Corporate History 1991 - 1995
| previous 1981 - 1990 |
| 1991 |
Swiss Re acquires a majority stake in the ELVIA Swiss Insurance Company, Zurich. Following a restructuring of domestic insurance the Swiss insurance business of SCHWEIZ Allgemeine Versicherungs AG in Adliswil is transferred to ELVIA. |
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Ötzi the Iceman is found in the Ötzal Alps in September 1991. The Iceman died approximately 5200 years ago. He became a mummy accidentally (and almost immediately) by the freezing weather conditions which turned him into the Iceman. No longer is the Late Stone Age just excavations and artifacts. |
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| 1992 |
The '1992 strategic orientation' statement declares Swiss Re to be a comprehensive global insurance corporation operating mainly in the reinsurance and direct insurance sectors, complemented by activities in the related areas of risk management and claims handling. Swiss Re's strategic management organisation and personnel are separated from headquarters in Zurich from 1 January 1993. |
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In 1992 Swiss-Baltic Reinsurance Advisers, a Swiss Re outpost in Tallinn, Estonia, starts business. This is Swiss Re's first move into the Baltic States after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Up until then these countries had been regarded as 'terra incognita'. |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors Walter Diehl is succeeded by Ulrich Bremi as per 20 November 1992. |
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| 1993 |
For the first time in the history of the headquarters an enormous staff increase necessitates geographical separation of certain units. Swiss Re moves into new office premises in Sood-Quartier in Adliswil due to lack of building space in Zurich. |
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The fourteenth-century covered Kapellbrücke, the oldest road bridge in Europe, the symbol of Lucerne caught fire in the early hours of 18 August 1993. In one of the most dramatic spectacles in the city’s recent history, the flames rapidly spread to engulf the whole structure. The entire bridge is destroyed. The authorities rapidly set about reconstruction, and an identical replacement is completed nine months later. |
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| 1994 |
As part of a strategic reorganisation Swiss Re decides to concentrate more exclusively on reinsurance, the prospects of which are judged to be more favourable than direct insurance business. |
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From 1994 onwards, Swiss Re goes ahead with selling its majority holdings in direct insurance companies. The Holdings Vereinte and Magdeburger, in Lloyd Adriatico, Triest and the ELVIA Group are transferred to the Allianz Group on 1 January 1995. |
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The Winterthur Group takes over SCHWEIZ Seguros, Barcelona and SCHWEIZ Italia as well as ELVIA's majority stake in the LA EQUITATIVA Group. |
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The USD 15 billion Channel Tunnel makes the old dream of a ground link between Great Britain and continental Europe a reality for the first time since the Ice Ages. The official opening by Queen Elizabeth II and the French President, François Mitterrand takes place on 6 May 1994. |
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| 1995 |
Swiss Re signs the 'Statement of Environmental Commitment by the Insurance Industry' in 1995 in the context of the UN's Environmental Programme (UNEP). Swiss Re's seminars and conferences, publications, its establishment of a Climate and Environment Steering Committee and its energy and environment mission statement combine to make it a leader in the field of sustainability. |
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The Great Hanshin earthquake in Kobe on 17 January 1995 constituted the greatest disaster in 1995. The earthquake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, devastated whole neighbourhoods and caused major damage to infrastructure, particularly harbour facilities. Six thousand people were killed, 30,000 injured and 300,000 rendered homeless. Total damage was estimated at USD 147 billion, of which only USD 4.1 billion was insured. |
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Swiss Re acquires the Alhermij Group, Amstelveen. Swiss Re pursues a strategy in which Life and Health insurance are to be developed as key pillars. |
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From 1 April 1995 Swiss Re embarks on a process to reinforce the integration of its group companies. Foreign nationals are admitted to the Swiss Re Executive Board as part of this process. At the same time the company's various areas of responsibility are reorganised in line with client and market requirements. |
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In 1995 Swiss Re launches its new corporate design (Corporate Identity) world-wide. All Group Companies, with the exception of Union Re and Bayerische Rück, now carry the new logo. The 'Animated Logo' campaign launched in 1996 publicises the company's new visual identity. |
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Swiss Re Group launches itself on the World Wide Web in 1995 by installing its own Internet server. Information about the structure of Swiss Re, its employees, the key facts about the company, press releases and publications are accessible via the web address www.swissre.com. |
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The economic and technical analyses of insurance data published under the name sigma since 1968, enjoy an exceptional reputation in the insurance world and amongst specialists in the industry. In 1995 and 1997 the renowned professional journal 'The Review' awards this economic research series the title of 'Analyst/Researcher of the Year'. |
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| previous 1981 - 1990 |
