Vienna Insurance Group in the first three quarters of 2009:

Group premiums of more than EUR 6 billion * Solid development of the result – profit (before taxes, consolidated) about EUR 340 million * Continuing growth in the CEE core markets * Excellent capitalisation of the Group

"Vienna Insurance Group continues growing also in tough economic times. Very clear growth is observed especially in our core markets in Central and Eastern Europe. In this context, the very good development in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia should be mentioned as an example", stated Günter Geyer, CEO of Vienna Insurance Group, highlighting the good news. "Moreover, Group-wide growth provides Vienna Insurance Group with a basis for continuing to develop the result in 2009 at a steady pace. Hence, our strategy of concentrating on profitable growth has proven right and confirms our successful business model, which has been based on the strong demand for insurance products in Central and Eastern Europe."

I. OVERVIEW OF KEY GROUP DATA FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 2009 (in accordance with IFRS)**

Vienna Insurance Group registered premiums written of a total of EUR 6.11 billion in the first three quarters of the current year. This corresponds to an increase of 1.5 percent (on a euro basis) compared to the same period of the previous year. The net earned premiums of the Group rose by a remarkable 4.0 percent (based on euros).

On a local currency basis, the Group's premiums written showed a significant plus of 6.6 percent, and the net earned premiums climbed by no less than 9.2 percent.

With a Group profit (before taxes, consolidated) of EUR 340.50 million, Vienna Insurance Group has achieved a very continuous development of the result in the current year, which is even better than the result for the same period in 2007. This comparison shows an increase in the result by more than EUR 16 million or 5 percent. Excluding special effects - in particular those resulting from the sale of BA-CAV and Unita - the result even surpassed that for the first three quarters of 2008.

The combined ratio of the Group after reinsurance (excluding income from investments) of 96.2 percent was significantly below the 100-percent threshold and remained on a stable level despite the storm damages. These damages entailed expenses - in particular in Austria - totalling about EUR 130 million. As a result, the loss ratio went up by 1.7 percentage points compared to the same period of the previous year. Thanks to the stringent implementation of the cost-cutting programme, the expense ratio of the Group was reduced by 1.5 percentage points in the same period, compensating for the increase in the loss ratio.

The current income from investments increased by 13.3 percent. The total financial result of the Group amounted to EUR 727.21 million in the first three quarters of the current year. Comparison to the prior-year level is possible only to a limited extent due to the one-off effects of the sale of BA-CAV and Unita.

As of 30 September 2009, the investments of the Group amounted to EUR 26.05 billion. Compared to 1 January 2009, this corresponds to an increase of 6.1 percent.

The shareholders' equity of the Group rose by 13.1 percent to EUR 4.68 billion.

 

* Definition CEE: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and Hungary

** All statements for the 1st to 3rd quarter of 2009 include figures from s Versicherung Group and BCR insurance companies. BA-CAV and Unita are included only in comparisons to the first six months of 2008.

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