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3.0<br />

Information on the company’s activities<br />

Furthermore, APRIL GROUP’s portfolios do not include any CDO or other securitization vehicles.<br />

APRIL GROUP is also subject to a credit risk through reinsurers, to which companies transfer part of the risks on their insurance<br />

policies. The Group only works with a restricted number of reinsurers whose solvency is recognized: over 75% of reinsurance<br />

transfers are carried out with reinsurers that are rated at least A by Standard & Poor’s.<br />

At December 31 st , <strong>2007</strong>, the breakdown of reinsured premiums by reinsurer rating was as follows:<br />

3.6.2.3. Follow-up procedures and resources in place<br />

With a view to improving performance and building up a<br />

clearer picture of market risks, the asset management<br />

activities of insurance companies are delegated to a<br />

specialized management company, accredited by the French<br />

securities regulator (Autorité des Marchés Financiers, AMF).<br />

BREAKDOWN OF PREMIUMS CEDED BY REINSURER<br />

RATING (%)<br />

N.D. AAA AA<br />

A+ to<br />

A-<br />

BBB+<br />

to BBB-<br />

% of premiums ceded 22.7% 1.3% 52.6% 23.0% 0.4% 100.0%<br />

< BBB<br />

Total<br />

Under this delegation, limits are set in terms of the<br />

percentage of the portfolio that may be invested on various<br />

bond and equity resources (dispersion ratios, influence<br />

ratios, restrictions in terms of issuer ratings, etc.).<br />

Sensivity of the securities portfolio<br />

Fixed-income markets:<br />

On a regular basis, i.e. every quarter, a report presenting<br />

the sensitivity of the portfolio and liabilities to changes in<br />

interest rates is submitted to the supervisory authorities.<br />

At December 31 st , <strong>2007</strong>, the average sensitivity of APRIL<br />

GROUP’s bond portfolio to changes in interest rates came<br />

out at 2.79 (2.40 at December 31 st , 2006) and if we factor in<br />

the entire portfolio (including equities and other assets), this<br />

drops to 1.61 (1.56 at December 31 st , 2006).<br />

This means that if interest rates go up by 1% in absolute<br />

value (e.g. if they rise from 4% to 5%), the bond portfolio’s<br />

value will decrease by 1.61%.<br />

Equity markets:<br />

The equity portfolio is sensitive to an upturn or downturn on<br />

the financial markets for shares.<br />

In this respect, and in light of the portfolio’s makeup, the risk<br />

on the equity portfolio can be assimilated with the risk on the<br />

main financial market indexes such as the EUROSTOXX 50.<br />

In this way, a 10% reduction in the EUROSTOXX 50 index<br />

would result in a 5,251 thousand euro reduction for the<br />

entire portfolio.<br />

In addition, the French Insurance Code, which governs<br />

insurance companies, also sets investment caps.<br />

Thanks to comprehensive reports provided by the authorized<br />

manager, notably including accounting elements (inventory,<br />

book income, unrealized capital gains or losses, etc.) and a<br />

summary of performances and various levels of exposure to<br />

the markets, the financial portfolio is monitored on a monthly<br />

basis.<br />

The members of the Finance Committee, the APRIL GROUP’s<br />

governance body, includes the heads of the various<br />

companies as well as representatives from the authorized<br />

manager. This Committee meets every quarter and plays an<br />

essential role in the monitoring and management of market<br />

risks. During its meetings, it is responsible for analyzing<br />

the various markets as well as the economic and financial<br />

environment, taking stock of management over the past<br />

period, and setting the general financial management<br />

strategies, as well as future management restrictions.<br />

29<br />

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