News

30% minus one share of iNTOUCH will be held by the EBRD

In the six months ended 30 June 2008, premium written by Link4 amounted to PLN 127.2m, which was nearly 19 per cent more than in the corresponding period of 2007. The number of new insurance contracts was growing steadily. Their number was 41 per cent higher than in the first half of 2007.

As of 1 November 2008, the position of CEO of DIRECT Pojišťovna will be held by Ján Čarný (49). He will replace the existing CEO, Zdenka Pelikánová, who will keep working for the interational group Intouch Insurance Group B.V. (the sole shareholder of DIRECT Pojišťovna) as a consultant. Ján Čarný is coming from MasterCard Europe, where he has been holding the office of CEO in charge of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Ukraine.

In recent weeks there has been a great deal of discussion on the Internet regarding the untraditional information campaign by DIRECT Pojišťovna, which, in an original form, is trying to draw attention to the alarming number of thefts of private cars and to demonstrate how easy it is to steal a car today. The videos showing vehicles being stolen with the use of curious tools have been appreciated not only by Czech Internet users, but also at the “Red Apple 2008” international advertising festival that has just finished in Moscow.

The DIRECT Pojišťovna insurance company is using a novel type of awareness campaign to attract the public's attention to the problem.

On 1 September 2008, Daniel Krištof (29) became the HR Director at DIRECT Pojišťovna. He comes to us from the Deloitte Company, where he worked in a number of managerial positions, most recently directing the Human Capital Advisory Services Division for the Czech and Slovak Republics. In his new position, Daniel Krištof will be responsible for directing the HR processes of DIRECT Pojišťovna.

Samara, September 8, 2008 – In August INTOUCH INSURANCE carried out an opinion poll among 200 car owners in Samara and the Samara region.

DIRECT Pojišťovna is introducing a new product that offers motorists significant savings on their insurance. “My Fleet” product brings around discounts for natural persons and self-employed who insure more than one vehicle with DIRECT Pojišťovna. When insuring the second vehicle, DIRECT Pojišťovna customers automatically obtain a 15% discount from the Motor Third Party Liability premium. When insuring each subsequent vehicle this discount to MTPL rises to a whole 20%. A maximum of five vehicles can be insured using the My Fleet product.

Link4, as the only direct insurer on the Polish market, successfully implements ISO 9001:2001 quality management system in the area of claims settlement. The certifying institution has confirmed that Link4 complies with the requirements which have to be met in order to use the certificate and has renewed the certificate for another year.

As of 1 August 2008, the management of DIRECT Pojišťovna was strengthened with the addition of Hana Kovářová, director of the newly created Business Development Department. In her new position, the previous Senior Product Manager at DIRECT Pojišťovna will be responsible for product development and analysis, administration of the product portfolio, production methodology and for the strategy and development of additional sales channels.

The 3rd International Rally of American Cars "USA Show 2008" begins this weekend in Świeradów Zdrój (Lower Silesia). The program includes, among other things: celebratory parade of the participants, competition for the loudest American engine and safety road kindergarden Autochodzik Link4.

With this innovation, it takes only ten minutes to obtain insurance policy

In the first quarter of 2008, written premiums amounted to PLN 59.2 million and were by nearly 20% higher than in Q1 2007. The customer base of the Company grows continuously – in the first quarter by 24% as compared with the previous quarter. In connection with legislative changes that have increased the risk of higher indemnities, the Company decided to take a more conservative approach to estimating technical reserves as soon as in the first quarter of 2008. This was the key reason behind a negative technical result of the Company after the first quarter, despite an excellent sales result.

Motorists can now arrange CASCO insurance from DIRECT Pojišťovna not only over the telephone, but also over the internet. DIRECT Pojišťovna is continuing with the expansion of one of its sales channels that it sees as fundamental for the future.

The summer months provide an opportunity for many drivers to get away from the traditional ‘home – work – shopping centre’ triangle that they know practically by heart, and to give their car the pleasure of a longer trip to a holiday destination in their own country or abroad. However, holiday travelling may contain many hazards, the existence of which drivers usually do not think about or allow for. And this is why DIRECT Pojišťovna now offers the “PROFI ASIST na léto” assistance service (PROFI ASIST for Summer).

On June 16, 2008, Link4 officially opened a new call centre in Katowice. This is the next stage of dynamic development of the Company, which was the first insurer in Poland that only 5 years ago offered its insurance products by telephone and on the Internet, without agents as intermediaries. To serve the still growing customer base and to keep top quality and security standards in customer service, the Company had to upgrade its technical infrastructure by adding new telephone lines, servers and other equipment that is required to serve growing telephone and Internet traffic. When opening the new call centre in Katowice, Link4 also launched a local telephone number - 32 444 44 44 – and a customer service outlet dedicated to the inhabitants of the Upper Silesian conurbation.

New motor insurance concept proven effective in Europe to be introduced in Saint-Petersburg

Roman Wojdyla began working as the Financial Director of DIRECT Pojišťovna on 12 May 2008. He comes from the Spanish branch of GE Money, where he worked as Financial Director and as a member of the board of directors. In his new position, he will be responsible for the comprehensive financial management of the company and in the future he will also become a member of DIRECT Pojišťovna’s board of directors. Roman Wojdyla has many years of experience in the financial sector. In the past, he worked in a variety of managerial positions at the Czech branch of GE Money Bank.

It is exactly one year since DIRECT Pojišťovna, the first and still only insurer in the Czech Republic to offer its products exclusively by direct selling channels, i.e. over the Internet and by telephone, entered the Czech market. Over this short period, the insurer attracted more than 23.000 motorists. This result clearly confirms the assumption that direct selling channels will play an ever important role in the Czech insurance market, copying the trends in West Europe.

Link4, as the first insurer in the direct segment in Poland, is launching extended third party insurance for motorbikes. This product is targeted at persons of full legal age who have a motorbike driving license. In addition to a standard third party insurance, customers who will sign an agreement with Link4 will receive, free of charge, a 24/7Assistance Program and a 24/7 Legal Assistance option.

DIRECT Pojišťovna, a.s. is expanding is product portfolio. In addition to vehicle insurance it is now also offering Motor Third Party Liability and CASCO for motorcycles. DIRECT Pojišťovna has thus now joined a select, small group of insurers on the Czech market offering a specialised motorcycle insurance product.

Amsterdam, 7 April 2008, INTOUCH Insurance Group B.V. ("INTOUCH Group") announced today the launch of its direct insurance operation in Russia. The activity will be performed via OJSC INTOUCH INSURANCE ("INTOUCH Russia"), a fully owned subsidiary of the group.

New motor insurance concept proven effective in Europe to be introduced in Russia

Link4 closed 2007 with gross written premiums totalling PLN 225.3 million, as compared with PLN 176.7 million in 2006, i.e. gross written premiums increased by 27.5%.

DIRECT Pojišťovna, a.s., which entered the Czech market in mid-May 2007, had a total of 10,112 underwritten policies as of 31/12/2007. Today this number already stands at over 17,000. The value of GWP for 2007 was CZK 26,456,354 (according to Czech Accounting Standards). DIRECT Pojišťovna has thus confirmed that the direct insurance sales model can also look forward to a successful future in the Czech Republic.

Drivers continue to pay the price for the catastrophic state of the roads in the Czech Republic. The road accident statistics published every year by the Czech Police show that last year a total of 468 accidents demonstrably caused by the poor state of the roads were investigated. This is the sixth most common cause of accidents on our roads. In reality, however, potholes are responsible for a much greater number of accidents, yet the blame is often put on drivers for not driving according to the condition of the road.

The senior management of Direct Pojišt'ovna was recently strengthened by the addition of chief commercial officer Klaudia Tóthóva. Ms. Tóthóva, who will also serve as a board member for the company, brings with her extensive experience in the field of marketing, and will be responsible for the comprehensive management of commercial and marking activities, and product development.

From January 4, 2008, Direct Pojišt'ovna has raised its settlement limits for Motor Third Party Liability, offering clients better coverage for damage to property and to their health.