Vienna Insurance Group in 2010 in accordance with IFRS

“In 2010 Vienna Insurance Group exceeded the planned targets once more. Our focus on earnings-oriented growth and on efficiency gains is reflected in a significant increase of the profit (before taxes) to almost EUR 508 million – this result was achieved despite the heavy burden caused by natural catastrophes”, stated Günter Geyer, CEO of Vienna Insurance Group. “Particular emphasis is to be placed on the remarkable development in our core markets Slovakia and Czech Republic, making an important contribution through substantial profit increases. Our continuous profitability allows us to propose an increase of the dividend to EUR 1 per share for our shareholders.*“

I. OVERVIEW OF KEY DATA FOR THE YEAR 2010
Vienna Insurance Group achieved premiums written (consolidated) totalling about EUR 8.6 billion in the past financial year 2010. This corresponds to an increase by 7.2 percent.

The Group profit (before taxes, consolidated) amounted to EUR 507.8 million in 2010. Hence, the Group exceeded the result for the year 2009 by 15.1 percent.

The combined ratio of the Group after reinsurance (without taking into account investment income) was 98.4 percent in 2010. This means that the Group succeeded in keeping it clearly below the 100-percent threshold despite the heavy burden caused by natural disasters.

The financial result for the year 2010 increased to EUR 1.1 billion (by 20.2 percent compared to 2009).

The investments of the Group amounted to EUR 28.2 billion as of 31 December 2010, growing by 8.7 percent compared to 31 December 2009.

The bodies of the Group will be proposed to distribute a dividend of EUR 1 per share. The planned date for paying the dividend is 16 May 2011.

II. GROUP DATA BY SEGMENTS FOR 2010 (consolidated)

Property/casualty insurance
In the property/casualty insurance segment, premiums totalling EUR 4.4 billion were written, corresponding to an increase by 3.4 percent.

Life insurance
With premiums amounting to EUR 3.9 billion, the Group companies of Vienna Insurance Group reported a remarkable plus of 11.8 percent in the life insurance segment.

Health insurance
In the health insurance segment, Vienna Insurance Group reported an increase of 5.2 percent, with premiums written amounting to EUR 338.2 million.

III. GROUP DATA BY REGIONS FOR 2010 (consolidated)

Austria
In 2010 the Austrian Group companies of Vienna Insurance Group recorded a total of premiums written of EUR 4.0 billion and a plus of 4.3 percent. In the non-life insurance segment, premiums remained on the prior-year level, totalling EUR 1.9 billion. EUR 2.1 billion were attributable to the life insurance segment. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to an increase by 8.1 percent.

Growing by 1.4 percent, the profit (before taxes) totalled EUR 250.9 million. 

The combined ratio amounted to 97.2 percent in 2010.

Czech Republic
In 2010 the four Czech Group companies Kooperativa pojišťovna, a.s., Česká podnikatelská pojišťovna, a.s., (ČPP), Pojišt’ovna České spořitelny, a.s., (PČS) and VIG Re achieved a growth of 9.6 percent, increasing their premiums to EUR 1.8 billion. Growth in the life insurance segment proved to be very strong as premiums climbed by 19.8 percent to a total of EUR 752.2 million. The Group achieved premiums of EUR 1.0 billion in the non-life insurance segment in the Czech Republic; this corresponds to an increase by 3.0 percent.

In the Czech Republic the Vienna Insurance Group companies are the market leaders in the life insurance business. The Group is ranked second in the entire insurance market.

The profit (before taxes) amounted to EUR 167.3 million, soaring by 36.1 percent.

The combined ratio for the year 2010 amounted to 93.3 percent and remained clearly below 100 percent despite major natural disasters.

Slovakia
In 2010 the three Slovak Group companies Kooperativa poisťovňa, a.s., Komunálna poisťovňa, a.s. and Poist’ovňa Slovenskej sporitel’ne, a.s. achieved premiums of a total of EUR 647.9 million and, with that, an increase by 3.1 percent. In the non-life insurance segment, the Group reported premiums of EUR 307.0 million. This result was for the first time surpassed by the life insurance segment, earning premiums of EUR 340.9 million – a plus of 15.5 percent).

Vienna Insurance Group is the number 1 in the insurance market in Slovakia. The Group is the market leader both in life insurance and motor insurance.

The profit (before taxes) rose by 62.2 percent to a total of EUR 37.3 million.

The combined ratio amounted to 92.8 percent for the year 2010.

Poland
In Poland Vienna Insurance Group achieved an excellent plus of premiums by 36.4 percent to EUR 747.7 million. In the non-life insurance segment premiums of  EUR 559.4 million were reported; this corresponds a plus of 45.7 percent. An increase of 14.7 percent to EUR 188.3 million was registered in the life insurance segment.

In 2010 the profit (before taxes) totalled EUR 24.2 million.
The combined ratio amounted to about 105 percent – this was mainly due to natural disasters.

Romania
In Romania the Vienna Insurance Group companies reported premiums of a total of EUR 528.1 million. Premiums written in the non-life insurance segment amounted to EUR 434.9 million. In the life insurance segment the Group succeeded in increasing premiums by 6.8 percent to EUR 93.2 million; this growth was mainly driven by banking distribution.

In Romania Vienna Insurance Group is the overall market leader as well as the number 1 in the non-life insurance segment. In the life insurance market, the Vienna Insurance Group companies are ranked second.

The profit (before taxes) amounted to EUR 28.5 million; this is a plus of 17.9 percent compared to 2009.

The combined ratio for the year 2010 was slightly above 100 percent.

Remaining markets
The segment Remaining markets comprises the countries Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Hungary as well as Georgia, which was included in the scope of consolidation for the first time.

In the segment Remaining markets, Vienna Insurance Group reported premiums of EUR 871.7 million; this represents a significant increase of 14.9 percent. Premiums written in the non-life insurance totalled EUR 488.1 million, growing by 14.3 percent, while the life insurance posted premiums written of EUR 383.6 million after a substantial increase by 15.7 percent.

The balanced result for 2010 is an improvement from the prior-year level.

The combined ratio amounted to 107.2 percent.

IV. GROUP EMBEDDED VALUE INCREASED
The embedded value – calculated on the basis of international methods – expresses the value of existing insurance contracts. It is composed of the net asset value of the life, health and property/casualty insurance as well as the present value of future profits of existing insurance contracts in the life and health insurance segment.

"The embedded value shows in a very impressive way how important and above all sustainable the step towards expanding the life insurance business has proved to be, especially in the CEE markets. Thus Vienna Insurance Group has achieved for its shareholders a considerable annual increase in company value, which is, however, not yet reflected in our market capitalisation. The embedded value does not even take into account the value of in-force of the property insurance segment, which accounts for about 50 percent of our total business", explained Günter Geyer, CEO of Vienna Insurance Group and adds: “This confirms that Vienna Insurance Group is a promising investment.“

The sustainability of the insurance business of Vienna Insurance Group is mirrored by the fact that the Group embedded value (after taxes) as of 31 December 2010 increased by 8.5 percent to EUR 5.1 billion (restated value 2009: EUR 4.7 billion). The increase in embedded value, after taking into account dividend payments made, results in a profitability (return on Group embedded value) of 9.1 percent.

The growth in embedded value (plus 17.5 percent to EUR 3.4 billion) in Central and Eastern Europe is even more significant and impressively confirms the value-added potential of this region. The profitability of new business is a clear sign of the earnings power of the CEE countries; it rose from 45.7 percent to 66.4 percent of the new business premiums.

B&W Deloitte GmbH, Cologne has reviewed the Group embedded value (GEV), and confirmed to the Vienna Insurance Group that the methodology and the assumptions used to determine the GEV and also the results are reasonable.

V. OUTLOOK FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2011
The management of Vienna Insurance Group affirms its outlook of January and expects an increase in profit (before taxes) by about ten percent as well as a low percentage increase in premiums. Moreover, the Group set itself the target of decreasing the combined ratio to about 97 percent. However, this can only be achieved if the economic and legal framework will not deteriorate significantly and if the damage caused by natural catastrophes will not develop dramatically. Vienna Insurance Group is basically not affected by the natural disasters in Japan.

* subject to the approval of the corporate bodies