- 23.01.2007, 08:05:02
- /
- OTE0002
euro adhoc: WIENER STÄDTISCHE Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group / Financial Figures/Balance Sheet / Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group - Figures for 2006: (E)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible
for the content of this announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23.01.2007
Please note: this is a translation; only the German version of this release is
legally binding.
Group* (including Wüstenrot, unconsolidated) surpasses EUR 6 billion premium
mark / substantial premium expansion of 17 percent
CEE continues to be the growth driver
CEE share in total premiums amounts to nearly 40 percent, and in the
property/casualty segment constitutes already more than 50 percent for the
first time
Increase of Group profit (before tax, consolidated) by more than 30 percent to
reach EUR 315 to EUR 320 million
Strong increase in dividend planned from 66 cents to about 80 cents
"We have successfully continued our trend of vigorous growth and successfully
surpassed the mark of EUR 6 billion in unconsolidated group premiums in the year
2006. In this, a major driving force were our companies in Central and Eastern
Europe. We were able to increase the Group profit (before tax, consolidated)
from EUR 240 million in 2005 to an amount ranging from EUR 315 million to 320
million in 2006 - in spite of a year that has seen high insurance losses on
account of floods and snow pressure", says CEO Günter Geyer on the preliminary
figures for the past financial year 2006. "Based on this excellent development,
we can hold out the prospect of an increase in the dividend also for the
financial year 2006. The Management Board intends to propose a dividend increase
from 66 cents in 2005 to 80 cents per share for the year 2006."
I. OVERVIEW OF DATA FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2006
According to preliminary data, in the financial year 2006 the Vienna Insurance
Group* was able to increase its unconsolidated premiums written by 17.0 percent
to a total of EUR 6.12 billion as compared to the previous year. Almost 40
percent of the unconsolidated premiums were written by the CEE companies.
The 2006 Group profit (before tax, consolidated) will range from EUR 315 to EUR
320 million. These figures represent an excellent increase of over 30 percent
as compared to the Group profit (before tax) in 2005 of about EUR 240 million.
This result also surpasses the previously expected Group profit of about EUR
310 million.
These figures were attained despite higher losses on account of snow pressure
and floods in the first half of the past year.
In 2006, the Group combined ratio after reinsurance (not including investment
income) is expected to be again well below the 100 percent mark (despite higher
losses on account of snow pressure and floods).
From today's point of view, it will be suggested to the decision-making bodies
to increase the dividend from 66 cents to 80 cents per share, constituting a
significant rise of more than 20 percent.
II. YEAR 2006 DEVELOPMENT IN DETAIL (unconsolidated)
Austria*
In 2006, the premiums of the Austrian companies amounted to EUR 3.57 billion.
With a premium expansion of 7.8 percent they advanced vigorously as compared to
the previous year.
In Austria, the premium volume in the property/casualty insurance increased by
4.5 percent to EUR 1.45 billion.
Premiums in life insurance of the Austrian companies rose by 11.4 percent to
EUR 1.82 billion.
In the health insurance segment, the Austrian companies generated premiums in
the amount of EUR 298.31 million, translating to a stable 3.1 percent increase.
CEE
Once again, the CEE Group companies continued to be a strong growth factor. In
2006, these companies generated a premium income of EUR 2.31 billion. With this
impressive growth of 40.8 percent as compared to the same period of the
previous year, these markets thus made an especially large contribution to the
good result.
In the property/casualty segment, the premium volume of the companies in CEE
was EUR 1.67 billion. This represents a considerable increase of 36.9 percent.
More than half of the premiums (i.e. 52.4 percent) in the property/casualty
insurance is already generated by the companies in CEE.
The CEE companies achieved a particularly pronounced growth in the life
insurance segment, with an extraordinary increase of 52.3 percent to EUR 639.43
million. The CEE markets thus recorded one quarter (i.e. 24.2 percent) of the
Group premiums in life insurance.
Says CEO Günter Geyer, "based on this excellent 2006 development even
surpassing our expectations and in view of good business prospects we very
confidently confirm our planned results for 2007 of about EUR 370 million and
for 2009 of about EUR 470 million."
*The Group premium data include the consolidated group companies plus other
insurance participations especially Wüstenrot Versicherung. The participation
in Sparkassen Versicherung is not included. The 2006 figures are based on
preliminary data.
Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG
Vienna Insurance Group
A-1010 Wien, Schottenring 30
ISIN: AT0000908504
You will also find this press release on http://www.wienerstaedtische.at under
Ad-hoc News
Further inquiry note:
WIENER STÄDTISCHE Versicherung AG
Vienna Insurance Group
Birgit Reitbauer
Corporate Communications
Schottenring 30, 1010 Vienna
Tel.: +43 (0)50 350-21336
Fax: +43 (0)50 350 99-21336
E-Mail: [email protected]
end of announcement euro adhoc 23.01.2007 07:26:21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
emitter: WIENER STÄDTISCHE Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group
Schottenring 30
A-1011 Wien
phone: +43(0)50 350-21027
FAX: +43(0)50 350 99-21027
mail: [email protected]
WWW: www.wienerstaedtische.at
ISIN: AT0000908504
indexes: ATX Prime, ATX, WBI
stockmarkets: official market: Wiener Börse AG
sector: Insurance
language: English
OTS-ORIGINALTEXT PRESSEAUSSENDUNG UNTER AUSSCHLIESSLICHER INHALTLICHER VERANTWORTUNG DES AUSSENDERS - WWW.OTS.AT | OTB






