Nearly 70,000 people will share in a record £1.25 billion projected maturity payout from Norwich Union in 1999.
Nearly 70,000 people will share in a record Ł1.25 billion projected maturity payout from Norwich Union in 1999.
Group Chief Executive Richard Harvey said: ‘Norwich Union has many customers whose with-profits policies will be maturing in 1999 and they are enjoying excellent returns, well above both the rate of inflation and building society account rates. Our aim is to provide superior value for money.’
Payouts in 1999
Overall payouts on the newer style unitised policies have been improved. The rate of additional bonus varies according to the year the money was invested. For all years of investment the rate of additional bonuses has increased again.
For a man paying Ł200 per month into a ten year unitised Norwich Union personal pension plan, the payout will be Ł40,453, representing a yield of 10.1% (1998:9.3%).
Payouts on the older-style conventional policies are similar to a year ago for the same policy term.
For a conventional Ł50 a month 25 year Norwich Union endowment plan taken out by a 29 year old man, the 1999 payout will be Ł98,037 (1998: Ł100,247), giving a yield of 12.9% (1998:13%). The return from a building society account would have been around 6.3%. The average inflation rate was 5.7%.
For a similar man saving Ł50 a month with a ten year conventional Norwich Union endowment plan, the payout will be Ł9,929 (1998: Ł10,063), representing a yield of 9.7% (1998: 10.0%). The return from a building society account over this period would have been around 4.0%, while inflation was 3.2%.
For a man paying Ł200 a month into a 15 year conventional Norwich Union self-employed pension plan with a retirement age of 65, the payout will be Ł107,079 (1998: Ł117,914) representing a yield of 13.4% (1998: 14.5%). Inflation over this period was 3.9%.
Annual Bonus Rates
Annual bonus rates have been reduced for 1999 to reflect expected future lower long-term investment returns. 1998 was a year when the redemption yield on longer dated gilts fell from 6.5% to 4.5%.
The rates for the current series of unitised policies until further notice will be:
| Savings | 5.5% | (1998: 6.0%) | |
| Pensions | 6.0% | (1998: 6.75%) |
The rates for conventional with-profits policies at 31/12/98 are:
| Savings | 2.0% on guaranteed benefit plus 3.25% on attaching bonuses (1998: 2.5% and 4.0%) | |
| Pensions | 1.5% on guaranteed benefits plus 2.5% on attaching bonuses (1998: 2.5% and 3.5%) |
Richard Harvey commented: 'Against a wider background of falling interest rates, our view of the longer-term investment outlook has led us to further adjust annual bonus levels. We believe annual bonuses need to be set at a realistic level, which allows us the investment freedom to achieve better overall investment returns which can be passed to policyholders by additional bonuses added into their payout’.
Press enquiries: Andrew Stronach 01603 682730
Analyst enquiries: Geoff Shaw 01603 683492
Notes to editors
BONUS TERMS EXPLAINED
There are two types of with-profits policies: Conventional and Unitised.
Conventional:
Contributions secure a guaranteed benefit. Bonuses are added to the guaranteed benefit annually and at the end of the policy term as detailed below.
The payout under a conventional with-profits policy is made up of three elements: the guaranteed benefit, annual bonus and additional bonus.
Guaranteed benefit (also known as sum insured): This is the amount payable at the date of the claim (e.g. maturity or earlier death). Bonuses are added to this amount over the term of the policy to make up the final payout.
Annual Bonus (also known as reversionary bonus): This is the amount added to a with-profits policy each year. It is a payment on account towards the full share of policy earnings which will be payable at the date of claim. For most policies it is expressed as one percentage applying to the guaranteed benefit and a further percentage applying to the bonus already added in previous years.
Additional bonus (also known as terminal bonus): At the date of claim the total of the guaranteed benefit and annual bonuses to date is compared with the total earnings of the policy. Any balance is made up through the declaration of an additional bonus. Additional bonus rates are expressed as a percentage of the guaranteed benefit and will form a scale of rates that will vary according to the year the policy was taken out.
Unitised:
Contributions buy units in the With-Profits Fund. The unit price increases as the annual bonus is added on a daily basis.
The payout for a unitised with profits policy is made up of two elements: The value of units and additional bonus.
Value of units: This is the value of the units held.
Additional Bonus: At the date of claim the value of the units is compared with the total earnings of the policy. Any balance is made up by the declaration of an additional bonus. Scales are expressed as percentage of the unit value and vary according to the year the money was invested. Different additional bonus rates will apply to the units bought with the different years' contributions.
Please note: The above is designed as an introduction to bonus terms. For details relating to specific policies, you should refer to the policy terms and conditions.
CONVENTIONAL BONUSES - PAYOUT TABLES
| 10 year endowment | |||
| Maturing 1.1.99 | Maturing 1.1.98 | Average rate of Inflation to December 1998. | |
| Guaranteed benefit | Ł5,533 | Ł5,533 | |
| Annual bonus | Ł2,293 | Ł2,539 | |
| Additional bonus | Ł2,103 | Ł1,991 | |
| Total payout | Ł9,929 | Ł10,063 | |
| Yield | 9.7% | 10.0% | 3.2% |
| 25 year endowment | |||
| Maturing 1.1.99 | Maturing 1.1.98 | Average rate of Inflation to December 1998. | |
| Guaranteed benefit | Ł14,260 | Ł14,260 | |
| Annual bonus | Ł38,145 | Ł39,642 | |
| Additional bonus | Ł45,632 | Ł46,345 | |
| Total payout | Ł98,037 | Ł100,247 | |
| Yield | 12.9% | 13.0% | 5.7% |
| 15 year self-employed pension | |||
| Maturing 1.1.99 | Maturing 1.1.98 | Average rate of Inflation to December 1998. | |
| Guaranteed benefit | Ł36,596 | Ł37,167 | |
| Annual bonus | Ł39,010 | Ł43,209 | |
| Additional bonus | Ł31,473 | Ł37,538 | |
| Total payout | Ł107,079 | Ł117,914 | |
| Yield | 13.4% | 14.5% | 3.9% |
The endowment policies examples above are based on a male aged 30 next birthday, when the policy was started, for a monthly premium of Ł50. Self-employed pension policies are as issued to a male for a monthly premium of Ł200 maturing at age 65, with a return of fund death benefit.
Note: Ł30 a month endowment figures available on request.
UNITISED BONUSES
Additional bonus rates have been improved as follows:
| Savings business | 1.1.99 | 1.1.98 |
| 1989 money | 6% | 1% |
| 1990 money | 14% | 7% |
| 1991 money | 23% | 14% |
| 1992 money | 32% | 21% |
| 1993 money | 23% | 14% |
| 1994 money | 19% | 10% |
| 1995 money | 19% | 10 |
| 1996 money | 15% | 4% |
| 1997 money | 9% | 2% (#) |
| 1998 money | 2.5%(#) | nil |
| Pensions business | 1.1.99 | 1.1.98 |
| 1987 money | 15% | 6% |
| 1988 money | 15% | 6% |
| 1989 money | 10% | 3% |
| 1990 money | 15% | 6% |
| 1991 money | 27% | 18% |
| 1992 money | 34% | 25% |
| 1993 money | 26% | 17% |
| 1994 money | 22% | 12% |
| 1995 money | 21% | 12% |
| 1996 money | 16% | 5% |
| 1997 money | 10% | 2%(#) |
| 1998 money | 3%(#) | nil |
N.B The additional bonus rate is a percentage increase to the unit value and varies according to the year the money was invested. (#: provided units have been held for at least a year).
Important notes:
Future bonus rates are not guaranteed and may vary, as they depend on profits yet to be earned. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future.
The value of investment linked funds can go down as well as up. The illustrative maturity amounts include periods of high inflation and high investment returns.
We may apply a market adjustment factor on encashments (except on maturity or death) which will reduce what you get back from the unitised with-profits fund.
A building society/bank account is deposit based and is suitable for the short term. The treatment of your capital and the way in which your investment grows differs between the two forms of saving. The building society/bank account returns used in this document are based on the Halifax Solid Gold 90 Day Account (Source: Hindsight) The comparison would show a different position over the shorter term. Full written terms and conditions of Norwich Union products are available on request. Norwich Union Life & Pensions Limited is regulated by the Personal Investment Authority and only advises on its own products.