Vienna Insurance : acquires subsidiary of Merkur in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) has agreed to fully acquire Merkur Osiguranje d.d. (Merkur). The agreement for the acquisition of Merkur International Holding AG's Bosnian subsidiary was signed on 30 October 2017. The transaction is subject to approval by the local authorities.

Headquartered in Sarajevo, Merkur was set up in 2003. Its product portfolio mainly comprises life insurance sold through financial intermediaries such as banks and insurance brokers. In 2016 the company recorded gross written premiums of around EUR 14 million. Overall, it has a 4.4% market share in Bosnia-Herzegovina*), but accounts for about 21% of the life insurance market. Merkur has around 75 employees.

'The Merkur acquisition will help us to achieve our aim of expanding the product portfolio to include the life insurance segment. Our existing Bosnian Group company so far focused primarily on non-life insurance. We will also be gaining valuable managerial expertise and significantly strengthening our market presence. Our market share will almost double, and we will also enhance our regional profile, as the acquisition will give us a presence in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,' explained Peter Höfinger, member of the Vienna Insurance Group Board responsible a.o. for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

With Wiener Osiguranje, based in Banja Luka, VIG has had a presence in Republika Srpska, the Serbian area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, since 2011. Wiener Osiguranje generated gross written premiums of around EUR 16 million in 2016, and has a market share of about 5%. VIG improves its market rank to number three in Bosnia and Herzegovina, up from seventh position.