                                                 
- undiluted                   56,1          34,7         62                     
- diluted                     54,3          33,9         60                     
TAXATION                                                                        
All South African entities are in a tax paying position. Destiny operations have
significant tax losses but no deferred tax asset has been accounted for on the  
foreign losses incurred in the US.                                              
An asset has been accounted for on 50% of the PruHealth losses for which Group  
tax relief is available to Prudential plc in the UK. No deferred tax asset has  
been accounted for on the balance of the PruHealth losses.                      
INVESTMENTS                                                                     
Investments have increased due to additional investments and the continued      
strong performance of the equity markets. This has resulted in an increase in   
investment income.                                                              
BALANCE SHEET                                                                   
The increase in the assets arising from insurance contracts of R305 million is  
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.                 
During the period, Destiny redeemed US$9 million of Series A preference shares  
leading to a reduction in outside shareholders of R67 million.                  
BEE TRANSACTION                                                                 
In December 2005, Discovery issued 38,7 million shares in terms of its BEE      
transaction. The special purpose vehicles and trusts to which these shares have 
been issued, have been consolidated into the accounts of Discovery, eliminating 
the share issue.                                                                
These shares have been included in the calculation of diluted HEPS and diluted  
EPS.                                                                            
The International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) released
IFRIC 8 "Scope of IFRS 2" confirming that BEE transactions should be accounted  
for under IFRS 2.                                                               
Discovery has early adopted IFRIC 8, resulting in a charge to the income        
statement of R144 million in the six-month period ending 31 December 2005. This 
charge represents the financial effects of the BEE transaction.                 
An additional R13 million in respect of options granted under employee share    
incentive schemes has been expensed in the income statement in accordance with  
the requirements of IFRS 2.                                                     
ACCOUNTING POLICIES                                                             
The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as  
well as the South African Companies Act, 1973. This may differ from IFRS        
actually in effect at 30 June 2006 as a result of ongoing review and possible   
amendment by interpretive guidance from the International Accounting Standards  
Board and IFRIC and may therefore be subject to change.                         
These are Discovery"s first IFRS interim financial statements and the provisions
of IFRS 1, First-time adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards,  
have been applied. The interim financial statements do not include all of the   
information required for full annual financial statements.                      
Shareholders are referred to the accompanying announcement regarding details of 
the financial restatement impact as a consequence of the IFRS adoption.         
DIVIDEND POLICY AND CAPITAL                                                     
The directors have recommended that no dividend be paid on ordinary shares. 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 were R91,2 million (2004: R65 million) and were covered 12,5 times (2004:  
14,9 times).                                                                    
DIRECTORATE                                                                     
Dr TV Maphai and Mrs S Sebotsa were appointed as non-executive directors to the 
board of Discovery with effect from 8 December 2005.                            
www.discovery.co.za                                                             
EMBEDDED VALUE STATEMENT                                                        
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
The embedded value of Discovery at 31 December 2005 is calculated as the sum of 
the following components:                                                       
- the excess assets over liabilities at the valuation date; and                 
- the value of in-force business at the valuation date (less an allowance for   
the cost of capital).                                                           
The value of in-force business is calculated as the value of projected future   
after-tax profits of the business in force at the valuation date, discounted at 
the risk discount rate.                                                         
In the past, Life has based their embedded value on the Financial Soundness     
Valuation Method (FSV).  A change in actuarial guidance note (PGN107) effective 
for interim reporting dates after 31 December 2005 now requires Life Insurers to
base the embedded value on the Statutory Valuation Method (SVM). The key        
difference between the two bases for Discovery Life is that the negative        
reserves calculated on the FSV basis are zeroised under the Statutory Valuation 
Method. Discovery has adopted this new guidance note for the interim results    
presented here. The net asset value has been adjusted to reflect the zeroisation
of the Life negative reserve in the statutory accounts.  The net asset value is 
thus reduced compared to the amount shown on the balance sheet.   This has      
resulted in a significant decrease in the capital adequacy requirement          
underlying the calculation of the cost of capital. The value capitalised in the 
negative reserve on the Financial Soundness Valuation basis is released in the  
value of in-force of the Statutory Valuation Method over time.                  
The value of in-force and the value of new business at 31 December 2005 are     
shown on both the SVM and the FSV bases to allow comparison to prior periods.   
For PruHealth, no value has been placed on the current in-force business.       
The value of new business is determined at the point of sale as the projected   
future after-tax profits of the new business written by Discovery, discounted at
the risk discount rate, less an allowance for the cost of capital.              
PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. has reviewed the methodology and assumptions used to
determine the value of in-force business and the value of new business and have 
confirmed that, overall, they are reasonable.                                   
TABLE 1:  GROUP EMBEDDED VALUE                                                  
Twelve               
                            Six months to                  months to            
              31 December 31 December                      30 June              
              2005        2005        31 December %        2005                 
R million     SVM basis   FSV basis   2004        change                        
Shareholders"                                                                   
funds         3 692       3 692       2 840(1)    30       3 290(1)             
Minority                                                                        
Interest      -           -           (67)                 (67)                 
Negative                                                                        
reserve                                                                         
zeroised      (1 877)     -           -                    -                    
Shareholders"                                                                   
funds excluding                                                                 
negative                                                                        
reserves      1 815       3 692       2 773                3 223                
Value of in-                                                                    
force business                                                                  
before cost                                                                     
of capital    8 466       7 028       5 604                6 483                
Cost of                                                                         
capital       (201)       (675)       (434)                (533)                
Discovery                                                                       
Holdings                                                                        
embedded                                                                        
value         10 080      10 045      7 943       27       9 173                
Number of                                                                       
shares                                                                          
(millions)    529,1       529,1       520,1                528,2                
Embedded value                                                                  
per share     R19,05      R18,98      R15,27      25       R17,37               
Diluted number                                                                  
of shares                                                                       
(millions)    553,2       553,2       553,2                553,2                
Diluted                                                                         
embedded value                                                                  
per share(2)  R18,56      R18,49      R14,62      27       R16,93               
(1) The shareholders" funds balance has been adjusted following the adoption of 
IFRS.                                                                           
(2) The diluted embedded value per share is calculated by increasing the        
embedded value by the value of the loan to the Discovery Holdings share trust,  
and by increasing the number of shares by the number of outstanding shares      
relating to the redemption value of the Discovery Life preference shares, as    
well as by the number of shares issued to the share incentive trust which have  
not been delivered to participants. No allowance has been made for Discovery"s  
BEE transaction as the impact would be anti-dilutive due to the transaction     
price exceeding the current embedded value                                      
per share.                                                                      
TABLE 2: VALUE OF IN-FORCE BUSINESS                                             
                                     Value                 Value                
                                     before                after                
                                     cost of    Cost of    cost of              
R million                            capital    capital    capital              
at 31 December 2005 - SVM basis                                                 
Health and Vitality                  3 953      -          3 953                
Life(1)                              4 334      (183)      4 151                
Destiny Health(2)                    179        (18)       161                  
Total                                8 466      (201)      8 265                
at 31 December 2005 - FSV basis                                                 
Health and Vitality                  3 953      -          3 953                
Life(1)                              2 896      (657)      2 239                
Destiny Health(2)                    179        (18)       161                  
Total                                7 028      (675)      6 353                
at 30 June 2005                                                                 
Health and Vitality                  3 844      -          3 844                
Life(1)                              2 349      (517)      1 832                
Destiny Health(2)                    290        (16)       274                  
Total                                6 483      (533)      5 950                
(1) On the SVM basis, the Life cost of capital is based on a capital adequacy   
requirement of R92 million. On the FSV basis, the Life cost of capital is based 
on a capital adequacy requirement of R1 881 million (December 2004: R883 million
on the FSV basis; R65 million on the SVM basis).                                
(2) Figures for Destiny Health reflect Discovery"s 97,92% shareholding in       
Destiny Health at 31 December 2005.                                             
TABLE 3: GROUP EMBEDDED VALUE EARNINGS                                          
                                                          Twelve                
Six months  Six months  months                
                                  to          to          to                    
                                  31 December 31 December 30 June               
R million                         2005        2004        2005                  
Embedded value at end of period   10 080      7 943       9 173                 
Embedded value at beginning of                                                  
period                            9 173       6 832       6 832                 
Increase in embedded value        907         1 111       2 341                 
Net issue of capital              (10)        (17)        (60)                  
Dividends paid to Destiny Health                                                
preference shareholders           -           1           1                     
Transfer to/(from) hedging                                                      
reserve                           3           (6)         (9)                   
Embedded value earnings           900         1 089       2 273                 
Annualised return on embedded                                                   
value (%)                         20,6        34,4        33,3                  
TABLE 4: COMPONENTS OF GROUP EMBEDDED VALUE EARNINGS                            
                                                          Twelve                
                      Six months  Six months              months                
                      to          to                      to                    
31 December 31 December  %          30 June               
R million             2005        2004         change     2005                  
Total profit from new                                                           
business (at point                                                              
of sale)              379         375          1          783                   
Profit from existing                                                            
business                                                                        
* Expected return     342         286                     602                   
* Change in methodology                                                         
and assumptions(1)    (35)        315                     307                   
* Experience                                                                    
variances             71          56                      363                   
Acquisition costs(2)   (58)        (60)                     -                   
PruHealth start-up                                                              
costs                 (56)        (64)                    (120)                 
Adjustment for                                                                  
minority interest                                                               
in Destiny Health     3           1                       4                     
Adjustment for                                                                  
Guardian profit share                                                           
in Destiny Health(3)  (8)         (9)                     (28)                  
Foreign exchange rate                                                           
movements             (18)        (38)                    43                    
Interest on loan                                                                
capital               -           (20)                    (50)                  
IFRSadjustment       -           (4)                     (8)                    
Return on                                                                       
shareholders"                                                                   
funds(4)              280         251                     377                   
Embedded value                                                                  
earnings              900         1 089                   2 273                 
(1) The change in methodology and assumptions item 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) A large proportion of Health and Vitality new business was written over the 
period but only activated on 1 January 2006.  Acquisition costs of R45 million  
(December 2004: R37 million) arise in respect of these members who are not      
included in the embedded value calculation. Similarly acquisition costs of R13  
million (December 2004: R15 million) arise for Destiny Health.                  
(3) In terms of the agreement between Destiny Health and the Guardian Life      
Insurance Company of America, Guardian will share in 50% of the profits from    
business written by Destiny Health prior to the agreement with Guardian (i.e.   
non-alliance business) once the business written by Guardian reaches the        
contractual new member threshold. Based on Guardian"s progress towards achieving
this target, the value attributed to Destiny Health"s non-alliance business has 
been reduced by 33,1% (June 2005: 26,3%) in the embedded value calculation.     
(4) Return on shareholders" funds is shown net of tax and management charges and
includes the return on assets under insurance contracts.                        
TABLE 5: METHODOLOGY AND ASSUMPTION CHANGES                                     
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
Health and  Vitality   Destiny Health                    
                       Net         Value of   Net         Value of              
R million              worth       in-force   worth       in-force              
Modelling changes(1)   -           -          -           20                    
Lapses                 -           -          -           (44)                  
Economic assumptions   -           71         -           -                     
Contribution increases -           -          -           51                    
Administration fees(2) -           (74)       -           -                     
Expenses(3)            -           (71)       -           (82)                  
Mortalilty and                                                                  
morbidity              -           -          -           (51)                  
Vitality benefits(4)   -           74         -           -                     
Tax(5)                 -           -          -           -                     
Other                  -           -          -           (1)                   
Total                  -           0          -           (107)                 
TABLE 5: METHODOLOGY AND ASSUMPTION CHANGES                                     
for the six months ended 31 December 2005                                       
                                   Life                                         
                                   Net        Value of                          
R million                          worth      in-force    Total                 
Modelling changes(1)               (1 559)    1 603       64                    
Lapses                             (33)       (28)        (105)                 
Economic assumptions               (1)        113         183                   
Contribution increases             -          -           51                    
Administration fees(2)             -          -           (74)                  
Expenses(3)                        -          -           (153)                 
Mortalilty and morbidity           -          -           (51)                  
Vitality benefits(4)               -          -           74                    
Tax(5)                             -          (23)        (23)                  
Other                              0          0           (1)                   
Total                              (1 593)    1 665       (35)                  
(1) The Life modelling change includes a R1555 million decrease in the net worth
and a R1604 million increase in the value of in-force in respect of the change  
from the Financial Soundness Valuation basis to the Statutory Valuation Method  
used to calculate the embedded value. The R1,604 million increase in the value  
of in-force includes a reduction of R404 million in the Cost of Capital.        
(2) The Health administration fee change relates to an expected below CPIX      
increase in Discovery Health Medical Scheme administration fees for 2007.       
(3) The Health, Vitality and Destiny Health renewal expense assumption change is
based on the results of the most recent expense analysis (31 December 2005).    
(4) The Health and Vitality assumption change includes an allowance for a       
reduction in the expected benefit cost on Vitality in line with recent          
experience.                                                                     
(5) The tax variance reflects the movements in the value of the tax deferral.   
TABLE 6: EXPERIENCE VARIANCES FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005         
                       Health and  Vitality   Destiny Health                    
                       Net         Value of   Net         Value                 
R million              worth       in-force   worth       in-force              
Renewal expenses       (8)         -          (16)        -                     
Other expenses(1)      -           -          (2)         -                     
Inflation(2)           -           (72)       -           -                     
Extended modelling                                                              
term(3)                -           94         -           13                    
Lapses(4)              4           82         3           (45)                  
Policy alterations(5)  -           4          -           3                     
Mortality and                                                                   
morbidity              -           -          (67)        -                     
Premium variance       -           -          -           -                     
Commission(6)          -           -          -           -                     
Other                  5           14         0           (9)                   
Total                  1           122        (82)        (38)                  
TABLE 6: EXPERIENCE VARIANCES FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005         
                                   Life                                         
                                   Net        Value of                          
R million                          worth      in-force    Total                 
Renewal expenses                   3          -           (21)                  
Other expenses(1)                  (10)       -           (12)                  
Inflation(2)                       (3)        9           (66)                  
Extended modelling term(3)         -          3           110                   
Lapses(4)                          (20)       2           26                    
Policy alterations(5)              55         16          78                    
Mortality and morbidity            50         2           (15)                  
Premium variance                   (16)       -           (16)                  
Commission(6)                      (8)        -           (8)                   
Other                              (8)        (7)         (5)                   
Total                              43         25          71                    
(1) For Destiny Health, other expenses are in respect of Texas office set-up and
relocation costs. For Life, the non-recurring expenses relate to costs incurred 
as a result of the proposed venture with Prudential in the UK.                  
(2) The negative variance for Health and Vitality is due to a lower 2006        
increase in the Health administration fees compared with that assumed in June   
2005.                                                                           
(3) The projection term for Health, Vitality, Destiny Health and Group Life at  
31 December 2005 has not been changed from that used at 30 June 2005. Thus, an  
experience variance arises because the total term of the in-force business is   
effectively increased by six months.                                            
(4) Included in the Health and Vitality lapse experience variance is an amount  
of R158 million in respect of members joining existing employer groups during   
the period, offset by an amount of R114 million in respect of members leaving   
existing employer groups. A positive variance of R42 million is due to lower    
than expected lapses.                                                           
(5) The Life policy alterations include the positive effect of existing policies
adding the Discovery Retirement Optimiser.                                      
(6) The commission variance includes a provision for bad debts on commission    
clawbacks.                                                                      
TABLE 7: EMBEDDED VALUE OF NEW BUSINESS                                         
Six months to                Twelve               
               31 December 31 December  31 December        months to            
               2005        2005 %       2004               30 June              
R million      SVM basis   FSV basis               change  2005                 
Health and                                                                      
Vitality                                                                        
Gross profit                                                                    
from new                                                                        
business at                                                                     
point of sale  60          60          67                  229                  
Cost of                                                                         
capital        -           -           -                   -                    
Net profit from                                                                 
new business                                                                    
at point of                                                                     
sale           60          60          67          (10)    229                  
New business                                                                    
annualised                                                                      
premium                                                                         
income(1)      369         369         424         (13)    1 734                
Life                                                                            
Gross profit                                                                    
from new                                                                        
business at                                                                     
point of sale  332         414         369                 676                  
Cost of                                                                         
capital        (27)        (98)        (78)                (157)                
Net profit from                                                                 
new business at                                                                 
point of sale  305         316         291         5       519                  
New business                                                                    
annualised                                                                      
premium                                                                         
income(2)      276         276         245         13      470                  
Annualised                                                                      
profit                                                                          
margin(3)(%)   13,3        13,6        14,3                13,5                 
Destiny Health                                                                  
Gross profit                                                                    
from new                                                                        
business at                                                                     
point of                                                                        
sale           15          15          17                  36                   
Cost of                                                                         
capital(4)     (1)         (1)         (0)                 (1)                  
Net profit from                                                                 
new business                                                                    
at point of                                                                     
sale(5)        14          14          17          (18)    35                   
New business                                                                    
annualised                                                                      
premium                                                                         
income(1)      246         246         250         (2)     603                  
New business                                                                    
annualised                                                                      
premium income                                                                  
(US$ million)  38          38          41          (7)     97                   
(1) Health and Destiny Health new business annualised premium income is the     
gross contribution. For embedded value purposes, Health and Destiny Health new  
business is defined as individuals and members of new employer groups, and      
includes additions to first-year business.                                      
The new business annualised premium income shown above has been adjusted to     
exclude 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 2005.                               
The total Health and Vitality new business annualised premium income written    
over the period was R1 262 million (December 2004: R1 211 million). For Destiny 
Health, the total new business annualised premium income written over the period
was R383 million (December 2004: R411 million).                                 
(2) Life new business annualised premium income of R276 million shown above is  
net of 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 R49 million and  
servicing increases of R67 million was R392 million. Single premium business is 
included at 10% of the value of the single premium.                             
(3) The annualised profit margin is the value of new business expressed as a    
percentage of the present value of future premiums.                             
(4) As most of the new business is written on the Guardian and Tufts insurance  
licences, Destiny Health is not required to hold statutory capital for this     
business.  An explicit charge for the use of their capital is payable to        
Guardian and Tufts, and this cost is deducted from gross profit in the new      
business calculation.                                                           
(5) The Destiny Health value of new business allows for the actual new business 
expenses incurred over the six-month period. Actual new business expenses       
include infrastructure development costs related to developing new business     
capacity. No allowance has been made for acquisition cost efficiencies which are
expected to occur in the future.                                                
TABLE 8: EMBEDDED VALUE ASSUMPTIONS                                             
31 December    31 December    30 June                  
%                        2005           2004           2005                     
Risk discount rate                                                              
- Health and Vitality    10,25          11,00          11,00                    
- Life                   10,25          11,00          11,00                    
- Destiny Health         10,00          10,00          10,00                    
Medial inflation                                                                
South Africa             6,75           7,00           7,00                     
United States            Current        Current        Current                  
                         levels         levels         levels                   
                         reducing to    reducing to    reducing to              
                         12,50% over    12,50% over    12,50% over              
the projection the projection the projection           
                         period         period         period                   
Expense inflation                                                               
South Africa             3,75           4,00           4,00                     
United States            3,00           3,00           3,00                     
Pre-tax investment return                                                       
South Africa  - Cash     5,75           6,50           6,50                     
              - Bonds    7,25           8,00           8,00                     
- Equity   9,25           10,00          10,00                    
United States - Bonds    3,00           2,00           3,00                     
Rand/US$ exchange rate   6,3370         5,6250         6,6755                   
Income tax rate                                                                 
- South Africa           29,00          30,00          29,00                    
- United States Federal                                                         
Tax Rate(1)              34,00          34,00          34,00                    
(1) Various additional state taxes also apply.                                  
Life mortality, morbidity and lapse assumptions were derived from internal      
experience, where available, augmented by reinsurance and industry information. 
Renewal expense assumptions were based on the results of the latest expense and 
budget information.                                                             
The Health lapse assumptions were based on the results of recent experience     
investigations. Renewal expense assumptions were based on the results of the    
latest expense investigation.                                                   
The Destiny Health morbidity and lapse assumptions were based on the results of 
recent experience investigations as well as future expectations regarding       
premium increases.  Renewal expense assumptions were based on the results of the
latest expense investigation.                                                   
The investment return assumption was determined with reference to the cashflow- 
weighted average zero coupon yield curve.  Other economic assumptions were set  
relative to this yield.  The risk discount rate has been set relative to the    
risk-free rate, increased by a risk premium.  It is assumed that no tax will be 
payable on interest earned in the Life Fund over the projection period.         
It was assumed that the capital adequacy requirements in future years will be   
backed by surplus assets consisting of 70% equities and 30% fixed-interest      
securities for the purposes of calculating the cost of capital at risk.         
Allowance has been made for tax and investment expenses in the calculation of   
the cost of capital.                                                            
The current policy of Discovery is not to declare dividends and therefore no    
allowance has been made in the embedded value calculation for secondary tax on  
companies (STC). The effect of allowing for STC of 12,5%, and assuming a 20%    
dividend payout ratio, is to reduce the embedded value at 31 December 2005 by   
1,8% from R10 080 million to R9 894 million on the SVM basis and by 1,6% from   
R10 045 million to R9 880 million on the FSV basis.                             
Date: 23/02/2006 09:15:27 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Profile Group (Pty) Ltd. has taken care in preparing all information on this website, but does not accept any liability for errors or out-of-date information.
Other Profile Group sites: FundsData Online (unit trust data)  |  Profile Group corporate site
[  Terms of Use |  Privacy Policy |  PAIA manual |  FAQs/Help |  Site Map |  © Copyright Reserved 2026  ]
  


Powered by ProfileData

Profile Mobile App Google Play Store Apple App Store


Follow us on: