For Interpolis, 2002 was a difficult year. Due to
falling stock exchange rates, storm damage and
decreasing volumes in the life insurance busi
ness, gross profit declined to EUR 77 million. For
Interpolis, 2002 was also a year of integrating
the businesses acquired in 2001.
Transparent
Acquisition of BMG Group
People Work
All-in-One Policy
36 Rabobank Group Annual Report 2002
Insurance
Interpolis is continuing its development as an all-round insurance
company in order to strengthen its market position. It is expanding
its services in the market for brokers as well as in the field of
employment benefits for small and medium-sized businesses.
Interpolis stresses its transparency in its products and services, its
communication and its approach to both clients and intermedia
ries. With this transparency it aims to forge ahead together with the
customer. For example, in cases of damage this means that clients
do not need to fill out complicated forms and that their money is
transferred to their accounts quickly.
In order to strengthen its position in health and safety ('Arbo') services,
absenteeism management and reintegration, Interpolis acquired
the BMG Group in the year under review. BMG Group specialises as
a reintegration mediator for jobseekers, people drawing disability
benefits under the WAO and employees, including those suffering
from illness. BMG has a strong market position, particularly in the
agricultural sector, the building industry and the manufacturing
industry.
The Group entity People Work (occupational health and safety)
supports employers in the prevention of absenteeism owing to
illness and in the reintegration of employees suffering from illness.
The unit consists for the greater part of Commit Arbo and Relan
Arbo (operating together as Commit as from 1 January 2003).The
businesses and institutions that are clients of Commit employ a total
of over one million people. Commit is responding to the "Gatekeeper
improvement" Act (Wet verbetering poortwachter) that came into
force on 1 January 2002 with the aim of preventing employees from
ending up in the WAO. Via its Work resumption package, Commit
offers a comprehensive package to reintegrate employees as quickly
as possible and with minimal financial charges to employers.
Within the All-in-One Policy, clients can insure in a simple way
against losses in the categories traffic, home, third-party liability,
legal assistance and recreation.The premium discount increases in
line with the number of categories insured. In 2002 Interpolis added
the continuous holiday cancellation insurance to its All-in-One