About Us - Swiss Insurance Association

2009 | 10
About Us
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Nothing works without insurance
The insurance industry is of enormous
economic importance. The services provided
by insurers when loss events happen not only
save individuals from social distress and
companies from bankruptcy, but also help to
create added value. In addition, the insurance
industry is an important tax-payer, builds homes
and grants mortgage loans. It offers attractive
jobs and innovative education and training.
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Facts and Figures
The insurance industry is one of the mainstays of the Swiss financial centre and of the Swiss
economy as a whole. Life insurers represent an indispensable cornerstone of pension provision;
property and casualty insurers guarantee financial security in virtually all areas of our modern
society; while accident insurers optimally safeguard policyholders against the financial
con­sequences of an accident, settling 300 000 claims per year. The insurance industry is also
a major employer, generating incomes for 47 500 families. Swiss insurers generate almost
70% of their global premium volume of CHF 168.4 billion abroad – testimony to their high degree
of internationalisation.
Premium volume of Swiss private insurance companies 2007
Worldwide
Abroad
Switzerland
Abroad
Reinsurance
Reinsurance
Switzerland
Life insurance
Life insurance
Non-life insurance
Non-life insurance
43.6*
2.9*
28.6*
52.9
28.7
CHF 168.4 billion
21.3
43.3*
115.5*
CHF 115.5* billion
CHF 52.9 billion
Investments of Swiss private insurance companies in 2007
Reinsurance
Breakdown
Life
Nonlife
Life insurance
Fixed-interest securities
Non-life insurance
151.0
312.6
CHF 603.4 billion
Total
158.8
53.8
40.1
250.7
Investments, equity holdings
12.0
37.5
34.9
84.4
Land and buildings and mortgages
54.4
10.3
2.6
67.3
Shares and investment fund units
32.2
10.6
13.0
55.8
Deposits with ceding companies
0.4
3.9
35.9
40.2
11.3
3.3
7.4
22.0
Policy loans
4.5
5.0
13.7
23.2
Borrower’s note loans
17.1
11.1
0.2
28.4
Other
23.9
4.3
3.2
31.4
312.6
139.8
151.0
603.4
Fixed-term deposits, other investments
139.8
Re
Total in CHF billions
Sources: Federal Office of Private Insurance (*SIA estimates)
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1773
210
156 000
Life insurers are an essential pillar
in the secure accumulation of retirement
assets and in coverage against
the risks of death and disability in the
occupational pensions area.
young people are carrying out
apprenticeships.
billion Swiss francs in assets are under
management by life insurance
companies in the area of private and
occupational pension provision.
Swiss companies place their trust
in the occupational pension provision
provided by life insurers.
1.5
million insureds rely on them for their pensions.
70
per cent of all companies are
insured with a private accident
insurer.
129 227
employees worldwide
are employed by Swiss private
insurance companies.
1.5
million full-time employed individuals
are insured against accident with
Switzerland’s 24 private accident insurers
and ten accredited health insurers.
You can find a wealth of constantly updated data under
“Facts and Figures” at www.svv.ch.
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Mission statement
Our mission statement formulates the association’s principles and aims in an active
and forward-looking strategy designed to provide guidance and information to insurance
companies, supervisory authorities, associations and other organisations, as well as
to the general public. These binding principles are the basis on which we as an association
organise and conduct our activities and services.
Political stance
Prevention
We actively submit proposals for specific problems to By providing financial backing to loss prevention instiinfluence political opinion forming. These proposals tutions and initiating our own activities we contribute
are based on broadly supported positions developed to reducing bodily injury and property damage.
in collaboration with our members. In this way, we
aim to help shape needs-based parameters and to Training and further education
simplify and standardise the laws and regulations We ensure that there is a comprehensive range of
that make private insurance solutions possible. Spe- training opportunities and courses available in order
cifically, we act to ensure the inclusion and promotion to maintain and build on standards of expertise within
of private pension provision in legislation.
the industry. Our emphasis is on providing basic training for apprentices, field staff (certificates) and experts
Representation of interests on the national
(diplomas).
and international stage
We are a fair and reliable partner recognised by politi- Resources
cians, authorities, associations, the media and the ge­ The association’s activities are carried out via a comneral public. We play an active role in national and bination of voluntary bodies and a full-time head ofinternational political and private committees and or- fice. Enterprising and competent representatives of
ganisations. The regular exchange of views and infor- the member companies contribute their know-how,
mation, and if expedient the creation of alliances, with managerial and professional experience and decide
all our partners is important to us.
on relevant issues. Our head office acts as a centre of
competence and interface to ensure the smooth funcBuilding trust
tioning of the association. It maintains an early warnOur member companies ensure transparency and cus- ing system, launches activities and fosters contact
tomer friendliness by means of easily comprehensible and relations. The association’s representation to exinsurance conditions and professional advice. We high­ ternal parties is performed jointly by the voluntary
light the benefits which the insurance industry pro- bodies and the head office.
vides to society. In doing so, we foster confidence and Our association is financed by contributions from
trust in our sector.
our member companies.
Communications
Our communications are open, active, expedient, understandable and transparent. We work closely with
the communications offices of our member companies
to ensure that we speak with one voice on issues affecting our industry. We demonstrate our competence
through our self-confident approach both within the
association and externally.
Services
We support our members in those areas where it
makes sense to develop joint solutions. This allows
us to compile, on the basis of their know-how, technical principles such as statistics. Together we devise
joint solutions, eg on issues like insurance for natural
disasters and self-regulation.
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Our principles and our aims
The Swiss Insurance Association SIA is the umbrella organisation representing the private
insurance industry. Our members are small and large, national and international primary
insurers and reinsurers.
Our principles
Our aims
Our member companies follow the guiding
principles of the association:
We undertake efforts to maintain and promote a liberal
and socially acceptable market and competitive system.
To support free market entry and competition.
We are committed to an economically viable framework,
in particular with regard to private pension provision,
insurance supervision, insurance operations and
accounting standards.
To provide quality, reliability, transparency
and fair play in insurance.
To afford security based on professional underwriting and risk management.
To observe the Swiss Code of Best Practice and
the SIX Swiss Exchange’s disclosure requirements.
We promote trust and confidence in the insurance
industry by pursuing an active, integrated approach
to public relations.
We create value for our members by means of knowhow transfer, joint events and information activities.
To promote progressive employer practices.
We provide comprehensive, specially designed training
modules. We strive for loss prevention by adopting
various measures.
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The SIA is the representative of the private
insurance industry
The SIA comprises 74 insurance companies, some of which are members of the same group
of companies. The SIA’s members account for more than 95% of the premiums earned by private
insurers on the Swiss market.
Most of the member companies are legally classified
as public limited companies, but there are still some
traditional cooperatives to be found. The association
includes not only Swiss companies in the strict economic sense, but also foreign subsidiaries and branch
offices. They comprise specialised life and property & casualty insurers, reinsurers, along with insurers who
write both life and property & casualty business. At the
beginning of 2009, the SIA’s members employed in
the region of 49 000 staff in Switzerland. Approxima­
tely 9000 of these were field staff working as insurance advisers. The Swiss insurance multinationals em­
ployed an additional 80000 members of staff abroad.
board of directors committee. They formulate the association’s aims, approve its mission statement and
strategy and oversee the work of the head office.
Voluntary work plays a key role
Voluntary work plays a key role in the organisation of
the SIA. A substantial part of the work is performed
by the association’s bodies, in other words the four
committees and the permanent commissions. Our mem­
ber companies send their experts to sit on these bodies, thereby ensuring that the practitioner’s view and
the needs of the member companies are incorporated
directly into the association’s work. It is this active
commitment that makes possible a competent and
­efficient association for the benefit of the entire insurance industry.
A long tradition
The very first private insurance companies were foun­
ded way back in the 19th century. Many of these pioneering companies are still around today, such as Head office
Swiss Mobiliar (founded in 1826), Swiss Life (1857), The head office in Zurich is the association’s operaHelvetia (1858), Bâloise (1863), Swiss Re (1863), Zu- tional centre. Under the authority of the CEO, the Ma­
rich Insurance (1872) and AXA Winterthur (1875).
nagement Board is responsible for implementing the
The “Association of Licensed Swiss Insurance association’s decisions relating to management issues
Companies” was the forerunner to the SIA founded (Articles of Association, mission statement, planning,
by 21 insurance companies in 1900. It comprises to- budget). The head office units provide technical and
day 74 insurance companies.
administrative support to the voluntary bodies.
The private insurance industry has seen enormous
growth over the last 150 years, much of it in the period after the Second World War. The transformation
from an agrarian state via industrialisation to a modern information society, coupled in particular with a
The General Assembly elects the most important
strong rise in life expectancy, the increased capital inbodies.
tensity of production and an improvement in prosperity, also means that insurance needs have been conThe Executive Board formulates the association’s
stantly changing (accident insurance, marine insu­rance,
aims and strategy, and oversees the work
motor liability, life, financial loss, IT insurance, etc).
of the head office.
The structure of the SIA
Highly qualified employees from our member
The SIA was established as an association pursuant
companies sit on the four committees and over
to Article 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code. As laid out in the
40 commissions where they develop solutions
Articles of Association, the General Assembly is refor the benefit of the entire insurance industry.
sponsible for electing the most important bodies –
Chairman, Executive Board, Chairman of the Board
The association is organised into the four units
Committee – and passing resolutions pertaining to
Life Insurance, Non-Life Insurance, Economics and
the association’s annual accounts and budget. The
Legal Affairs and Communications.
Executive Board and the Board Committee exercise a
function similar to that of a board of directors and
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Members of the Swiss Insurance
Association
Contact and Internet addresses at www.svv.ch
(“About us”/SVV member companies)
As of 23 June 2009
A ACE Limited
ACE Versicherungen (Schweiz) AG
AIG Europe Versicherung
Alba Versicherung
Allianz Suisse Lebensversicherungsgesellschaft
Allianz Suisse Versicherungsgesellschaft
animalia sa
appenzeller Versicherungen
Aspecta Assurance International AG
Assista TCS SA
AXA Versicherungen AG
AXA Leben AG
B Basler Lebensversicherungsgesellschaft
Basler Versicherungsgesellschaft
C CAP Rechtsschutz Versicherungsgesellschaft
Cardif Versicherungen
CCAP Caisse cantonale d’assurance populaire
Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE
Coop Rechtsschutzversicherung
CSS Versicherung AG
D
E
F
G
I
Império SA
Infrassure Ltd
Innova Versicherungen AG
Inter Partner Assistance
N Nationale Suisse Leben
Nationale Suisse Versicherungen
Nouvelle Ré, Compagnie de Réassurances
O Orion Rechtsschutz Versicherungsgesellschaft
P PartnerRe Zurich Branch
PAX, Schweizerische Lebensversicherungsgesellschaft
Phenix, Compagnie d’assurances
Phenix, Compagnie d’assurances sur la vie
Protekta Rechtsschutz-Versicherung AG
R Rentes Genevoises
Retraites Populaires Vie
S Sanitas Krankenversicherung
Schweizer Hagel
SCOR Global Life Rückversicherung Schweiz AG
SCOR Switzerland AG
DAS Protection Juridique SA
Skandia Leben
Die Mobiliar Versicherungen
smile.direct
Die Mobiliar Vorsorge
Swiss Life
Swiss Re
emmental Versicherung
Sympany Versicherungen AG
Epona Société mutuelle d’assurance générale des animaux
Europäische Reiseversicherungs AG
T TSM Transportversicherung
Fortuna Rechtsschutzversicherung
U UBS Life AG
UNIQA Assurances SA
GAN Compagnie française d’Assurances
Generali Assurances Générales
V Vaudoise Générale, Compagnie d’Assurances
Generali Personenversicherungen
Vaudoise Vie, Compagnie d’Assurances
Genworth Versicherung
Versicherung der Schweizer Ärzte
Glacier Re
Groupe Mutuel Vie GMV SA
W Winterthur ARAG Rechtsschutzversicherung
Groupe Mutuel Assurances
H HDI-Gerling Industrie Versicherung AG
Helsana Unfall AG
Helsana Zusatzversicherungen AG
Helvetia Leben
Helvetia Versicherungen
X XL Insurance, Switzerland
Z Zenith Vie, Compagnie d’assurances sur la vie
Zürich Versicherungs-Gesellschaft
Zürich Lebensversicherungs-Gesellschaft
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Association bodies
Members of the Board
As of 23 June 2009
Erich Walser
SIA Chairman
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Helvetia Group
Martin Albers
Member of the Executive Board,
Head of Client Markets Europe, Swiss Re
Urs Berger
CEO, Die Mobiliar
Thomas Buberl
CEO, Zurich Switzerland
Philippe Egger
CEO, AXA Winterthur
Philippe Hebeisen
CEO, Vaudoise Insurance Group
Manfred Knof
CEO, Allianz Suisse
Hans Künzle
CEO, Nationale Suisse
Alfred Leu
Delegate to the Board of Directors and CEO,
Generali (Switzerland) Holding
Stefan Loacker
CEO, Helvetia Group
Manfred Manser
CEO, Helsana
Olav Noack
Member of the Corporate Executive Committee and Head of the Switzerland Division,
Bâloise
Bruno Pfister
Group CEO, Swiss Life
Georg Portmann
CEO, CSS Insurance
Pierre-Marcel Revaz
Chairman of the Board,
Groupe Mutuel
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Swiss Insurance Association SIA
C. F. Meyer-Strasse 14
P.O. Box 4288
CH-8022 Zurich
Tel.+41 44 208 28 28
Fax +41 44 208 28 00
[email protected]
www.svv.ch
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