Aviva is the largest insurance services provider in the UK and the fifth largest insurance group in the world. Aviva is one of the leading providers of life and pension products in Europe and operates in 28 countries across the globe.
Aviva plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The company was first listed on New York Stock Exchange in October 2009.
Aviva's history can be traced back to the formation of the Norwich Union by Thomas Bignold in 1797 and the Commercial Union in 1861.
Aviva was created in 2000 by the merger of Norwich Union and CGU plc in 2000, adopting the Aviva name in July 2002.
In March 2005 Aviva plc acquired the RAC plc breakdown recovery company and in July 2006, its presence was significantly increased in the US after it acquired AmerUs Group, a financial services company founded in 1896.
Until June 2009, Aviva continued to trade using the Norwich Union name in the UK. The launch of the new Aviva name was backed by a strong advertising campaign to promote the change. The campaign cost £9 million, marking one of the most expensive ever in the UK insurance field.
Aviva
