Astra H1 turnover climbs to 57m euros

Astra Asigurari in H1 underwrote gross premiums worth almost 190m RON (57m euros), up 2.5% against the results generated during the same period of 2006. General insurance premiums rose by almost 2%, to 187.8m RON, while life policies generated revenues worth 2m RON. Life insurance registered a 128% increase against the first half of 2006. “This surge is due to the implementation of some internal measures intended to sustain this activity, such as the setting up of a new life insurance department, the strengthening of the managerial structure and the launch and promotion in the sales network for some new insurance products for this line,” explained company representatives. Astra underwrote Casco policies worth 56.2m RON, up 84.8% against the first half of 2006. RCA insurance advanced by 4% and reached 92.9m RON. Claims settled by the company were 30.36% higher and climbed to 74.3m RON, with the largest increase being registered on the segment of general insurance. Astra was set up in 1991 and has a current share capital worth 192.71m RON. The company is set to be controlled by Austria’s Uniqa, which will own 50% plus one share of the share capital, after taking over a 23% stake from the former majority stakeholder, Nova Trade.