The Uniqa Insurance Group AG (corporately styled "UNIQA") is one of the largest insurance groups in its core markets of Austria and Central and Eastern Europe and has approximately 40 companies in 22 countries and serve about 10.5 million customers.[1] The corporate headquarters is located in the Uniqa Tower in Vienna, Austria and is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange.
History
Uniqa is established in 1999. In 2000, Uniqa continues its policy of expansion abroad and acquires companies in Italy, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Russia, Spain, Lithuania, Germany and Croatia.[2]
On 1 July 2011, a new management board team headed by Andreas Brandstetter takes over at the Uniqa Insurance Group. The new team develops a new growth strategy and begins to implement it.[3] In April 2012, the Uniqa Group sells its majority interest in the German Mannheimer AG Holding.[4] In May 2013, Uniqa Austria becomes the biggest insurer in Austria with 14% market share. In October 2013, Uniqa signs an agreement with Baloise Group to acquire insurance companies in Croatia and Serbia.[5]
In March 2014, Uniqa Insurance Group AG is included in the benchmark index of the Vienna Stock Exchange (ATX).[6] In July 2015, Uniqa resolves sale of indirect interest in Casinos Austria AG.[7] In January 2016, Uniqa launches the largest investment and innovation programme in its history amounting to around €500 million.[8] In October 2016, the company completes the reorganisation of the Group's structure.[9]
In December 2017, Kurt Svoboda becomes CEO of the Uniqa Österreich Versicherungen AG.[10] In 2018, Uniqa became the first Austrian insurance group to announce the gradual elimination of carbon-based transactions.[11]
In March 2019, Uniqa was the first insurer to be awarded with the OGUT Sustainability Certificate, based on the decision to remove all investments related to coal industry.[12] In November 2019, the company decided to reduce the number of management board members of the three major companies in Austria from 11 to 9.[13]
In February 2020 Uniqa acquired Axa's subsidiaries in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia for 1 billion euros. The acquisition was approved by the EU-Commission in July 2020[14] and was completed in October 2020 as the largest acquisition in company history.[15]
Company
Uniqa Insurance Group has approximately 40 companies in 16 countries and serve about 10.5 million customers. The group is divided into Uniqa Austria,[16]Uniqa International,[17]Uniqa Reinsurance[18] and further national companies.[19] The corporate sponsorships include measures relating to the environment, society, culture and sports.[20]
Uniqa Insurance Group was established in 1999. It is the parent company of the Uniqa Group and acts as the central reinsurer. The group is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange.[23] The members of the management board are Andreas Brandstetter (CEO),[24] Erik Leyers (COO)[25] and Kurt Svoboda (CFRO)[26]
Uniqa Tower is the headquarters building of the group and was realized by architect Heinz Neumann in 2005. The 75 metre high building costs 70 million euro and is located in Vienna's district Leopoldstadt.[33]
