23.02.2005 |
- IAS Group profit on ordinary activities rose to € 120 million in 2004
- Dividend rose again - by 10% to € 0.22
- Written premiums rose by more than 20% to € 3,777.7 million (incl. savings premiums from unit- and index-linked life insurance)
- Premiums on markets abroad rose by 73% / foreign share of profit on ordinary activities increased by around one third
- Combined Ratio in damage and accident insurance under 100%
- Capital investment rose to € 16,602.2 million (+25.5%) / yield on capital increased by 78.3% to € 750.4 million.
Profit on ordinary activities / 10% rise in dividend According to preliminary figures for 2004, UNIQA achieved an increase in IAS Group profit on ordinary activities of 75% to approximately € 120 million (2003: € 68.3 million). The "cautious" prognosis around the change of the financial year was based on an increase of around 50% to slightly more than € 100 million. In the course of the last two financial years, the UNIQA Group succeeded in raising its IAS Group profit on ordinary activities to around 240%. The companies abroad contributed approximately one third to the record profit on a fully consolidated basis.
The management board intends to propose an increase in dividends of 10% to €0.22 per share to the board of directors and to the shareholders' meeting. Dividends were already increased by 25% last year, which means that UNIQA raised its dividends by 37.5% in a mere two years.
Premiums and benefits Fully consolidated written premiums rose last year by 18.8% to € 3,599.6 million. Inland growth was a pleasing 10.5% (€ 2,908.7 million). In turn, it was possible to increase premiums abroad markedly - by 73.3% to € 690.8 million. Savings premiums to the value of € 178.2 million from unit- or index-linked life insurance are - according to international accounting regulations - not considered in this. When this amount is included, however, the result is total premium growth of more than 20% to € 3,777.7 million
The UNIQA Group achieved a particularly high growth rate - 32.8% or € 1,655.6 million - in damage and accident insurance. Growth in life insurance also turned out to be pleasingly high - 12.8% or € 1,199.3 million. Written premiums in life insurance, including savings premiums from unit- and index-linked life insurance, amount to € 1,377.5 million or a growth rate of 18%. Written premiums in health insurance, which UNIQA operates almost exclusively in Austria, amounted to € 744.6 million (+3.4%).
According to accounting regulations, data for the Mannheimer AG Holding, acquired in a majority takeover in the middle of 2004, are only included for the second half of the year. No data are included for the latest acquisitions in Italy (Claris Vita) and Germany (Mannheim Health Insurance). Including these three companies, the UNIQA Group currently has premiums worth around € 4.2 billion at its disposal.
In damage and accident insurance, growth of benefits - 26.7% or to € 907.5 million - remained markedly behind the increase in premiums. As a result of this development, it was possible to lower the Combined Ratio from over 103% to 100% - considered over a 2-year period, a reduction of roughly 10% was achieved. Health insurance benefits increased by 4.9% to € 674.8 million and those from life insurance by 29.0% to € 1,450.8 million.
Consolidated insurance benefits increased to € 3.033.0 million (+22.1%) in 2004.
Capital investment and returns Capital investment in all UNIQA companies amounted to € 16,602.2 million at the end of 2004, which represents growth of 25.5% compared with the previous year. Net earnings from capital investment increased by 78.3% to € 750.4 million as a result of improved capital market development.
Resale programme In conjunction with the current resale programme, it was decided to raise the upper limit for resale from €15 to € 20, considering the most pleasing UNIQA share market trend. UNIQA shares have risen by about 33% since the beginning of the year. In the course of the resale programme, 805.864 UNIQA shares have already been sold and thus increased the free float.
Mannheim Health Insurance The takeover of the Mannheimer Krankenversicherung AG, which was announced in 2004, was concluded with the transfer of share capital of 74.9% from the Continentale Holding AG to UNIQA. The UNIQA Group thus has over 100% of the share capital of the Mannheimer Krankenversicherung AG at its disposal. The Mannheimer Krankenversicherung was founded in 1991, has a staff of 75 and received earnings of € 122.4 million from health insurance contributions from 66,600 contracts in 2003.
Vienna, 23. February 2005