About the Zurich Group
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Zurich Financial Services Group 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, Southern Africa and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. Zurich is a company with vision. Since inception we have consistently looked both forward and outward, aiming to become the leading global insurance group within our chosen general and life insurance markets. This has borne fruit and resulted in a growing presence on a global scale. We are currently the second largest insurance group in global corporate business and the fourth largest global property and casualty insurer. |
| This expansion has highlighted our strengths. Our progress is built on our people; on the importance we place on individual relationships and on our ability to understand and manage change. We offer a well-balanced portfolio of insurance businesses, all strengthened with local expertise backed by the muscle of an international network. This provides the platform on which to develop innovative products and solutions for a changing world. | |
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| A Global Approach The combination of our international expertise and local knowledge enables us to provide services on many fronts. We offer a comprehensive range of general and life insurance products and services for individuals, small businesses, commercial enterprises, mid-sized and large corporations and multinational companies. Our Global Claims capability provides central co-ordination for thousands of claims specialists worldwide. This ensures consistent technical and operational standards. This global network fosters long-term relationships built on in-depth customer knowledge, skilled underwriters, a strong team of claims specialists and expert cash management to handle premiums and claims payments across multinational programmes. Global Corporate offers risk management services to large corporations and multinational companies, including risk transfer and risk finance solutions. Zurich’s broad understanding of today’s interdependent global risk environment and the trends that influence it put us in a strong position to provide total risk management strategies. This is one of the reasons why most of Fortune’s Global 100 companies select us as their insurer. |
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Customer Excellence This is at the heart of Zurich. By focusing our commitment, drive and initiative to anticipate and meet customer needs we develop strong customer relationships. Central to customer rapport is our active search for opportunities to innovate and so develop thought leadership at all times. For our corporate and commercial customers we maintain contact via customer councils and advisory boards, workshops and risk management conferences. Numerous boards also encourage the development of fresh insights and knowledge-sharing to promote better understanding. For our personal customers, our network of agents and distributors provide constant contact. A network of partnerships and alliances helps increase the range of products and services we offer. The offering is complemented by brokers and intermediaries. |
Our Natural Catastrophe Advisory Board consisting of external experts in climatology, geology and related sciences advises our underwriters on forces affecting our exposure. |
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| Product Excellence Our experience has shown that personal customers want an insurer who thinks ahead and creates products that reflect current trends and situations. On the other hand, commercial customers find themselves in an increasingly complex world, particularly in the areas of legislation, regulation and litigation. By creating products fully attuned to various needs we strive to manage change. Our corporate customers enjoy consulting and insurance services that help them reduce enterprise risk. We provide technical expertise and value-added services, including risk engineering, claims management and local policy assurance. As a global organisation backed by 136 years of experience, we enjoy a comprehensive perspective on our complex environment. This, when combined with specific local knowledge of particular markets and risk insights, prepares us to offer relevant products and services. Our timing is often impeccable as innovation frequently occurs just as our customers are becoming aware of emerging challenges. Financial Strength Ratings A financial strength rating is a third-party assessment of an insurance company’s financial security, based on its ability to meet policyholder claims. As of June 19, 2007 Zurich has the following ratings: |
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| Rating agency | Financial strength rating |
Rating outlook |
| A.M. Best | A |
Stable |
| Fitch Ratings | A+ |
Stable |
| Moody’s | A1 |
Stable |
| Standard & Poor’s | AA- |
Stable |
