EANS-News: Vienna Insurance Group increases premiums and profits in the 1st quarter of 2019 / Double-digit growth rate in health insurance - ATTACHMENT

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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet

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* Premiums rise to EUR 2.9 billion (+3%)
* Profit (before taxes) increases to EUR 127.5 million (+9%)
* Combined ratio of 96.8% (+0.6 percentage points)

Vienna Insurance Group continued to grow in the first quarter of 2019. A solid
increase in premiums and profit (before taxes) shows that performance is on
schedule to meet the goals set for 2019. The combined ratio recorded a small
weather-related increase. "We can look back on a successful first quarter of
2019, with results that are clearly in line with our expectations. Therefore, we
maintain our targets to achieve a premium volume of EUR 9.9 billion and profit
(before taxes) of EUR 500 to 520 million in 2019", explained Elisabeth Stadler,
CEO of Vienna Insurance Group.

Double-digit premium growth in health insurance
Total premium volume has reached EUR 2.9 billion in the first three months of
2019. This implies a 2.9% year-on-year increase. Health insurance recorded the
largest premium growth of around 10%. Single-premium life insurance, which only
reported a small quarter-on-quarter decrease of around 2% in the first quarter,
now shows the improvement that was expected after the large decreases that were
intentionally recorded in the past. The markets in Bulgaria, the Baltic states,
Hungary and Poland contributed exceptional premium increases in the 1st quarter
of 2019.

Profit (before taxes) improved by 9%
Profit (before taxes) amounts to EUR 127.5 million. This implies an 8.7% year-
on-year increase. The Austria, Slovakia and Poland segments made particularly
large contributions to the increase in profit.

Profit (after taxes and non-controlling interests) rose by 10.5% to
EUR 83.5 million.

Combined ratio records a small weather-related increase
As expected, the winter storms that occurred in Austria and the Czech Republic
at the beginning of 2019 increased claims expenses compared to the previous
year. The combined ratio rose marginally by 0.6 percentage points to 96.8%. The
Slovakia (-4.0 percentage points) and Bulgaria (- 3.1 percentage points)
segments achieved very positive developments in their respective combined
ratios.

The financial result amounted to EUR 186.6 million in the first quarter of 2019.
This implies a 21.7% year-on-year decrease that was due mainly to a reduction in
profits on the disposal of investments.

Group investments including cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 38.7
billion (+2.8% compared to 31 December 2018) as of 31 March 2019.

Other
VIG has adjusted its reporting in line with a change in the rules for the prime
market segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange. In this respect, no changes apply
to the annual and half-year financial reports. However, starting in 2019,
interim reports in accordance with IAS 34 will no longer be prepared for the 1st
and 3rd quarters.
The quarterly figures for net assets, financial position and results of
operations for the 1st and 3rd quarters are prepared in accordance with the
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

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/59/5/10310132/1/190522_-_IR_News_VIG_Results_3M_2019__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, VÖNIX, WBI
stockmarkets: Prague Stock Exchange, Wien
language: English

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