Companies from the Commercial Union Poland group are changing their name to Aviva from 1 June 2009. From that day they will use the name Aviva Commercial Union in their marketing activity to underline the group's stability and continuity.
Companies from the Commercial Union Poland group are changing their name to Aviva from 1 June 2009. From that day they will use the name Aviva Commercial Union in their marketing activity to underline the group's stability and continuity.
The changeover to the Aviva brand in Poland was announced publicly a year ago and the concept and schedule for the change has since been developed. Company names will change from 1 June 2009, while the brand name Aviva Commercial Union, as well as a new logo, will be used in marketing activity. The Financial Supervision Authority has given its consent for the name change.
Commercial Union in Poland is part of the Aviva group - the fifth largest financial and insurance group in the world and the leader in the UK with a tradition of over 300 years of activity. The group, present in 28 countries on four continents, wants to exploit the potential of one strong brand to a greater extent. On 1 June, the Aviva brand will also be introduced in the United Kingdom, where it is replacing Norwich Union. In Ireland the group has been operating as Hibernian Aviva for several months now.
"We are introducing the parent company brand in Poland while still reflecting the achievements of Commercial Union to underline the stability and continuity of the company. We are convinced that the change will strengthen the company. We will be perceived as a large, stable, modern international group in which close to 50 million people have put their trust, including 3 million in Poland," says Maciej Jankowski, president of the Commercial Union Poland group.
"On 1 June we are starting an advertising campaign which will emphasise that the company known in Poland for 17 years as Commercial Union is now called Aviva Commercial Union. We will also show in an attractive way what benefits customers receive from our insurance and investment products. We hope that the campaign will draw attention and refresh our image," says Dominika Kraśko-Białek, marketing vice-president of CU Poland.
Contracts with customers will not change after the changes in company names and customers will not have to fulfil any formalities. "Not long ago we created a single customer service centre thanks to which people who are customers of several of companies - for example if they have life insurance and home contents insurance with us - can get answers to their questions from one consultant," says Maciej Jankowski.
The change in company names is not connected to any shareholder transactions. Commercial Union, as part of the Aviva group, is simply introducing the parent company brand name. The change also has nothing to do with the financial crisis - the decision to gradually introduce the Aviva brand in Poland was taken long before the crisis started. Customers in Poland have been becoming acquainted with the Aviva brand since 2007 when elements started to appear in the Commercial Union brand indicating affiliation with the Aviva group. Both the Aviva group and Commercial Union have a strong capital and financial position in Poland.
Commercial Union Poland group company names before and after the change
| Name up until 31 May 2009 | Name from 1 June 2009
|
| Commercial Union Polska - Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie SA (Commercial Union Poland - Life Insurance Company) | Aviva Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie SA (Aviva Life Insurance Company) |
| Commercial Union Polska - Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Ogólnych SA (Commercial Union Poland - General Insurance Company) | Aviva Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń Ogólnych SA (Aviva General Insurance Company) |
| Commercial Union Powszechne Towarzystwo Emerytalne BPH CU WBK SA (Commercial Union Pension Fund Company BPH CU WBK) | Aviva Powszechne Towarzystwo Emerytalne Aviva BZ WBK SA (Aviva Pension Fund Company BZ WBK) |
| Commercial Union Polska - Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych SA (Commercial Union Poland - Unit Trusts Company) | Aviva Investors Poland Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych SA (Aviva Investors Poland Unit Trusts Company) |
| Commercial Union Polska Sp z o o (spółka dystrybucyjna) (distribution company) | Aviva Sp z o o |
| BZ WBK-CU Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie SA (BZ WBK-CU Life Insurance Company) | BZ WBK-Aviva Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie SA (BZ WBK-Aviva Life Insurance Company) |
| BZ WBK-CU Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń SA (BZ WBK-CU Insurance Company) | BZ WBK-Aviva Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń SA (BZ WBK-Aviva Insurance Company) |
The asset management company, Aviva Investors Poland SA, has been operating under this name since September 2008.
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Information:
Bohdan Białorucki
press spokesman
Telephone: (22) 557 43 41
E-mail: bohdan_bialorucki@cu.com.pl
Grzegorz Mathea
Telephone: (22) 557 43 70
E-mail: grzegorz_mathea@cu.com.pl
Notes to editors:
The Commercial Union Poland group is part of the international Aviva group - the fifth insurance largest insurance institution in the world and the largest in the United Kingdom in terms of revenues. The Aviva group operates in 28 countries, serves 50 million customers and achieves annual revenues of £50 billion and has assets under management of £360 billion. Additional information: www.aviva.com/