The top ten insurers operating domestically last year generated cumulated income of more than 26 million euros, 40% more than in the previous year.
The profits the top ten insurers derived in 2006 accounted for almost 2% in the overall volume of gross underwritten premiums worth 1.31 billion euros they registered during the same period.
Of these, only 2 insurers posted incomes worth above 10 million euros, with the rest registering much lower financial results or even losses. The winners in this category are ING Asigurari de Viata and Allianz-Tiriac Asigurari. While in 2005, Allianz-Tiriac boasted the biggest gross profit on the market, 12 million euros, things changed last year, when the value dropped by 8.33%. Despite the profit slump, Allianz is still the biggest insurance company domestically, with gross underwritten premiums worth 317m euros, up 33% year-on-year. General insurance continued to account for the bulk of the company's portfolio, of 92%, generating 292 million euro in gross underwritten premiums. Despite having underwritten gross premiums worth just 25 million euros on the life insurance segment last year, the company stated it would be an active player on the private pensions market as a manager of compulsory and optional pensions.
With a pre-tax profit worth 11.89 million euros, ING Asigurari de Viata is the most profitable company domestically, after having ranked second in 2005. The company underwrote gross premiums worth 123 million euros last year, being the biggest life insurer. Private pensions has also enticed ING Viata. Relying on a share of 41.2% of the life insurance market, ING Viata plans to gain 25% of an optional pensions market expected to comprise 200,000 contributors in the first year and 30% of a compulsory private pensions market estimated at 3.5 million people.
Only two companies, Generali and Unita logged losses last year. Unita, which underwrote gross premiums worth 74 million euros last year, recorded losses as it was restructured so that its portfolio may meet Vienna Insurance group's requirements.
Generali climbed 2 positions in the top last year in terms of gross underwritten premiums, after posting one of the fastest growth paces on the market, by 136.4%, which led to a level of gross underwritten premiums of 85.1 million euros. The rapid evolution also had negative effects, with the company almost doubling its losses, from 3 million euros in 2005, to 6.9 million euros in 2006. After several years of significant losses, Asirom stepped into the black, but the company's representatives did not reveal the value of profit.
Asiban, Astra-Uniqa and Unita in 2006 registered incomes of less than 1 million euros, while BCR Asigurari de Viata and Omniasig made profits of around 4m euros. BT Asigurari last year entered the top ten after underwriting 60m-euro gross premiums.
Insurance market
Amounted to 1.6bn euros last year
A number of 41 insurance companies operated on the market last year
Might change considerably as it opens up
More than 60 EU insurers have decided to operate directly from their country of origin in Romania
Some domestic banks, such as Credit Europe Bank or EFG have also decided to open insurance firms
Is expected to go beyond 2bn euros this year if the over 25% growth pace maintains
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