21st century, present and future

In 2001, the Catalana Occidente Group successfully completed the takeover of Lepanto, S.A. Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros, securing 99.33% of the shares held by Nortehispana, a subsidiary of Lepanto S.A. This provided the company with an opportunity to operate in a highly profitable segment of the industry, funeral death insurance, through a specialist.

That same year, Seguros Catalana Occident was created following the integration of MNA and Catalana Occidente.

On November 2003, the Group reached an agreement for the acquisition to Fortis of the company Seguros Bilbao, an agreement that was finally signed in February 2004 with a total cost of € 254.6 million. Seguros Bilbao legal structure will be kept as it is and the company's brand will not disappear. The company operates in all lines of the insurance business and is firmly established throughout the country.

On February 2005 the Group acquired 45% of the health company Cosalud from the Austrian insurance group Uniqa, increasing its Cosalud ownership to 100%. This is definitely a strong bet for the health insurance line and specially for the 'expenses refund' insurance, that has achieved great success in the Spanish insurance market.

In June 2005, the Group acquires an additional 7% of its shares in Atradius (world leader in credit insurance), reaching a total ownership of this company of 12.96%, and together with Crédito y Caución its ownership goes up to 24.98%. In December 2005, the Group increases again its share in Atradius up to 25.02%.

In May 2006, the Group together with Crédito y Caución finally excercises its share acquisition option of 25.02% of Atradius, reaching a total common stake of 49.99% in this company.

In June 2006, the takeover of the subsidiary Lepanto by Seguros Catalana Occidente is approved. On the other hand, the Group splits its shares to 5 new per each old one, reducing par value per share from 1.5 euros to 0.3 euros, therefore reaching 120 million shares, without altering its share capital.

In July 2006, the Group becomes Crédito y Caución's first shareholder, with a 43.18% stake in this company's capital. In September, Crédito y Caución and Atradius announce their merger negotiations.

In February 2008, the Group increases its share in Atradius to 45.18% through its 70.34% share in Grupo Crédito y Caución, who at the same time owns 64.2% of Atradius NV.