Aviva France and Predica have signed a real estate partnership agreement for the construction of the Carpe Diem tower in Paris’ La Défense district.
Aviva France, a branch of the Aviva group, and Predica, a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole Assurances, have signed a real estate partnership agreement for the construction of the Carpe Diem tower in Paris’ La Défense district.
The Carpe Diem tower will be the first high-rise building in France to have both HQE and LEED GOLD environmental certification. An innovative architectural identity combined with supple, elegant functionality, will set the tower apart.
Aviva France and its subsidiary Aviva Investors Real Estate France have been working on the Carpe Diem project for three years, within the framework of the La Défense Renewal Plan launched by EPAD (Public Establishment for the Development of La Défense) in 2006.
This investment will be made through a non-trading real estate company in which Aviva France and Predica have equal holdings.
The Carpe Diem project has been granted definitive planning permission. Construction work will begin in February 2010, with completion scheduled for late 2012.
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Press contacts:
Aviva
Karim Mokrane
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 7685
E-mail: karim_mokrane@aviva.fr
Estelle Joubert
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 5786
E-mail: estelle_joubert@aviva.fr
Crédit Agricole Assurances
Brigitte Cachon
Telephone: +33 (0)1 5772 3125
Elise Bouteiller
Telephone: +33 (0)1 4323 8071
E-mail: service.presse@ca-assurances.fr
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
Aviva is the world’s fifth-largest insurance group*, with 50 million customers throughout 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 2008, Aviva had total turnover of €64 billion, with €393 billion of assets under management. Aviva is the largest insurer in the UK and one of the leading providers of life insurance and pension products in Europe. A selection of images and all the press releases from the Aviva Group are available in the press area www.aviva.com/media.
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, supporting more than 250 projects to help 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. At 31 December 2008, Aviva France reported consolidated sales of €6.0 billion and an IFRS-based net profit of €130 million. The company had €69.6 billion of assets under management at 31 December 2008.
* Based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2008.
About Crédit Agricole Assurances
Insurance is now the second largest business area of the Crédit Agricole Group, France’s number one bancassurer and number two insurer in terms of premium revenue. By pooling all insurance-related activities, Crédit Agricole has enhanced its bancassurance model and improved the visibility of these business lines.
Crédit Agricole Assurances encompasses life insurer Predica, non-life insurer Pacifica, Crédit Agricole Creditor Insurance (CACI) and the international subsidiaries, since January 2009, and Crédit Agricole Assurances Gestion, Informatique et Services (Caagis), since 1 January 2010.
Crédit Agricole Assurances in figures (France and international, life insurance, non-life and borrower insurance) (at 31 December 2008):
- Turnover of €22 billion
- Underwriting reserves of €192 billion
- Net profit (Group share) of €822 million
- 2,500 employees.