EANS-News: Vienna Insurance Group in the 1st quarter of 2018: Sustainable growth path continues - ATTACHMENT

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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet

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* Premiums grew to EUR 2.83 billion (+3.9 percent)
* Profit (before taxes) increased to EUR 117.3 million (+7.0 percent)
* Combined ratio improved to 96.2 percent (Q1 2017: 96.9 percent)

Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) reports further improvement in all key figures for
the 1st quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in the previous year. "We
have succeeded in our goal of achieving sustainable growth. This is particularly
important to us during the current economic upswing in Central and Eastern
Europe. Our long-term business strategy is based on leveraging synergies in our
markets to systematically strengthen our market position, increase
diversification and improve efficiency," stated Elisabeth Stadler, General
Manager of Vienna Insurance Group, who feels justified in the pursued business
strategy and results.

Significant growth in premiums
Total premium volume reached EUR 2.83 billion in the first three months of 2018.
This corresponds to an increase of +3.9 percent compared to the 1st quarter of
2017. Without the ongoing decline in the single premium life insurance business,
premiums rose by +7.1 percent compared to the previous year. "It is particularly
noteworthy that our large CEE markets in the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania
were the driving engine for growth in premiums and our profit (before taxes) in
the first quarter of 2018. These are also the markets where we started the pilot
project to optimise our business model as part of the 'Agenda 2020' and where
initial positive effects on profits and the combined ratio have already been
achieved," explained Elisabeth Stadler.

Clear increase in profit (before taxes)
Profit (before taxes) was EUR 117.3 million. This corresponds to an increase of
+7.0 percent compared to the 1st quarter of 2017. In addition to the markets in
the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania mentioned above, Hungary and Bulgaria
have also recorded significant increases in the result (before taxes).

Combined ratio further improved
The pursuit of a sustainable growth path is also being reflected in a steady
improvement in the combined ratio, which improved significantly again by 0.7
percentage points to 96.2 percent, from 96.9 percent in 2017. "This represents
another step towards achieving our target of 95 percent in 2020," stated
Elisabeth Stadler.

The financial result was EUR 238.4 million in the first quarter of 2018. This
year-on-year decrease by 3.8 percent was primarily due to seasonal fluctuations
in property maintenance costs.

Group investments including cash and cash equivalents were EUR 37.5 billion as
of 31 March 2018.

"Agenda 2020" - successful expansion of the reinsurance business
"We can grow on a sustainable basis only if we modernise Group structures and
operational processes over the long term. For this purpose, we have defined
measures as part of our 'Agenda 2020' management programme which we keep
implementing according to schedule since the last year," explained Elisabeth
Stadler. The reinsurance business is one area that VIG aims to expand under
"Agenda 2020" through its Group company VIG Re, which is located in Prague.

VIG Re (including the affiliated Serbian reinsurance company Wiener Re)
generated a consolidated premium volume of around EUR 460 million in 2017 (+10.2
percent). Premiums from reinsurance contracts not concluded with VIG companies
(third party business) increased very significantly to around EUR 125 million in
2017 (+31.2 percent). The number of external customers increased further from
304 to 331 in the first quarter of 2018.

First steps for the planned controlled market entry into Western Europe have
been successfully taken. A VIG Re branch focusing on customers in Austria,
Germany and Switzerland was opened in Frankfurt in autumn of 2017. The new
branch currently serves 48 reinsurance customers with a premium volume of EUR 40
million. Another branch is planned to be opened in Paris in autumn of 2018 to
serve customers in France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

In these markets, VIG will focus primarily on regional direct insurers relying
on long-term cooperation. In terms of business segments, the focus will be on
those lines of business that are in line with VIG Re's risk strategy and where
VIG Re has a high level of underwriting expertise.

The interim report for the 1st quarter of 2018 will be available on the website
http://www.vig.com [http://www.vig.com] on 29 May 2018.

Further inquiry note:
VIENNA INSURANCE GROUP AG
Wiener Versicherung Gruppe
1010 Vienna, Schottenring 30

Wolfgang Haas
Head of Group Communications & Marketing, Spokesperson of the Group
Phone: +43(0)50 390-21029
Fax: +43 (0)50 390 99-21029
E-Mail: Wolfgang.haas@vig.com

Nina Higatzberger-Schwarz
Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +43 (0)50 390-21920
Fax: +43 (0)50 390 99-21920
E-Mail: nina.higatzberger@vig.com

end of announcement euro adhoc
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Attachments with Announcement:
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http://resources.euroadhoc.com/documents/59/5/10154685/1/180523_-_IR_News_VIG_Results_3M_2018__IR_.pdf

issuer: Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe
Schottenring 30
A-1010 Wien
phone: +43(0)50 390-22000
FAX: +43(0)50 390 99-22000
mail: investor.relations@vig.com
WWW: www.vig.com
ISIN: AT0000908504
indexes: ATX, WBI, VÖNIX
stockmarkets: Wien, Prague Stock Exchange
language: English

Original-Content von: Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe, übermittelt durch news aktuell