4/23/2008

Allianz pays $600 mln for majority stakes in two Turkish insurers

Reuters - German insurer Allianz SE is paying nearly $600 million to raise its stake in two Turkish insurers to a majority, bolstering its position in Türkiye's fast-growing and under-insured market. Allianz and Turkish conglomerate Koc Holding said on Monday they had signed an agreement allowing Allianz to raise its stake in Koc Allianz Sigorta AS to 84.2 percent from 37.1 percent. Allianz is paying 248 million euros ($393.5 million) for the 47.1 percent stake in Koc Allianz Sigorta, Türkiye's third-biggest non-life insurer, with a market share of around 9 percent. In addition, Allianz is paying 125.2 million euros to raise its stake in life insurer Koch Allianz Hayat ve Emeklilik to 87 percent from 38 percent. The life insurer has a 5 percent market share, making it the country's ninth-biggest. "The agreement strengthens our long-term commitment to the Turkish market, where we see a high potential for future growth," said Allianz board member Enrico Cucchiani in a statement.
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