Feb 7 (Reuters) - Storebrand Asa:
* STOREBRAND Q4 GROUP RESULT NOK 618 MILLION (REUTERS POLL NOK 759 MILLION)
* STOREBRAND PROPOSES 2017 DIVIDEND OF NOK 2.5 PER SHARE (REUTERS POLL NOK 2.39 PER SHARE)
* SOLVENCY II 172 %
* PROPOSES A NEW DIVIDEND POLICY FROM 2018
* STOREBRAND AIMS TO PAY A DIVIDEND OF MORE THAN 50% OF GROUP RESULT AFTER TAX
* AMBITION IS TO PAY ORDINARY DIVIDENDS PER SHARE OF AT LEAST SAME NOMINAL AMOUNT AS PREVIOUS YEAR
* ORDINARY DIVIDENDS ARE SUBJECT TO A SUSTAINABLE SOLVENCY MARGIN OF ABOVE 150%
* IF SOLVENCY MARGIN IS ABOVE 180%, BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTENDS TO PROPOSE SPECIAL DIVIDENDS OR SHARE BUY BACKS
* IT IS TARGETED THAT NOMINAL COSTS WILL BE LOWER IN 2018 COMPARED WITH THE LEVEL AT THE END OF 2015
* STOREBRAND WILL STILL MAKE SELECTED INVESTMENTS IN GROWTH.
* THE PARTNERSHIP WITH COGNIZANT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LOWER COSTS FOR THE GROUP IN THE COMING YEARS
* STOREBRAND HAS ESTABLISHED A FRAMEWORK FOR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT THAT LINKS DIVIDENDS TO THE SOLVENCY MARGIN AND PUBLISHED A NEW DIVIDEND POLICY FOR 2018 AND ONWARDS. THE GOAL IS A SOLVENCY MARGIN OF ABOVE 150%, INCLUDING TRANSITIONAL RULES
* THE SOLVENCY MARGIN AT THE END OF THE 4TH QUARTER WAS 172%. A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED IN THE UNDERLYING SOLVENCY MARGIN IN THE COMING YEARS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Camilla Knudsen)
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