The UNIQA Group Austria has been active on the Czech market with UNIQA pojišt'ovna, as it is now called, since 1993. Once again, the 2007 financial year was extremely successful, with a preliminary growth in premiums of over 20.1% to CZK 3.8 billion (€143 million). This growth also represents exceptional dynamism when compared to the rest of the market and is clearly above the expected average: in the first three quarters premium revenue in the Czech Republic rose in comparison by about 7%. The company’s pre-tax profit, according to the preliminary figures, come to CZK 189 million (€7.1 million), which represents a growth of 3.5% compared to 2006.

The Chairman of the Management Board at UNIQA pojišt'ovna, Marek Venuta, comments on the dynamic development: "Growth has stagnated in the Czech insurance market since 2004. UNIQA pojišt'ovna has managed, however, to successfully separate itself from this trend and to grow far above the market average. Our strengthened commitment to modernising the product landscape and the introduction of new products has borne fruit, as have our dynamisation projects to support organic growth and upgrade our distribution channels.”

The highest growth rates have been recorded, according to preliminary data, in life insurance, with an increase of 31% to CZK 1.1 billion (€42 million). Unit-linked life insurance was the clear engine for this dynamic development, although there has also been a stable interest in the classic life insurance.

According to preliminary figures, premiums in the non-life segments amount to CZK 2.7 billion (€102 million, +16.2%). The highest increases were achieved in the motor vehicles business, which now represents 52% of all the non-life premiums. An exceptional dynamism and growth rates clearly above the average are also expected in comparison with the rest of the market. The total number of existing policy holdings at UNIQA pojišt'ovna rose by 16% in 2007 to 417,500 policies.