OREANDA-NEWS. On July 19, 2007 a press conference was held in Ulyanovsk to review the results of ROSNO’s 10-year operation in the region. The event also focused on the problems and prospects of the Ulyanovsk regional insurance market, and ROSNO’s plans to expand business operations in the Middle Volga area, reported the press-centre of ROSNO.

The journalists have heard Mr. Maxim Chernin, Deputy General Manager of GK ROSNO, Mr. Alexander Mamonov, head of ROSNO’s Middle-Volga Directorate, and Mr. Dmitry Tebelev, head of ROSNO’s Ulyanovsk Branch.

In his speech, Mr. Maxim Chernin focused on the most pressing Russian insurance market development issues and ROSNO Group performance dynamics: "ROSNO ranks first among Allianz companies in Eastern Europe by premium collected in the non-life segment, and throughout 2004-2006 it has demonstrated most intensive growth. ROSNO regards regional network development as one of the major and most promising sources of growth, and the Ulyanovsk Region is no exception. While expanding regional business operations, our company emphasizes uniform service quality standards, which shall be available to all ROSNO clients, regardless of the region where such services are rendered".

Responding to the media questions, Alexander Mamonov noted: "The Ulyanovsk regional insurance market is notable for its highly competitive environment. And this factor has quite positive impact on the overall development of the insurance sector, since competitive battles are refocusing from tariffs to service quality improvement. Each year, market processes are becoming more and more civilized; consumption level is also on the increase, and the general public’s insurance culture is improving".

Dmitry Tebelev commented on the 10-year results achieved by ROSNO’s Ulyanovsk Branch, summed up financial performance results of the year 2006 and reviewed general performance in Q1’ 2007 as follows: "We have managed to achieve the majority of objectives and targets set for 2006. Throughout the last several years, our branch has been always ranking among the ten strongest companies of the region. We have shown 47,6% growth in premium collected vs. 2005, while the average Russian insurance premium growth has been within 30 to 35%.

The same growth rates were observed in the first six months of the year running. For the Q1’ 2007, the aggregate calculated insurance premium exceeded 11,117 thousand roubles, thus exceeding the same-period-last-year indicator by over 1 mln. roubles. As compared to Q1’ 2006, the company’s portfolio has grown by 12,5% due to the growing agent network (today, it comprises about 100 insurance agents in Ulyanovsk and the Ulyanovsk Region), successful market promotion of customer-focused insurance programs and active implementation of the European customer service quality standards. This year, several new and unique car-owner products were launched at the Ulyanovsk regional market: European MOD Service, AGO-Million and OMTPL-Euroservice".