Glossary

Operating expenses

Operating expenses for retained insurance business are broken down into policy writing expenses, and other operating expenses, less reinsurance commissions and profit commissions for reinsurance cessions. Expenses for claims investigation, loss prevention, and claims processing (claims handling expenses) or for making insurance payments (settlement costs) are shown in the expenses for insurance claims item.

Options

Derivative financial instruments which entitle, but do not obligate, the buyer to purchase (call option) or sell (put option) an underlying asset at a future point in time for a specified price. In contrast, the seller of the option is obligated to deliver or purchase the asset and receives a premium for providing the option.

Organic growth

Organic growth means the growth of a company resulting from the company's own financial strength. Such growth is therefore not the result of purchasing other companies.