2007 was an extremely successful year for the Bulgarian subsidiaries of the UNIQA Group Austria. Together, UNIQA Insurance plc and UNIQA Life Insurance plc were able to increase their premium volume - based on preliminary data - by more than 44% to almost €61 million. The insurance market in Bulgaria as a whole (according to preliminary estimates) has only grown half as quickly - with growth of just over 20%.

Paul Moritz, UNIQA’s CEO in Bulgaria, commented on the dynamic growth: "In 2007 our growth was driven by the particularly successful life insurance products and the buoyant business in motor vehicle insurance. The cooperation with the local Raiffeisen Bank as an important sales channel played an important part, and formed a sharply increasing contribution. Efforts to ensure a modern structure for our entire sales operations and optimisation of our administration have borne fruits. In 2008 we want to primarily score points with even more innovative and high quality products and services and to continue this growth."

In Bulgaria, particular impetus can be gained from the life insurance sector, which in comparison with Western Europe is still in its infancy. UNIQA was able to over-proportionally exploit this trend, with an increase in revenues from premiums of 95% to €15.7 million. UNIQA was also able to outperform general market development in Bulgaria, with premiums increasing by 32% to €44.9 million. UNIQA was able to improve its market position in Bulgaria as a result of this development, currently occupying third place in the life insurance market, whilst also posting gains in market share in the non life insurance sector.

In addition to its headquarters in Sofia, UNIQA has over 100 sales offices in Bulgaria, employing approximately 420 permanent employees and more than 2,000 insurance agents.

UNIQA Group Austria, according to preliminary results for the financial year 2007, has achieved a premium volume of €5.3 billion, which represents a growth of 3.3% compared to the year 2006, and EBT (IFRS) of €340 million, which represents a growth of 43%. UNIQA Group Austria, which is a market leader in Austria, now generates around one third of its premiums from markets outside of Austria. The company is present in 20 European countries, from Baltic Sea to Mediterranean and Black Sea.