I Insurance Business Results

Transcription

1 I Insurance Business Results 1. Individual Insurance (1) New Policies The number of new policies for individual insurance (including converted contracts) was million (96.5% y/y), and the amount of new policies (reflecting the net increase arising from the conversion) was 66,836 billion yen (93.7% y/y). [Figure 1] The number of new policies had been increasing since fiscal 28 due to strong sales of medical insurance and whole life insurance. However, in fiscal 213, the number of new policies decreased from the previous year for the first time in six years in reaction to strong sales in the last fiscal year prior to the reduction in the standard assumed interest rate. The amount of new individual insurance policies had been increasing for three successive years since it began to increase for the first time in 14 years; however, in fiscal 213, it decreased from the previous year. Among the number of new policies for individual insurance (excluding converted contracts), medical insurance ranked top (3.83 million, 26.6% of the total), followed by whole life insurance (3.37 million, 23.4%), term insurance (2.22 million, 15.4%), endowment insurance (1.66 million, 11.6%) and cancer insurance (1.39 million, 9.7%), with medical insurance and whole life insurance switching places from the previous year. [Figure 2] Among the amount of new policies for individual insurance (excluding converted contracts), term insurance ranked top (29,91 billion yen, 43.% of the total), followed by whole life insurance (14,525 billion yen, 21.5%), endowment insurance (5,379 billion yen, 7.9%), whole life insurance with interest-sensitive reserve fund (3,643 billion, 5.4%) and whole life insurance with term rider (2,452 billion yen, 3.6%). [Figure 3] (2) Policies in Force The number of policies in force for individual insurance was million (15.8% y/y), and the amount of policies in force was 857,54 billion yen (99.5% y/y). [Figure 1] The number of policies in force increased for the sixth successive year due to the strong sales of new policies; meanwhile, the amount of policies in force has been decreasing due to the current trend of people increasing medical protection while reducing death protection. Among the number of policies in force for individual insurance, medical insurance ranked top (29.98 million, 2.8% of the total), followed by whole life insurance (29.1 million, 2.2%), cancer insurance (21.16 million, 14.7%), term insurance (16.52 million, 11.5%), endowment insurance (12.38 million, 8.6%) and whole life insurance with term rider (11.66 million, 8.1%). [Figure 4] Among the amount of policies in force for individual insurance, term insurance ranked top (22,811 billion yen, 25.7% of the total), followed by whole life insurance with term rider (174,333 billion yen, 2.3%), whole life insurance (146,586 billion yen, 17.1%), whole life insurance with interest-sensitive reserve fund (14,966 billion yen, 12.2%) and endowment insurance (4,547 billion yen, 4.7%). [Figure 5] Figure 1: New Policies and Policies in Force for Individual Insurance (Number: million, Amount: billion yen, Y/Y: %) New Policies Policies in Force Number Amount Number Amount Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y , , , , , , , , , , Below are figures excluding Japan Post Insurance , , , , , , , , , , Note: The number includes converted contracts, and the amount reflects the net increase arising from the conversion. 1

2 (million) Figure 2: Changes in Individual Insurance by Type (Number of New Policies) Others Juvenile Insurance Cancer Insurance Medical Life Insurance Endowment Insurance Variable Insurance Term Insurance Whole Life with Interestsensitive Reserve Fund Whole Life with Term Rider Whole Life Insurance. Note: Excluding converted contracts (trillion yen) Figure 3: Changes in Individual Insurance by Type (Amount of New Policies) Others Juvenile Insurance Cancer Insurance Medical Life Insurance Endowment Insurance Variable Insurance Term Insurance Whole Life with Interestsensitive Reserve Fund Whole Life with Term Rider Whole Life Insurance Note: Excluding converted contracts 2

3 (million) Figure 4: Changes in Individual Insurance by Type (Number of Policies in Force) Others Juvenile Insurance Cancer Insurance Medical Life Insurance Endowment Insurance Variable Insurance Term Insurance Whole Life with Interestsensitive Reserve Fund Whole Life with Term Rider Whole Life Insurance (trillion yen) 1, 92 Figure 5: Changes in Individual Insurance by Type (Amount of Policies in Force) Others Juvenile Insurance Cancer Insurance Medical Life Insurance Endowment Insurance Variable Insurance Term Insurance Whole Life with Interestsensitive Reserve Fund Whole Life with Term Rider Whole Life Insurance

4 2. Individual Annuity Insurance (1) New Policies The number of new policies for individual annuity insurance (including converted contracts) was 1.5 million (91.4% y/y), and the amount of new policies (reflecting the net increase arising from the conversion) was 8,3 billion yen (93.5% y/y). [Figure 6] In fiscal 213, both the number and the amount of new policies increased from the previous year due to the reduction in the standard assumed interest rate. Among the number of new policies for individual annuity insurance (excluding converted contracts), that of fixed individual annuity insurance was 1.3 million (89.1% of the total) and that of variable individual annuity insurance was.16 million (1.9%) in fiscal 213. The ratio of variable individual annuity insurance to the total number of new policies had been declining since reaching a peak in fiscal 25; however, it has been increasing since fiscal 212. [Figure 7] Among the amount of new policies for individual annuity insurance (excluding converted contracts), that of fixed individual annuity insurance was 7,54 billion yen (88.5% of the total) and that of variable individual annuity insurance was 919 billion yen (11.5%). [Figure 8] (2) Policies in Force The number and amount of policies in force for individual annuity insurance for fiscal 213 were 2.47 million (1.2% y/y) and 13,788 billion yen (1.3% y/y). [Figure 6] Both the number and amount of policies in force turned upward in fiscal 23 due to the strong sales of bancassurance, and in fiscal 213, both of them increased from the previous year for the eleventh successive year, and the number has been setting new highs every year since fiscal 26 as well as the amount since fiscal 28. Among the number of policies in force for individual annuity insurance, that of fixed individual annuity insurance accounted was 17.5 million (85.5% of the total) and that of variable individual annuity insurance was 2.97 million (14.5%). [Figure 9] Among the amount of policies in force for individual annuity insurance, fixed individual annuity insurance accounted for 86,514 billion yen (83.4% of the total) and variable individual annuity insurance for 17,273 billion yen (16.6%). [Figure 1] Figure 6: New Policies in Force for Individual Annuity Insurance (Number: million, Amount: billion yen, Y/Y: %) New Policies Policies in Force Number Amount Number Amount Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y , , , , , , , , , , Below are figures excluding Japan Post Insurance , , , , , , , , , , Note: The number includes converted contracts, and the amount reflects the net increase arising from the conversion. 4

5 (million) , 8, 6,.42 Figure 7: Changes in Individual Annuity Insurance by Type (Number of New Policies) Fixed Annuity Variable Annuity Note: Excluding converted contracts Figure 8: Changes in Individual Annuity Insurance by Type (Amount of New Policies) 2, , 2, 5,913 6,28 7,496 8,23 7,54 (million) Fixed Annuity Variable Annuity Note: Excluding converted contracts Figure 9: Changes in Individual Annuity Insurance by Type (Number of Policies in Force) Fixed Annuity Variable Annuity 12, Figure 1: Changes in Individual Annuity Insurance by Type (Amount of Policies in Force) 1, 8, 19,664 19,19 18,865 19,111 17,273 6, 4, 2, 74,57 76,52 8,49 84,46 86,514 Fixed Annuity Variable Annuity 5

6 3. Group Insurance (1) New Policies The number of new insured (aggregated) and the amount of new policies for group insurance were.7 million (221.4% y/y) and 4,479 billion yen (147.3% y/y), respectively. [Figures 11 and 14] New policies for group insurance had been declining since the traditional group term insurance was switched to general welfare group term insurance in fiscal 1997; however, in fiscal 213, both the number of new insured (aggregated) and amount increased from the previous year. Among the new policies, the amount of general welfare group term insurance ranked top (1,786 billion yen, 39.9% of the total), followed by group term insurance (1,727 billion yen, 38.6%) and group credit life insurance (965 billion yen, 21.5%). [Figure 12] (2) Policies in Force The number of insured and the amount of policies in force were million (1.4% y/y) and 371,288 billion yen (1.3% y/y), slightly increasing from the previous year. [Figures 11 and 15] Among the policies in force, the amount of group credit life insurance ranked top (172,325 billion yen, 46.4% of the total), followed by group term insurance (112,785 billion yen, 3.4%) and general welfare group term insurance (85,556 billion yen, 23.%). [Figure 13] Figure 11: New Policies and Policies in Force for Group Insurance (Number: million, Amount: billion yen, Y/Y: %) New Policies Policies in Force Number of Insured Amount Number of Insured Amount Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y , , , , , , , , , , Note: The number of insured w ho are designated as an insured under several group insurance contracts is aggregated into one (i.e. resolving double counting of insured of coinsurance undertaken by multiple insurers). Figure 12: Breakdown of Group Insurance in FY213 (Amount of New Policies) (Amount: billion yen) Group Credit Life Insurance 965 (21.5%) General Welfare Group Term Insurance 1,727 (38.6%) 4,479 Note: Figures in parentheses represent its ratio to the total amount. Group Term Insurance 1,786 (39.9%) 6

7 Consumer Credit Group Life Insurance 11.3% Figure 13: Breakdown of Group Insurance in FY213 (Amount of Policies in Force) General Welfare Group Term Insurance 85, % Others 341.6% 371,288 Annuity Benefit Rider 169.5% Group Credit Life Insurance 172, % Group Term Insurance 112, % 6, 5,5 5, 4,5 4, 3,5 3, 2,5 2, 1,5 1, ,926 Figure 14: Changes in Group Insurance (Number/Amount of New Policies) Amount.41 2, Number of Insured.31 3,21 3,41.7 4,479 (million) , 375, 4.58 Figure 15: Changes in Group Insurance (Number/Amount of Policies in Force) 4.12 Amount Number of Insured (million) , , , 373,82 371,519 37,33 37, , , , 38. 7

8 4. Group Annuity Insurance The amount of policies in force for group annuity insurance increased from the previous year to 32,742 billion yen (12.9% y/y). [Figures 16 and 17] Among them, while the assets of defined benefit corporate pensions increased in fiscal 213 from the previous year to 13,45 billion yen (12,17 billion yen in fiscal 212), the assets of employees' pension funds decreased to 2,341 billion yen (2,373 billion yen in fiscal 212). [Figure 18] Figure 16: New Policies and Policies in Force for Group Annuity Insurance (Number: million, Amount: billion yen, Y/Y: %) New Policies Policies in Force Number of Insured Amount Number of Insured Amount Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y Y/Y , , , , , Note: The number of insured w ho are designated as an insured under several group insurance contracts is aggregated into one (i.e. resolving double counting of insured of coinsurance undertaken by multiple insurers). 4, Figure 17: Changes in Policies in Force for Group Annuity Insurance (Amount of Policy Reserves) 35, 3, 25, 2, 15, 1, 5, 31,316 3,947 31,166 31,815 32,742 14, 12, 1, 8, 6, Figure 18: Asset Balance of Tax-Qualified Pension Plans, Employees' Pension Funds and Defined Benefit Corporate Pensions 12,17 11,487 9,954 8,574 13,45 4, 2, 2,783 2,463 2,415 2,358 2,373 2,341 1,315 Tax-Qualified Pension Plans Employees' Pension Funds Defined Benefit Corporate Pensions Note: Due to the abolition of preferential tax treatment for tax-qualified pension plans as of the end of March 212, a transition to other corporate pension plans was required to maintain preferential tax treatment. Insurers managing the plans promoted this transition from 22 and completed the transition of all plans by March

9 5. Medical Insurance Medical insurance includes stand-alone medical insurance, other types of insurance policies with medical riders and medical care insurance (which supplements the public medical insurance scheme with medical treatment benefits covering copayments in public medical insurance for hospitalization due to unforeseen accidents and disease). The number and amount of policies in force for stand-alone medical insurance were million (17.9 y/y) and 4,467 billion yen (95.4%). [Figure 19] The amount of policies in force for stand-alone medical insurance represents only the amount of death benefits and does not include the amount of other benefits such as hospitalization benefits (for products without death benefits, while their number is included in the total number of policies in force, the amount of benefits is not included in the total amount). Many products these days limit the amount of death benefits while enhancing benefits for hospitalization and surgery. Therefore, even though the number of policies in force has increased, the amount of policies in force has decreased. 7, Figure 19: Changes in Stand-alone Medical Insurance (Number/Amount of Policies in Force) (million) 35. 6, 5, , 2. 3, 2, 5,337 5,21 4,726 4,68 4, , 5.. With respect to insurance policies with hospitalization and surgery coverage (the sum of riders and stand-alone medical insurance policies among individual life insurance and individual annuity insurance), the number of policies with accidental hospitalization riders in force was million (12.1% y/y), those with sickness hospitalization riders in force was million (12.6% y/y), and those with surgical benefit riders in force was million (12.7% y/y). [Figure 2] The number and amount of policies in force for medical care insurance was 1.72 million (11.5% y/y) and 9.1 billion yen (11.3% y/y). [Figure 21] (million) Figure 2: Changes in Medical Insurance for Hospitalization and Surgery (Number of Policies in Force) Benefits for hospitalization due to unforeseen accidents Benefits for hospitalization due to sickness Benefits for surgery 9

10 Figure 21: Changes in Medical Care Insurance (Number of Policies in Force) (million) Note 1: The Number is the sum of insured of group-type insurance and policies of individual-type insurance. Note 2: The number of insured who are designated as an insured under several group insurance contracts is aggregated into one (i.e. resolving double counting of insured of coinsurance undertaken by multiple insurers). Note 3: The amount is the sum of daily benefits for hospitalization. 1

11 6. Lapses and Surrenders The ratio of lapses and surrenders for individual insurance policies was 6.2% (down.4 points from the previous year), and the amount was 53,676 billion yen (94.3% y/y). [Figure 22] The ratio for individual annuity insurance policies was 5.4% (up 1.7 points from the previous year), and the amount was 4,939 billion yen (151.1% y/y). The number of surrenders for variable individual annuity insurance policies increased due to the upturn of the market around the end of the year. [Figure 23] The ratio for group insurance policies was 2.5% (down 1.2 points from the previous year), and the amount was 9,129 billion yen (66.9% y/y). Although the ratio and amount exceeded the previous year in fiscal 212 due to the surrenders associated with the merger of large groups, in fiscal 213, they decreased to the same level as up to until fiscal 211. [Figure 24] 1, 8, 6, 4, 2, Figure 22: Changes in Amount and Ratio of Lapses and Surrenders for Individual Insurance 1, ,84 64,589 6,18 56,927 53,676 (%) , Figure 23: Changes in Amount and Ratio of Lapses and Surrenders for Individual Annuity Insurance 1, 2, (%) 6. 5, 4, , 2, 1, 2,713 2,667 2,571 3,268 4, , 14, 12, 1, 8, 6, 4, 2, Figure 24: Changes in Amount and Ratio of Lapses and Surrenders for Group Insurance 1, ,582 9,435 8, , ,129 Note 1: Amount of lapses and surrenders = ( lapses + surrender + decrease in insurance benefits) - (reinstatement + increase in insurance benefits) Note 2: Ratio of lapses and surrenders = ( amount of lapses and surrenders / amount of policies in force at the the beginning of fiscal year )* 1% Note 3: Figures are of annuity contracts whose benefit payments have not yet started. (%)

12 7. Annualized Premium The total amount of annualized premium on new policies for individual insurance was 2,53 billion yen (96.5% y/y), while that for individual annuity insurance was 766 billion yen (93.8% y/y) in fiscal 213. [Figure 25] The amount of annualized premium on policies in force for individual insurance was 17,696 billion yen (14.8% y/y), while that for individual annuity insurance was 6,752 billion yen (96.9% y/y). With regard to third-sector products (such as medical insurance and long-term care insurance), the amount of new policies was 532 billion yen (14.3% y/y) and that of policies in force was 5,538 billion yen (12.8% y/y). What is annualized premium? There are various options for paying premiums for customers, including monthly payment, annual payment and lump-sum payment at the time of concluding the contract. Also, payments can be made either throughout the entire contract period or during a certain period. By adjusting these differences in payment methods under the assumption that premium payments of the same amount would be made throughout the entire contract period, the annualized premium indicates the average amount of premium income which a life insurer would receive in one year. Example: Case of lump-sum premium payment (contract period: 5 years, total premium amount: 1 million yen) Premium Income: 1 million yen Annualized Premium: 2 thousand yen (1 million yen divided by 5 years) Individual Insurance Figure 25: Changes in Annualized Premium New Policies Policies in Force Individual Annuity Total Third-Sector Product Individual Insurance Individual Annuity Third-Sector Product 29 1,653 1,554 3, ,784 6,593 21,377 4, , , ,287 6,494 21,781 5, , , ,7 6,768 22,775 5, , , ,887 6,968 23,856 5, , , ,696 6,752 24,449 5,538 Below are figures excluding Japan Post Insurance. Below are figures excluding Japan Post Insurance. 29 1,273 1,38 2, ,976 6,168 2,145 4, , , ,126 5,928 2,54 4, , , ,499 6,123 2,623 5, , , ,31 6,31 21,333 5, , , ,54 6,91 21,595 5,31 *The amount of annualized premium of third-sector products includes the amount of premium to be allocated for paying medical coverage (e.g. benefits for hospitalization or surgery), living benefits (e.g. benefits for specified disease or long-term care), and premium w aiver benefits (e.g. benefits due to specified disease or long-term care, but excluding disability). Total 12

13 8. Statistical Data by Gender, Age and Prefecture (1) By Gender Comparing the number of new policies for individual insurance (excluding converted contracts) by gender of the insured, the ratio of males used to exceed that of females; however, the ratio of females has been increasing recently. In fiscal 213, although the ratio of males increased from the previous year, that of females was still slightly higher at 5.4% compared with 49.6% for males. [Figure 26] Comparing the number of new policies for individual insurance between each type of insurance product by gender of the insured in fiscal 213, "others" including cancer insurance and medical insurance ranked top (more than 4% of the total), followed by whole life insurance for both males and females. Term insurance came in third and endowment insurance in fourth for males, which was opposite to the result for females. [Figure 27] Comparing the number of new policies for individual annuity insurance by gender of the insured, the ratio of females has been higher than that of males so far, although the ratio of males has started to rise recently. In fiscal 213, the ratio of males and females was 43.4% and 56.6%, respectively. [Figure 28] Figure 26: Changes in Composition Ratio of Individual Insurance by Gender (Number of New Policies) % 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 1% Male Female Figure 27: Composition Ratio of Individual Insurance by Type in FY213 (Number of New Policies by Gender) Male Female % 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 1% Whole Life Insurance Term Insurance Endowment Insurance Others Figure 28: Changes in Composition Ratio of Individual Annuity by Gender (Number of New Policies) % 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 1% Male Female 13

14 (2) By Age Comparing the number of new policies for individual insurance (excluding converted contracts) by age group of the insured, the ratio of those in their 4s had been on a rising trend, and the ratio of those in their 2s and 3s on a decreasing trend. In fiscal 213, however, the ratios of those under 2, those in their 2s and those aged 6 or over started to increase. [Figure 29] Also, comparing the number of new policies for individual insurance between each type of insurance product by age group of the insured, the ratio of "others" (including medical insurance, juvenile insurance, etc.) was the highest in those under 2, reaching 61.8%. Among those in their 2s to 5s, the ratio of "others" ranked top at more than 4%, followed by whole life insurance. Among those aged 6 or over, the ratio of whole life insurance ranked top at 42.7%, followed by "others". [Figure 3] Comparing the number of new policies for individual annuity insurance by age group of the insured, the ratios of those under 2, those in their 4s and 5s increased in fiscal 213. [Figure 31] Figure 29: Changes in Composition Ratio of Individual Insurance by Age (Number of New Policies) % 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 1% Under 2 2s 3s 4s 5s 6 or older Under 2 Figure 3: Composition Ratio of Individual Insurance by Type in FY213 (Number of New Policies by Age) s s s s or older % 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 1% Whole Life (including whole life with term rider) Term Insurance Endowment Insurance Others Figure 31: Changes in Composition Ratio of Individual Annuity by Age (Number of New Policies) % 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 1% Under 2 2s 3s 4s 5s 6 or older 14

15 (3) By Prefecture Regarding the details of individual insurance by each prefecture, Figure 32 provides details of new policies (excluding converted contracts), and Figure 33 provides details of policies in force. Prefecture Figure 32: New Policies for Individual Insurance by Prefecture (FY213) Individual Insurance Number Amount Benefits per policy Policies per household Benefits per household Population Household (ten thousand) (thousand y en) (Number) (thousand y en) (ten thousand) (ten thousand) Hokkaido 64 2,422 3, Aomori , Iw ate , , Miyagi 28 1,252 4, , Akita , , Yamagata , , Fukushima 23 1,31 4, , Ibaraki 27 1,255 4, , Tochigi 22 1,52 4, , Gunma , , Saitama 7 3,397 4, , Chiba 61 2,92 4, , Tokyo 172 1,131 5, ,56 1, Kanagaw a 9 4,47 4, , Niigata 23 1,134 4, , Toyama , , Ishikaw a , , Fukui , , Yamanashi , , Nagano 22 1,28 4, , Gifu 22 1,49 4, , Shizuoka 43 2,1 4, , Aichi 81 4,225 5, , Mie , , Shiga , , Kyoto 28 1,26 4, , Osaka 14 5,154 4, , Hyogo 59 2,795 4, , Nara , , Wakayama , , Tottori , , Shimane , , Okayama 21 1,3 4, , Hiroshima 32 1,56 4, , Yamaguchi , , Tokushima ,27.3 1, Kagaw a , , Ehime , , Kochi , , Fukuoka 63 2,85 4, , Saga , , Nagasaki ,2.27 1, Kumamoto ,1.29 1, Oita , , Miyazaki , Kagoshima , , Okinaw a , Total 1,44 67,714 4,7.26 1,232 12,643 5,495 Note 1: Population and number of households are based on "Population, Demography and Number of Households Based on the Basic Resident Registers" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Note 2: The figures do not include that of converted contracts but only new contracts. 15

16 Prefecture Figure 33: Policies in Force for Individual Insurance by Prefecture (As of End of FY213) Individual Insurance Number Amount Benefits per policy Policies per household Benefits per household (ten thousand) (thousand yen) (Number) (thousand yen) Hokkaido ,574 4, ,898 Aomori 14 8,389 5, ,385 Iw ate 131 7,627 5, ,865 Miyagi ,156 5, ,139 Akita 18 5,928 5, ,11 Yamagata 14 8,14 5, ,7 Fukushima ,459 5, ,474 Ibaraki ,63 5, ,29 Tochigi ,995 6, ,242 Gunma ,67 6, ,31 Saitama ,456 6, ,316 Chiba 671 4,511 6, ,248 Tokyo 1,652 15,966 6, ,321 Kanagaw a 985 6,362 6, ,923 Niigata ,312 6, ,769 Toyama 146 9,85 6, ,759 Ishikaw a 149 9,41 6, ,67 Fukui 18 7,55 6, ,321 Yamanashi 95 5,927 6, ,228 Nagano ,747 5, ,48 Gifu ,926 6, ,69 Shizuoka ,36 5, ,197 Aichi ,455 6, ,783 Mie 22 12,189 6, ,32 Shiga 151 9,361 6, ,448 Kyoto 28 16,6 5, ,46 Osaka 1,3 63,48 6, ,786 Hyogo ,3 5, ,512 Nara 144 8,653 5, ,13 Wakayama 114 6,477 5, ,891 Tottori 74 4,432 5, ,215 Shimane 77 4,422 5, ,77 Okayama ,467 6, ,734 Hiroshima ,513 5, ,795 Yamaguchi 162 8,721 5, ,429 Tokushima 94 5,56 5, ,2 Kagaw a 118 7,57 6, ,793 Ehime 154 9,4 5, ,134 Kochi 87 4,899 5, ,947 Fukuoka 65 33,22 5, ,666 Saga 12 5,886 5, ,467 Nagasaki 164 8,969 5, ,436 Kumamoto 28 11,69 5, ,725 Oita 139 7,175 5, ,822 Miyazaki 12 5,947 4, ,584 Kagoshima 188 9,412 4, ,774 Okinaw a 97 5,194 5, ,714 Total 14, ,54 5, ,65 Note 1: Population and number of households are based on "Population, Demography and Number of Households Based on the Basic Resident Registers" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. 16