With a premium growth of 17% to roughly EUR 97.1 million, the Slovakian subsidiary UNIQA Pojistovna grew in 2008 at a rate significantly above the Slovakian insurance market (+11%) and much higher than the other top 10 insurance companies in Slovakia, according to preliminary data. With a market share of 4.6%, UNIQA further strenghtened its position on the sixth place among the 22 insurance companies active in Slovakia.

"In 2008, we grew by SKK 400 million (EUR 13.3 million) - an achievement we are proud of. On the final day of the year, while the Slovakian crown still existed, our premiums totalled almost 3 billion crowns. Now, after the currency switch, our next goal is to exceed a premium volume of EUR 100 million. With our ambitious sales team, our loyal sales partners and our creativity, we expect to accomplish this", Harald CHRSTOS, CEO of UNIQA Pojistovna, said.

UNIQA exhibited the strongest growth rates in Slovakia on the non-life segment, where premiums grew by +20%, to roughly EUR 71 million. The industry growth on this segment was only about 5%.

The above-average success can be attributed largely to the motor vehicle insurance line - here UNIQA achieved a growth of over 23%, with premiums increasing to roughly EUR 44 million. Overall, UNIQA achieved a market share of over 7% in non-life insurance lines, taking the fourth place on the Slovakian market.

The life insurance premiums account for 27% of the total premium volume, at almost EUR 26.1 million (+9%). In Slovakia, UNIQA has a staff of 294 salaried employees, has 882 brokers who are active for UNIQA, it serves roughly 371,000 customers with 520,000 contracts and, in addition to the headquarters in Bratislava, it maintains over 39 branches plus another 71 insurance agencies throughout the country.