The Czech insurers ended 2012 with a EUR 603.6 million aggregated profit before taxes, a 36.3% higher figure than in 2011, despite the stagnant trend of the underwriting activity. In terms of gross written premium, last year's results are fairly comparable with 2011 figures, with a total premium production of EUR 6.1 billion, 1.6% higher y-o-y considering the values of the main market indicators denominated in Euro. In national currency, GWP amounted to CZK 153.6 billion, almost 1% less than in 2011.

Clients of GENERALI CZ reported 258 thefts of their cars in amount of CZK 39 million in 2012. The average loss which is around CZK 150 thousand indicates that burglars are not interested only in new, luxurious cars.

CESKA Pojistovna (CP) solved totally 1200 cases of stolen cars of its clients last year. Statistics show that structure of these cases was not changing during last years. European car brands are the most in danger and almost the half of all stolen cars was not older than 5 years. While burglars were focusing on new and luxurious cars in past, the number of thefts of older cars (for reserve parts) increased last year significantly.

The Czech Finance Ministry is considering an introduction of a special sector tax for insurers if the state fails to meet budget targets, Deputy Finance Minister Radek Urban said Sunday in a discussion programme on the Czech Television.

Finance Minister Miroslav KALOUSEK will propose to the government on Wednesday to raise the insurance capacity of export guarantee and insurance company EGAP by CZK 10 billion to CZK 280 billion, KALOUSEK said in discussion programme Questions of Vaclav MORAVEC on Czech TV Sunday.

CESKA Pojistovna (CP), the largest insurance company in the Czech Republic, reported insurance frauds amounting to almost CZK 422 million (close to EUR 17 million) last year.

Insurers in the Czech Republic checked 6,000 suspicious cases of insurance claims last year, a drop of 8 percent compared with 2011, and proved frauds worth over Kc1bn, a year-on-year growth of 27 percent, the Czech Insurers' Association (CAP) told CTK yesterday.

Vseobecna zdravotni pojistovna (VZP), state-owned health insurance company, faces suspicion of uneconomical management of money for prevention in previous four years.

In 3Q2012, the Czech Republic insurance market increased slightly, to almost CZK 118 billion or EUR 4.7 billion (0.3% more compared to January-September 2011), as the financial indicators published by the Czech National Bank (CNB) showed, confirming the market trend resulting from data collected by the insurers' association. At the same time, during the reporting period, the insurers paid claims in the amount of CZK 65.5 billion (EUR 2.6 billion), 3.2% up y-o-y.

All Czech health insurance companies made losses and spent their financial reserves in 2012, which showed that the planned health insurance bill, a crucial part of the reform of the Czech healthcare system, is badly needed.

CESKA Pojistovna (CP), the largest insurance company in the Czech Republic, reported for January-September 2012, according to the international accounting standards, a net profit of CZK 2.80 billion (EUR 110 million), CZK 200 million less compared with the same period previous year.

Vseobecna zdravotni pojistovna (VZP), state health insurance company, has had a new chief and the chairman of the directors board since the end of Nov 2012.

Czech insurance market confirmed its already traditional stability, showing a slow growth in 3Q2012. Total gross premiums written by the 31 insurers reunite by the Czech Insurance Association grew by about 0.2% y-o-y, representing an increase in absolute value of CZK 153 million. In European currency, due to the Czech koruna depreciation in relation to EUR, the local insurance industry reported a 0.3% decrease, to almost EUR 3.48 billion.

CESKA pojistovna (CP) wants to be growing again in 2013. It plans to increase insurance premium collection by 0.4% in 2013 compared to 2012. CP wants to get stabilized and then gradually increase its market share at the Czech insurance market thanks to new products, faster service and its trade network reorganization.

Komercni pojistovna has been named the Insurance Company in the Czech Republic for 2012 by World Finance, a prestigious economic magazine, in its international awards.

The Czech insurance market reported a steady evolution in 1H2012. According to the first available information released by the Czech Insurers Association (CAP), GWP amounted 58.8 billion (~EUR 2.3 billion). Denominated in national currency, the GWP overall figure shows almost no change as compared to 1H2011. Yet, following the 5% weakening of the Czech kroon (CZK) in proportion to the European currency, the total GWP denominated in euro recorded a 4.85% y-o-y fall.

Ceska pojistovna (CP), insurance firm, decreased its net profit by CEK 916 mil to CEK 2 bil during 1H 2012 compared to 1H 2011. CP took premiums of CEK 16.4 bil during 1H 2012, 2% less compared to 1H 2011. CP, a part of the insurance group Generali PPF Holding, is the largest insurance firm on the Czech market. All insurance firms in the Czech Republic took premiums of CEK 41.3 bil according to Czech standards during 1H 2012, 0.2% less compared to 1H 2011.

Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) (Austria), an insurance group, increased profit in the Czech Republic by about 2% to EUR 93 mil, CEK 2.3 bil, in 1H 2012 compared to 1H 2011.

Czech insurance market ended 1Q 2012 with a GWP y-o-y decrease of about 6.7%, to CZK 39.74 billion (EUR 1.6 billion).  Paid claims also decreased by 1.2%, to CZK 21.9 billion (EUR 885.5 million). According to CAP, the Czech association of insurers, the main sources of the declining GWP volume were the decline of the life insurance lines, mainly the single premium line, and the persistent drop in insurance premiums for motor classes.

The Association of Czech Insurance Brokers (ACPM) has recently announced the results of the 12th edition of its annual survey of insurance companies, realized in cooperation with the Czech Insurers Association and oPojisteni.cz, a specialized financial portal. In the categories of industrial and business insurance, personal insurance and life insurance, first place went to KOOPERATIVA Pojist'ovna - VIG, while ALLIANZ Pojist'ovna won in the car insurance category and EVROPSKA Cestovni Pojist'ova was awarded the prize for the specialized insurance category (travel insurance).