euro adhoc: Vienna Insurance Group / Financial Figures/Balance Sheet / Vienna Insurance Group distinctly opposing the trend: Profit target for 2008 more than confirmed: Profit (before taxes) boo

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6-month report

21.08.2008

Please note: this is a translation; only the German version of this
release is legally binding.

OVERVIEW OF KEY GROUP DATA FOR THE 1st HALF OF 2008 (IFRS*) In the
first half of 2008, the Vienna Insurance Group achieved an excellent
growth of 20.7 percent compared to the previous year, with
consolidated premiums written (without other insurance participation)
at a total of EUR 4.22 billion.

Group profit (before taxes, consolidated) was also increased by a
significant 33.9 percent to a total of EUR 288.34 million, which is
up from the prior year by approx. EUR 73 million.

The combined ratio of the Group after reinsurance (without taking
into account investment income) continues to show a positive trend,
despite the damage incurred by the storms "Paula" and "Emma", and at
95.9 percent was kept stable compared to the 96 percent reported for
the previous year.

The financial results were at EUR 618.69 million in the first half of
the current year and are thus up 11.8 percent from the same period of
2007.

The final consolidation of insurers BA-CA Versicherung and Unita,
which are in the process of being sold, lead to their deduction from
the balance sheet and, consequently, to a decrease of the investment
volume of the Group compared to 31 December 2007 by 10.3 percent to
EUR 20.84 billion.

* Recently purchased companies are not included in the Group figures
for the Vienna Insurance Group. Furthermore, the insurance companies
of Erste Group in Austria and abroad are not included

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Vienna Insurance Group
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Mag. Barbara Hagen-Grötschnig

Unternehmenskommunikation

WIENER STÄDTISCHE Versicherung AG

Vienna Insurance Group

A-1010 Wien, Schottenring 30

Tel.: +43 (0)50 350-21027

Fax: +43 (0)50 350 99-21027

E-Mail: b.hagen@staedtische.co.at

Branche: Insurance
ISIN: AT0000908504
WKN: A0ET17
Index: WBI, ATX Prime, ATX
Börsen: Prague Stock Exchange / stock market
Wiener Börse AG / official market