EANS-Adhoc: UNIQA Insurance Group AG
Significant growth in premiums and
earnings in 2014
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announcement.
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annual result/Preliminary results for 2014
06.03.2015
Preliminary results for 2014:
UNIQA records significant growth in premiums and earnings despite difficult
environment
· EBT improves again by 22.9% to EUR377.9 million
· Retained premiums earned increase by 7.6% to EUR5,312.9 million
· Net combined ratio declines from 99.8% to 99.5%
· Costs reduced by another EUR79 million
· Dividend proposal raised again by 20% to 42 cents per share (2013: 35
cents)
In the 2014 financial year, the UNIQA Insurance Group (UNIQA) improved its
preliminary profit on ordinary activities (EBT) by 22.9% to EUR377.9 million
(2013: EUR307.6 million). The preliminary consolidated net profit (after taxes
and minority interests) was virtually unchanged at EUR289.9 million (2013:
EUR284.7 million), since the figure for 2013 included a result from discontinued
operations (disposal of the Mannheimer Group) of EUR50.0 million after taxes. On
a like-for-like basis (not including this non-recurring effect in 2013),
consolidated net profit was up 23.5%.
The Management Board will propose to the Supervisory Board and Annual General
Meeting that a dividend of 42 cents per share - 20% higher than the dividend for
2013 of 35 cents - be paid for the 2014 financial year.
UNIQA currently still expects double-digit percentage growth in the profit on
ordinary activities based on further operative improvements in the core business
to a level of EUR425 million to EUR450 million in 2015 as against 2014. This
assumes that the capital market environment will be stable, that economic
development will improve moderately and that losses caused by natural disasters
will remain within a normal range.
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Key data for the 2014 financial year
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2014 2013 Change in %
Figures in millions of euros
unless otherwise stated
Premiums written including the
savings portion from unit- and
index-linked life insurance 6,064.4 5,885.5 +3.0%
Premiums earned including the
savings portion from unit- and
index-linked life insurance 5,839.0 5,640.9 +3.5%
Retained premiums earned in
accordance with IFRS 5,312.9 4,938.6 +7.6%
Retained insurance benefits1) -4,383.7 -3,959.4 +10.7%
Operating expenses2) -1,275.3 -1,354.2 -5.8%
Cost ratio (after reinsurance) 21.8% 24.0%
Combined ratio (after
reinsurance) 99.5% 99.8%
Net investment income 864.4 780.0 +10.8%
Operating profit 447.6 347.2 +28.9%
Profit on ordinary activities 377.9 307.6 +22.9%
Consolidated net
profit 289.9 284.7 +1.8%
Investments3) 29,212.7 27,383.6 +6.7%
Total equity including non-
controlling interests 3,102.4 2,785.1 +11.4%
1) Including expenses for profit-sharing and premium refunds
2) Less reinsurance commissions and profit shares from reinsurance business
ceded.
3) Including owner-occupied land and buildings, land and buildings held as
financial investments, shares in associated companies,
unit- and index-linked life insurance investments and liquid funds.
Note:
All the figures for the 2014 financial year are based on unaudited preliminary
data. The final annual report with audited figures will be published on the
Group website www.uniqagroup.com on 15 April.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains statements concerning UNIQA's future development.
These statements present estimates which were reached on the basis of all of the
information available to us at the present time. If the assumptions on which
they are based do not occur, the actual results may deviate from the results
currently expected. As a result, no liability is accepted for this information.
Further inquiry note:
UNIQA Insurance Group AG
Norbert Heller
Tel.: +43 (01) 211 75-3414
mailto:norbert.heller@uniqa.at
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: UNIQA Insurance Group AG
Untere Donaustraße 21
A-1029 Wien
phone: 01/211 75-0
mail: investor.relations@uniqa.at
WWW: http://www.uniqagroup.com
sector: Insurance
ISIN: AT0000821103
indexes: WBI, ATX Prime, ATX
stockmarkets: official market: Wien
language: English
Original content of: UNIQA Insurance Group AG, transmitted by news aktuell