Aviva facts for kids
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Formerly
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| Public | |
| Traded as | LSE: AV. FTSE 100 Component |
| Industry | Insurance |
| Predecessor |
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| Founded | 1696 as Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society. 2000 as Aviva plc (by merger). |
| Headquarters | London, England, UK |
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Key people
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| Services | |
| Revenue |  £20.747 billion (2024) |
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Operating income
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 £1.758 billion (2024) |
| £0.705 billion (2024) |
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| Total assets | £353.883 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | £8.621 billion (2024) |
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Number of employees
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23,000 (2023) |
| Subsidiaries | Aviva Canada Aviva Direct Aviva Health Aviva Investors Direct Line Group |
Aviva plc is a large British company that helps people and businesses protect themselves from unexpected events. It is a multinational insurance company. Aviva has its main office in London, England. It serves about 19 million customers in places like the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada. In the UK, Aviva is the biggest company for general insurance. It is also a top provider of life insurance and pensions. In Canada, Aviva is the second largest general insurer. Aviva's shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange. It is also part of the FTSE 100 Index, which lists the 100 largest companies on that stock exchange.
Contents
What's in a Name?
When the company first formed in May 2000, its name was CGNU plc. This name came from the merger of two insurance companies: Norwich Union and CGU. In April 2002, the company's owners decided to change the name to Aviva plc.
Why the Name Aviva?
The name "Aviva" was made up. It comes from the Latin word "viva," which means 'alive'. The company wanted a name that was short, easy to remember, and would work well all over the world. The new company logo included a triangle shape. This shape was inspired by the spire of Norwich Cathedral. For a while, the Norwich Union brand was still used for some parts of the business in the UK.
Changing to Aviva Worldwide
In April 2008, Aviva announced that it would use the Aviva name for all its customer-facing brands around the world. This meant that the Norwich Union brand would slowly be replaced in the United Kingdom.
Aviva's Journey Through Time
Aviva's history goes back a very long way. Its roots can be traced to the Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society. This society was started in London in 1696.
How Aviva Was Formed
Aviva itself was created in February 2000. This happened when two British insurance companies, Norwich Union and CGU plc, merged. CGU plc was also formed from a merger in 1998 between Commercial Union and General Accident. The name Aviva was officially adopted in July 2002. After this, most of the company's businesses started using the "Aviva" brand.
Important Purchases and Sales
- In 2002, Aviva bought Abeille Vie, a life insurance company in France.
- In March 2005, Aviva bought the RAC plc breakdown recovery service for about £1.1 billion.
- In July 2006, Aviva grew a lot in the United States. It bought AmerUs Group, a financial services company, for $2.9 billion (£1.6 billion).
- In September 2011, Aviva sold the RAC plc breakdown recovery service for £1.0 billion.
- In December 2012, Aviva sold its US business, Aviva USA Corporation, for US$1.8 billion (£1.1 billion). This was part of a plan to make the company stronger.
- On April 13, 2015, Aviva completed a big takeover of Friends Life Group for £5.6 billion.
- In September 2017, Aviva agreed to sell its Italian joint venture, Avipop Assicurazioni, for US$312.01 million (€265 million).
- In November 2020, Aviva sold its shares in its Indonesian company, Astra Aviva Life, and its Hong Kong division.
- In 2021, Aviva sold its French operations. It also sold businesses in Italy and Poland in December 2021.
- In September 2023, Aviva bought the life insurance company AIG Life Limited for £460 million.
- In November 2023, Aviva bought Optiom, a Canadian vehicle insurance business, for £100 million (US$126 million).
- In December 2024, Aviva agreed to buy Direct Line Group for £3.7 billion. This deal was completed on July 1, 2025.
How Aviva Works
Aviva's main work involves providing general and life insurance. It also offers long-term savings products and manages money for people. The company has about 23,000 employees. It serves 19 million customers around the world. Aviva Investors, a part of Aviva, manages £227 billion in assets.
Main Companies Under Aviva
- United Kingdom
- Insurance, Wealth & Retirement
- Aviva Insurance – General Insurance (including the Quotemehappy brand)
- Aviva Investors – Manages funds
- Canada – Aviva Canada
- China – Aviva-Cofco
- India – Aviva India
- Ireland
- Aviva Direct
- Aviva Health
Friends Provident International Limited is also part of the Aviva Group.
Aviva in Vietnam
Aviva started its life insurance business in Vietnam in July 2011. It was first known as Vietinbank Aviva Life Insurance Company Limited. In April 2017, Aviva Group bought the remaining shares of this company from VietinBank. On July 17, 2017, the company was officially renamed Aviva Vietnam Life Insurance Company Limited, or Aviva Vietnam for short.
See also
In Spanish: Aviva plc para niños
