News

France: Leading the way in sustainable development, Aviva France welcomes Chief Raoni

17 May, 2010

Aviva France, a major player in life insurance and long-term savings, asset management and non-life insurance, will welcome Chief Raoni of the Kayapo Indians of Brazilian Amazonia to its headquarters in Bois-Colombes on 17 May. A signing session of his book Memories of an Indian Chief, published by Editions du Rocher, will also be organised for Aviva France employees.

"We're very honoured to receive Chief Raoni, a figure who symbolises the defence of the Amazon forest," said Jean-Pierre Menanteau, CEO of Aviva France. "Helping Chief Raoni with his work is fully in keeping with our sustainable development and corporate social responsibility strategy."

Sustainable development has been at the heart of Aviva's strategy for more than a decade. In 2007, the Aviva Group was the first insurer in the world to neutralise the CO2 emissions of all its operations by investing in carbon offsetting projects, mainly in developing countries.

Aviva France has developed a sustainable development strategy that focuses on three main areas.

Sustainable development
The aim here is to achieve sustainable financial performance through responsible commercial practices and products. One example of this is the recent launch, in partnership with GE Money Bank, of an offer that, until 30 June 2010, allows its clients to finance the purchase of a vehicle with a loan whose rate is set depending on the amount of CO2 the vehicle emits, for any personal car loan taken out in conjunction with Aviva motor insurance.

The environment
To help fight global warming and protect the environment, Aviva France's HQ building in Bois-Colombes was built according to High Environmental Performance standards and fulfils the most exacting environmental criteria. Aviva France has also launched the "Carpe Diem Tower" construction project in Paris' La Défense district, setting itself the ambitious challenge of obtaining both High Environmental Quality (HQE) and Leed Gold certification.

Corporate social responsibility
Aviva implements various actions designed to build a lasting relationship with all its stakeholders, by:

• Encouraging its service providers to respect the group's values of social and environmental responsibility;
• Implementing a responsible human resources policy that promotes recognition of its employees' talents and favours diversity;
• Strengthening its relationship with society through the Aviva Foundation, which backs humanitarian, solidarity and prevention projects to support children and the elderly.

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Press contacts:
Dominique Eluau (Aviva) 
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 6719 
E-mail: dominique_eluau@aviva.fr

Valérie Dudoit (HDL Communication)
Telephone: +33 (0)1 5865 2016 
E-mail: vdudoit@hdlcom.com

Notes to editors:

About Aviva
Aviva is the world’s fifth-largest insurance group*, with more than 53 million customers across Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. Aviva’s principal business activities are: life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance.

At 31 December 2009, Aviva had turnover of €51.3 billion, with €426 billion of assets under management. Aviva is the largest insurer in the UK and one of the main providers of life insurance and pension products in Europe. The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images and all the press releases and product information for the Aviva Group. Videos are available at www.aviva.com/media/video/. You can follow Aviva on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/avivaplc.

With more than 180 years’ experience in France, Aviva is among the top ten players in the insurance market. Aviva France operates a balanced multi-distribution model based on a comprehensive range of products, mainly intended for individuals and SMEs.

Some 900 general agents, 1,800 branch staff, 400 life insurance advisers, almost 900 wealth management advisers (Union Financière de France) and more than 1,000 active partner brokers are at the service of three million clients every day. Aviva has developed unique expertise in building effective partnerships for the benefit of its clients, particularly with AFER, the largest savings association in France, and the Crédit du Nord, Société Générale and Ford groups.

Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is recognised for the excellent performance of its long-term funds, the quality and innovation of its products, and solid commitment to customers through its Good Advice approach.

Aviva France is a socially responsible company and has developed initiatives that include reducing and neutralising its CO2 emissions, backing more than 250 projects to support children and the elderly through the Aviva Foundation, and implementing an acclaimed diversity policy.

The Aviva Group directly employs more than 4,700 staff in France.

As at 31 December 2009, Aviva France reported consolidated sales of €6.7 billion and an IFRS-based net profit of €390 million. The company had €77.4 billion of assets under management as at 31 December 2009.

* Based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2008.