Lending growth benefits insurers

Astra Asigurari collected $23 million’s worth in gross premiums in H1, up 45% in nominal terms from the same time in 2002. “The increased number of housing loans and consumer credits is expected to induce a 40% growth of the insurance market this year and Astra is well above the market growth pace due to its results,” Astra deputy chairman Dan Domnitanu said. The six-month revenues amount to 755bn ROL and account for nearly 92% of the total revenues derived from premiums last year. Astra Asigurari’s best-selling products were the civil auto liability insurance (RCA), the Green Card insurance policies and the home and property insurance policies, which progressed by 60% to 90%. The number of claims settled amounted to more than 12,000 in the first six months, with payments reaching 263bn ROL, 70% of the total 2002 payments. ZF