euro adhoc: WIENER STÄDTISCHE Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group / Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers / Vienna Insurance Group in Romania: Acquisition of majority shareholding in Asirom planned

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Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible
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24.07.2007

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

Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group enlarges its
commitment in Romania and, today, has signed a contract for the
acquisition of a majority shareholding in SC Asigurarea Romaneasca
Asirom S.A. (Asirom). As a first step, 30 percent of the shares were
already taken over today from the current majority shareholder,
Romanian Interagro S.A.

"This transaction allows us to further expand our commitment in our
core market Romania," explains CEO Günter Geyer. "Taking a capital
stake in Asirom markedly strengthens the position of the Vienna
Insurance Group on this future growth market in the new Europe."

The transaction was concluded subject to the approval by the Austrian
and Romanian authorities. In correspondence with the Romanian legal
regulations, Wiener Städtische Versicherung AG Vienna Insurance Group
after acquiring the majority will make a compulsory offer to the
remaining shareholders of exchange-listed Asirom.

Asirom is one of the leading insurance companies in Romania and
employs about 2,200 staff. With its tight-woven distribution network
counting 49 regional head offices and 160 branches, Asirom is
represented throughout the entire country.

In the business year 2006, Asirom earned approx. RON 600 million in
gross premiums (at the current exchange rate approx. EUR 190
million). In the first quarter of 2007, the company, at a market
share of some 11 percent in the non-life segment and some 8 percent
in the life insurance business, ranks third both in these business
segments and on the overall Romanian insurance market.

The Vienna Insurance Group is currently represented in Romania with
four companies and at a market share of 17.7 percent holds the first
position on the market in the first quarter of 2007. The Vienna
Insurance Group family includes Omniasig Life and Non-Life, Unita and
the agricultural insurer Agras.

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

end of announcement euro adhoc 24.07.2007 12:56:07
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ots Originaltext: Wiener Städtische Allgemeine Versichererungs AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
Mag. Barbara Hagen-Grötschnig
Unternehmenskommunikation
WIENER STÄDTISCHE Versicherung AG
Vienna Insurance Group
A-1010 Wien, Schottenring 30
Tel.: +43 (0)50 350-21027
Fax: +43 (0)50 350 99-21027
E-Mail: b.hagen@staedtische.co.at

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