euro adhoc: WIENER STÄDTISCHE Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group / Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers / Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group plans to enter the Albanian insuran

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Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible
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New insurance market

16.03.2007

Ad hoc

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

Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group plans to
enter the Albanian insurance market. TBIH Financial Services Group
N.V. (TBIH), in which Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG Vienna
Insurance Group holds a majority share*, has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding for the acquisition of at least 60 percent of the
shares of Sigma Sh.a. headquartered in Tirana.

The non-life insurance company Sigma Sh.a. was founded in 1998. The
company has a subsidiary in Macedonia and a branch office in Kosovo
and employs in total about 160 members of staff.

"Sigma Sh.a. enables the Vienna Insurance Group the early entry into
three new insurance markets with a high potential to catch up. The
parent company is the second largest insurance group in Albania and
already well positioned in the market", comments Günter Geyer, CEO of
Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group. "Following
this transaction Vienna Insurance Group attains another geographical
diversification. We will be present in as many as 20 countries,
showing a unique market position in the dynamic Eastern and South
eastern European region."

In the year 2006, Sigma Sh.a. generated an overall premium volume of
about EUR 15 million in all three countries. The main focus is on
motor insurance. In Albania Sigma Sh.a. has a market share of roughly
19 percent and therefore ranks on an excellent second market
position. With a total of 25 branch offices as well as agents in all
three markets, Sigma Sh.a. has a nationwide distribution network.

In 2005, the Albanian insurance market recorded a total premium
volume of EUR 32 million. With a penetration rate of only 0.5%
(insurance premiums as a percentage of GDP) Albania has a long term
catch-up potential in relation to the more mature markets in Western
Europe (EU-15 countries with a 8.6% penetration rate).

* TBIH is a financial services group specialising in CEE and has a
business focus on insurance and pension funds. Wiener Städtische
Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group has been a shareholder in TBIH
since 2006 and now holds a 60% share in the company (subject to the
approval of the authorities).

Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG
Vienna Insurance Group
A-1010 Wien, Schottenring 30
ISIN: AT0000908504

end of announcement euro adhoc 16.03.2007 08:27:48
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ots Originaltext: Wiener Städtische Allgemeine Versichererungs AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
Mag. Birgit Reitbauer
Corporate Communications
WIENER STÄDTISCHE Versicherung AG
Vienna Insurance Group
A-1010 Wien, Schottenring 30
Tel.: +43 (0)50 350-21336
Fax: +43 (0)50 350 99-21336
E-Mail: b.reitbauer@staedtische.co.at

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