SA Eagle has been a member of the Zurich Group (Zurich) since 1997. As an established player in the short term insurance industry in South Africa, our success is founded on strong, long-term relationships with our customers and brokers, and a focus on providing service excellence. These attributes are also reflected in Zurich’s Brand Promise to help customers better prepare for what might happen in a constantly changing world.
Today, we are pleased to inform you that our Board of Directors has decided to re-brand our company from SA Eagle to Zurich, effective in 2007, pending regulatory approvals.
While we know that many of you will share the feeling that this step means parting with something very dear and familiar in the SA Eagle brand, we are certain that you will also share the excitement of moving to a new phase in our company history.
Zurich is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland the Group employs approximately 55,000 people serving customers in more than 120 countries. As a strong global brand with more than 130 years of history, Zurich stands for a consistent, positive customer experience across all geographic locations in which it has a presence.
Zurich’s strategic aspiration is to be the leading insurer in its chosen markets. South Africa is clearly one of these markets where we are looking to achieve further sustainable and profitable growth, as well as providing interesting new opportunities for our partners and employees. With the new Zurich brand our customers and brokers will benefit from the capabilities of an international network, while the trusted relationships they have established with SA Eagle will remain. The outstanding service you expect will continue and our capabilities will expand. In summary, you will be getting the best of both worlds.
To facilitate a smooth and seamless brand migration a joint Zurich/SA Eagle Project structure has been set up. The project will commence in December and we expect to make a public announcement during the second half of 2007, depending on regulatory and implementation timeframes. Please note that due to the nature of the project we will not be communicating specific project details, preferring to maintain an element of surprise when presenting a fresh, new image to the market.
We assure you, as always, of our commitment to add value to your business through a continued focus on superior service levels and operational excellence and hope that we can count on your support as we navigate the exciting changes ahead.
