The acquisitions at home (AXA and FinanceLife) and abroad (AXA Hungary + Liechtenstein, R+V Poland + Slovakia) and the organic growth of the UNIQA companies led to a premium increase (as per HGB - Austrian accounting standard) of the group by 28.8% in the first half of 2003.The figures adjusted for the acquisitions (i.e. comparing the corresponding previous year’s values of the “new” companies), showed a growth of 5.4%.This increase can be seen even more clearly by considering the recurring premium volume (premiums excluding single payments in life insurance) with 7.8%.

Internationally, the acquisitions in Hungary (AXA), Liechtenstein (AXA), Poland (R+V/Filar) as well as Slovakia (R+V) and the above-average growth of the existing UNIQA subsidiaries have more than doubled the written premium volume in the first half of the year (+101.4%).Adjusted for the acquisitions, a growth of 24.6% was achieved.

In the course of this exceptional growth, the premium share that the UNIQA group earned internationally rose to significantly over 15%.“We have therefore already exceeded the target value that we set for ourselves for 2005,“ explained UNIQA CEO Dr. Konstantin Klien.“As a dynamic company, we cannot and will not rest on our achievements, but strive for the 20% mark over the medium term.”

For the current year, Klien expects – assuming at worst a sideways development of the capital markets – a significantly improved group result through the interaction of acquisitions, generic growth of the UNIQA group and a successful continuation of the revenue improvement program.

Market leader in Austria
With the takeover of AXA Austria, UNIQA further expanded its market leadership in Austria.The UNIQA property insurance and the UNIQA life insurance, only two of UNIQA’s operative companies, already hold a combined market share of 12.8% and first place.Including FinanceLife – which manages UNIQA’s unit-linked life insurance – and AXA Austria – which will be integrated into UNIQA during the course of the year – takes the market share to 15.93% and a significant lead over the competitors.Relating the whole group (incl. Raiffeisen Versicherung, Salzburger Landesversicherung and CallDirect) to the market shows UNIQA still in a clear leading position over other Austrian insurance groups with a share of 21.2%.This is also emphasized by the top values in the market shares of UNIQA’s individual market segments with 49.67% in health insurance, 21.6% in life insurance and 16.6% in casualty and accident insurance.

“Market shares are nothing more than the result of successful work at all levels of the customer and partner relationships and reflect our constant effort to improve our products and services,“ said Klien, summarizing:“This confirms all the surveys that regularly place UNIQA in the top position in areas such as innovation, sympathy, service, brand loyalty and customer loyalty.”