2. Royal & SunAlliance Group

Gross written premiums less treaty (2000): £4,211.2m

Includes gross written premiums less treaty for:
Royal and SunAlliance Insurance £4,189.3m
British Aviation Insurance £21.8m

Royal & SunAlliance Insurance

Gross written premiums less treaty (2000): £4,189.3m
Year established: 1996, with origins dating back to 1710
Address: Leadenhall Court, 1 Leadenhall Street, London EC3V 1PP
Tel: 020 7283 9000
Website: www.royalsunalliance.co.uk

History: The history of Royal & SunAlliance is the story of how insurance began and has prospered. The Sun was established in 1710 and is the oldest insurance company in existence still trading under its original name.

The Alliance was founded in 1824, the Royal in 1845.
The group's UK organisation has evolved since the early incorporation of the Westminster Fire Office (est. 1717), the London (est. 1720) and the Phoenix (est. 1782). Its international presence began in the 18th century, with ventures in mainland Europe.

A presence in the US and Canadian markets and in South America, Australia and Africa was established in the 19th century. It also operated in India and China from 1852 until nationalisation and was the first UK general insurance company to return to both markets, re-opening in China in 1998 and in India in 2000.

Royal & SunAlliance was created in 1996 with the merger of two of Britain's largest insurance companies, Royal Insurance and Sun Alliance.

Chief officer: Paul Spencer, UK chief executive
Biography: Spencer is an executive director of Royal & SunAlliance Group and, as UK chief executive (appointed October 1998), is responsible for the group's UK operations. He joined Royal Insurance in 1986 as group finance director.
When in May 1996 Royal announced its merger with Sun Alliance, Spencer was appointed group finance and integration director of the merged company. He was formerly associate director at Hanson from September 1986 where he was responsible for funding and risk exposures.
Spencer is a past president of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (1996 to 1998) and has chaired various ACT committees.

UK branch offices: 30 UK locations
UK staff: 21,000
UK general insurance agents: 18,000
UK general insurance `club style' agents: 144 energy brokers
Direct arm: More Th>n
Main classes of general insurance business: Domestic motor and property, accident & health, legal expenses, pet, travel, creditor, commercial insurance - includes motor, property, engineering, marine and liability

Key general insurance personnel:
Steve Broughton, UK managing director, personal financial services
Duncan Boyle, UK managing director, commercial

British Aviation Insurance

Gross written premiums less treaty (2000): £21.8m
Address: Fitzwilliam House, 10 St Mary Axe,
London EC3A 8EQ
Tel: 020 7369 2244
Fax: 020 7369 2840
Website: www.gaum.co.uk

History: Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers Limited was formed on 1st January 2001 from the British Aviation Insurance Group (BAIG) and Associated Aviation Underwriters (AAU). Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers is the largest aerospace insurer in the world and has the financial strength and security of some of the world's largest insurance companies. Global's mandate is to write aerospace business on behalf of its members. In this respect Global works as a pool of insurance companies with each member of the pool assuming their share of the liability directly, thereby providing an excellent level of security and spread of risk under one roof.
Main classes of general insurance business: Aviation insurance

Notes: Globe Insurance Ltd consolidated into Royal & SunAlliance Insurance plc
SunAlliance & London Insurance plc consolidated into Royal & SunAlliance Insurance plc
Security Insurance Co (UK) excluded -- this company is in run-off