DGAP-Adhoc: Ergo Versicherungsgruppe AG: ERGO publishes preliminary figures for 2008

| Source: EQS Group AG EQS Group AG 

ERGO Versicherungsgruppe AG / Preliminary Results/Dividend

04.02.2009 

Release of a Adhoc News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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According to preliminary figures, ERGO’s operating profits before
impairments on goodwill are expected to fall to € 584 (1,070) million. The
decline was caused by the drop of the investment result to € 2.87 (5.35)
billion due to the crisis on financial markets. The balance from gains and
losses from disposals as well as from write-ups and write-downs amounted to
€ -1.1 (+0.9) billion. The consolidated Group result according to IFRS was
also influenced by goodwill impairments of € 177 (8) million and higher
financing costs of € 61 (22) million. The consolidated Group result is
expected to amount to € 92 (781) million.

The Board of Management of ERGO Versicherungsgruppe AG will propose not to
pay a dividend for 2008. In the previous year, an extraordinarily high
dividend of € 13.25 per share had been distributed as one measure of ERGO’s
active capital management.

From a technical perspective, business once again went excellently in 2008.
The combined ratio in non-life insurance was at 90.7 percent, thus clearly
undercutting the long-term target of 95 percent. In Germany, the combined
ratio amounted to 87.5 percent. Lower administration expense ratios in all
segments contributed to this.

ERGO increased total premium income by 1.9 percent to € 17.7 (17.4)
billion. The growth was driven by international business (+12.5 percent),
primarily induced by strong gains in Central and Eastern Europe, but also
following acquisitions such as the integration of Bank Austria
Creditanstalt Versicherung in Austria. Premium income in Germany went back
by 1.1 percent compared to the previous year. In non-life insurance,
premiums rose by 1.4 percent, in health insurance by 1.6 percent. In
contrast, life insurance recorded a decline of 4.4 percent. In particular,
single premiums had been lower due to the crisis on financial markets in
the second half of 2008.

ERGO Versicherungsgruppe AG
The Board of Management

Contact: Dr. Alexander Becker, +49-211-4937-1510


DGAP 04.02.2009 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       ERGO Versicherungsgruppe AG
              Victoriaplatz 2
              40198 Düsseldorf
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 211 49 37-0
Fax:          +49 211 49 37-15 00
E-mail:       info@ergo.de
Internet:     www.ergo.com
ISIN:         DE0008418526
WKN:          841852
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (General Standard),
              Düsseldorf; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hannover, Hamburg,
              München, Stuttgart
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
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