Vienna International Insurance Industry News

Read the latest headlines about developments in the international insurance industry in Vienna and Austria

Restructuring Program at Uniqa

The Austrian insurance corporation sets down one-time expenditures of € 190m in the 2011 balance sheet. Group annual result for 2011 expected to be a "flat zero" – notwithstanding any further negative developments on the capital markets.

September 21, 2011

Insurance Industry: Moderate Decline in Premiums

Total premiums written dropped by 2.87% in the period from April to June. Life insurance business was down 11.23%.

September 15, 2011

Vienna Insurance Group: Market entry in Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Vienna Insurance Group AG has signed a contract to acquire a majority stake in the insurer Jahorina Osiguranje AD Pale (Jahorina) in Bosnia-Herzegovina after successfully concluding due diligence.

September 13, 2011

FMA: Negative Performance of Austrian Pension Funds

The Financial Market Authority (FMA) reports a negative performance of Austrian pension funds for 2011: total return amounted to -1.2% for the first six months.

September 13, 2011

CEE-Region Remains Essential for Austrian Insurance Companies

According to a current market survey of Fitch, the CEE region plays a central role for domestic insurance companies. There is still growth potential.

September 12, 2011

VIG Merges Polish Subsidiaries

The Austrian insurance group expects increased efficiency resulting from the planned merger between InterRisk and PZM.

August 31, 2011

Uniqa: Solid Results despite Devaluation of Greek Bonds

Net profit of the Austrian insurance company increased by 6.8% to € 53m. Recurring premiums grew 5.3% in the first six months of the year.

August 29, 2011

Vienna Insurance Group Expands Involvement in Albania

With the acquisition of a 75% stake in Intersig, the Austrian insurance company raises its market share in Albania to 30%.

August 24, 2011

Sustainable Increase in Earnings for VIG

The Austrian insurance company recorded profit before taxes of € 282.2m, up 10.4% in the first half of the year.

August 18, 2011

Hypo Alpe Adria Sells Stake in Hypo Insurance

All of the Austrian bank’s 20% stake will be taken over by majority owner Grawe insurance.

August 4, 2011

VIG: Trouble at Romanian Subsidiary

The Austrian insurance group has reportedly lost millions due to illegal actions at one of its Romanian subsidiaries. Company representatives denied any misconduct.

July 27, 2011

VIG Interested in Acquisition of Polish Warta Insurance

The Austrian insurance company might strengthen its position in the Polish market with the acquisition of a local company.

July 4, 2011

Uniqa Sold Stake in Romanian Company

The Austrian insurance group sold its 27% holding in Astra for € 25m to the Nova Group.

June 27, 2011

International Business Important for Austrian Insurers

The Austrian insurance companies recorded moderate growth in the first quarter of the year. More than 50% of their premium income comes from their international business.

June 21, 2011

Standard & Poor's Confirm 'A' Rating for Uniqa Group

The Austrian insurance group’s rating was confirmed. Free float will be raised to 49% in the course of a capital increase.

June 3, 2011

Uniqa Records Premium Growth in All Regions and Segments

The Austrian insurance group increased its IFRS premiums written by 3.0% to € 1.8bn in the first quarter of 2011. The group profit grew by 17.2% to € 27m.

May 25, 2011

VIG Is Staying on Course in the 1st Quarter of 2011

Group premiums went up by 2.9% to more than € 2.6bn. Profit increased by 7.0% to € 142.8m.

May 17, 2011

Strong Growth rates for BAWAG P.S.K. Insurance

BAWAG P.S.K. Versicherung AG was able to get into the Top-Ten group of Austrian life insurance companies for the first time, due to its growth in 2010.

May 14, 2011

Raiffeisen Insurance Grows

Raiffeisen Versicherung, part of the UNIQA Group achieved increases in almost all divisions, with a total premium volume of € 989m.

May 13, 2011

Moderate Premium Growth for Merkur Versicherung

Record premium increase of 22.7% in the accident insurance division. Continued upward trend in South East Europe: Merkur increases its market share in Bosnia and Herzegovina to 29.3%.

May 4, 2011

Austria's Insurance Industry is Optimistic

The Austrian insurance industry showed premium increases in all sectors in 2010, with premium income rising by 2.0% to € 16,748bn.

May 4, 2011

VIG Re: Significant Improvements in Results

The premium volume of the Czech subsidiary of the Vienna International Group rose by 9.1% to € 280.6m.

May 3, 2011

UNIQA Records Strong Growth in Premiums and Profit in 2010

Premiums up 8.4% in the Group to a total of €6,224 m. Life insurance is the growth driver with an increase of 13.1%

April 29, 2011

Vienna Insurance Group Launches new ADR Programme in the US

The Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe is grouping the independent American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes.

April 28, 2011

Founding conference of the “CESEE Insurance Supervision Initiative” in Vienna

The “CESEE Insurance Supervision Initiative” is holding its founding conference today and tomorrow in Vienna.

April 16, 2011

Occupational Pension Funds: Deposits in Investment funds +32%

By the end of 2010, the volume of pension rights of the ten occupational pension funds operating in Austria amounted to € 3.56bn, representing an increase of 26% compared with the end of December 2009.

April 12, 2011

Strong Growth in Earnings for Generali Austria

Trhough a slightly above-average growth in premiums and lower claims, the third largest insurance provider in Austria was able to maintain its market position.

April 12, 2011

Coface: Profit of the Group Better than Before the Crisis in 2010

Austria and the CEE surpasses the international trend: increasing sales, decreasing management costs and lower claims ratio improve financial strength.

April 8, 2011

Vienna Insurance Group: Satisfying Results in 2010

Group premiums raised by 7.2 percent to € 8.6bn. Profit (before taxes): clear increase by 15.1 percent to € 507.8 m.

April 1, 2011

Uniqa: Preliminary result 2010 more than €150m

The Management Board of the Austrian insurance group Uniqa proposes dividend of 40 cents per share. Profits were higher than expected.

April 1, 2011

VIG Leaves Russia

The Austrian Vienna Insurance Group accepts the offer to sell its Russian insurance participations.

March 31, 2011

VIG: Supervisory Board Adopts Changes of Group Managing Board

Günter Geyer, 67, will resign as Chairman of the Managing Board of the listed Vienna Insurance Group AG with effect 31 May 2012.

March 31, 2011

Increase in sales for OeKB Versicherung

After the crisis of 2009, the export insurer OeKB Versicherung AG recorded a significant increase in sales last year.

March 26, 2011

Europäische Reiseversicherung AG on Growth Path

Premium income grew by 10.3% to € 56m. With 2.1m insured people, the market leader position has been strengthened.

March 22, 2011

Satisfactory Results for Insurance Industry

According to the FMA report, 2010 was a solid financial year for the Austrian insurance industry.

March 17, 2011

Allianz Austria’s Profits Jump

The result of the German insurance group in Austria was able to increase despite premiums falling by 2.9% to € 53.7m.

March 4, 2011

Upward Trend for CEE Insurance Stocks

CEE insurance stocks to get a boost from rising profits, cheap valuation and stronger investor demand.

February 10, 2011

Vienna Insurance Group Expands in Turkey

Vienna Insurance Group in Turkey: Acquisition of a 10 percent stake in Ray Sigorta is completed.

February 4, 2011

New Record in Premiums for Uniqa

The Austrian insurance company announces apremium increase in group business by 8.4% to € 6.22bn.

January 29, 2011

Vienna Insurance Group Shows 15% Increase in Profits

Significant plus of Group profit for the year (before taxes) by almost 15 percent to about € 505m. Increase of premiums written by 6.1 percent to € 8.7bn.

January 25, 2011

Generali Austria: Optimism for 2011

The Italian insurance company shows itself satisfied with the previous year's results in Austria and looks forward to 2011 with confidence.

January 21, 2011

New CFO for Vienna Insurance Group Slovakia

Vienna Insurance Group in Slovakia: Klaudia Volnerová is appointed Kooperativa's new Chief Financial Officer

January 21, 2011

Life Insurance Continues in Demand

While Austrian private investors have less savings, rights to pensions and life insurances rise.

January 19, 2011

Generali Money Study: What Austrians Will Spend their Money on in 2011

More money will be spent on vacations, housing and sports. Propensity to consume is higher in men.

December 27, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group Expands in Macedonia

Vienna Insurance Group granted life insurance licence in Macedonia. The project will be started with the Austrian bank Erste Group.

December 23, 2010

FMA: Solid Performance of Austrian Pension Funds

The Financial Market Authority (FMA) publishes a report on the Austrian pension funds. The performance is diverse. .

December 17, 2010

Allianz: Austria's Economic Production has Reached Pre-crisis Level in 2011

Strong exports and government stimulus programs enabled growth. Despite public savings constraint, Allianz expects further upward trends.

December 15, 2010

Growth Trends in Austria's Insurance Industry

The FMA report for the 3rd quarter of 2010 indicates a light growth trend for the Austrian insurance industry.

December 15, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group Expands in Albania

The Acquisition of Interalbanian by the biggest Austrian Insurance company is successfully completed.

December 6, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group Takes a 100% Stake in TBIH

VIG now realizes an increased involvement in Turkey, Ukraine and Georgia.

November 26, 2010