It seems as if City analysts are unsure whetherAvivas(LSE: AV) 5.2bn merger withFriends Life(LSE: FLG) is a good deal or not. And theres one sticking point thats making most analysts scratch their heads Friends exposure to the UKs life assurance market.
Pension reforms
Last years pensions reforms completely changed the UKs life assurance market, and annuity sales slumped in the months following the overhaul. Friends Life did not escape unscathed.
Falling income at the groups UK retirement income business hit operating profits during the first half of last year. Operating profits for the period fell 7%, from171m to 159m, and Friends Life faced calls to spin-off or divest its retirement income business as a result.
Nevertheless, theres more to Friends Life than just annuity sales, but Avivas target is the potential cost savings and merger synergies that can be achieved from the deal. In particular, Avivas management is planning to produce 225m a year in cost savings once it acquires Friends Life, while there will also be increased benefits to customers as lower costs allow the enlarged group to offer more for less.
Merger and integration costs are set to total 350m, of which 200m will be incurred next year. As part of this plan, Avivas management has stated that the group may cut as many as 1,500 jobsby the end of 2017.
Hopefully the size of the enlarged Aviva will attract customers seeking security, as the merged entity will have greater financial firepower than either standalone company. This should increase sales.
Additionally, Avivas cash generation will increase after the deal and the company will be able to pay down debt at an accelerated rate the all-stock nature of the transaction means that the merger will not have an effect of Avivas debt level. Friends Life shareholders will own 26% of the enlarged company.
Slow growth
Unfortunately, despite cost savings and an improved product offering from the combined Aviva/Friends Life company,City analysts dont expect the deal to have much impact on the groups earnings going forward. For example, theyhave pencilled in2016earnings per share of 55p forthe enlarged group. This forecast is only 17% higher than the figure Aviva is already expected to report for full-year 2014.
Still, projected EPS of 55p for 2016 indicate that Aviva is currently trading at a 2016 P/E of 9.3, significantly below Avivas peers in the life insurance sector, which currently trade at an average P/E of 16.
Based on this figure, if Avivas shares moved to trade in line with peers by 2016, the shares could be worth up to 880p by 2016. If the companys deal with Friends Life goes smoothly.
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Rupert Hargreaves has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.