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History of Aviva

Aviva was created following the merger of CGU and Norwich Union, which took effect on 30 May 2000. The group was called CGNU until rebranding as Aviva in July 2002.

However, the story of the Group dates back to the 18th Century, when Norwich Union was created.

The timeline below shows a brief summary of the Group history since 2000.

Apr  2008

All brands to rename to Aviva

Feb  2008

Aviva Investors, Aviva's global asset manager, is created

Jan  2008

Aviva enters the South Corean market

Jan  2008

Delta Lloyd agrees to acquire Swiss Life Belgium

Jan  2008

Aviva Acquires UBI Vita in Italy

Sep  2007

Aviva acquires Certinvest in Romania

Jul  2007

Andrew Moss takes up CEO role

Jun  2007

Aviva signs bancassurance deal in Spain

Apr  2007

Aviva signs joint venture agreement in Taiwan

Mar  2007

Delta Lloyd acquires Erasmus Groep

Jan  2007

Aviva extends lead in bancassurance in India

Retirement of group chief executive Richard Harvey announced

Nov  2006

Aviva completes acquisition of AmerUs in the US

Mar  2006

Aviva receives licence in Russia

Feb  2006

Aviva announces acquisition and bancassurance deal in Sri Lanka

Jan  2006

Aviva announces changes to group organisation to create Aviva UK and Aviva International

Aviva partners with Centurion Bank of Punjab in India

Nov  2005

Hibernian in bancassurance joint venture with AIB

Aug  2005

Aviva appoints new chairman

Mar  2005

Aviva to bring together Norwich Union Insurance and RAC for about £1.1 billion

Sep  2004

Aviva to sell its general insurance businesses in Asia

Aug  2004

Aviva acquires HPI Group Holdings Ltd in the UK

Jul  2004

Aviva sells Your Move and e.surv in UK

Apr  2004

Aviva to extend bancassurance distribution in Italy

Feb  2004

Norwich Union to close UK broker subsidiary Hill House Hammond

Dec  2003

Aviva announces offshoring plans for 2003

May  2003

Aviva announces changes to senior executive responsibilities

Feb  2003

Aviva expands operations in India

Jan  2003

Aviva-COFCO opens for business in China

Dec  2002

Aviva signs agreement with Canara Bank in India

Nov  2002

Delta Lloyd to enter bancassurance agreement with ABN AMRO in the Netherlands

Aviva in joint venture with Médéric in France

Oct  2002

Aviva to sell its general insurance businesses in Australia and New Zealand

Aviva extends distribution in France through bancassurance partnership

Sep  2002

Aviva enters fifth bancassurance partnership in Spain

Aviva to exit Pakistan

Jul  2002

Aviva to extend distribution in Italy with fourth bancassurance partnership

Aviva sells Spanish general insurance business

Aviva brand identity launched

Apr  2002

Shareholders approve name change to Aviva

Mar  2002

CGNU to sell CGU Courtage in France

Feb  2002

CGNU plans to change name to Aviva

CGNU extends bancassurance relationship with DBS into Hong Kong

CGNU to sell Portuguese general insurance business

Dec  2001

CGNU agrees fourth bancassurance partnership in Spain

Nov  2001

CGNU announces successful bond launch

Sep  2001

CGNU included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

Aug  2001

CGNU enters Lithuania

Jul  2001

Sale of Brazilian general insurance subsidiary

Third bancassurance partnership in Spain

Bancassurance partnership with DBS in Singapore

Jun  2001

Expansion of bancassurance presence in Spain

Acquisition of Fortis Australia

Sale of US general insurance business completed

May  2001

CGNU launches first phase of online wealth management initiative

Sale of main Belgian general insurance subsidiary

Mar  2001

CGNU enters Hungarian long-term savings market

Feb  2001

Major new bancassurance arrangement in Italy

CGNU sells State Insurance in New Zealand

Jan  2001

CGNU announces board changes

Dec  2000

CGNU sells life businesses in Canada

Nov  2000

Sale of Norwich Union pensions and life operations in Poland

Oct  2000

Launch of new life assurance operation in Romania

Sep  2000

Sale of US general insurance business agreed

Jul  2000

CGNU extends bancassurance distribution in Italy

CGNU to exit German general insurance market

Royal Bank of Scotland and CGNU - terms of bancassurance joint ventures

Jun  2000

Sale of CGNU's South African general insurance business

General insurance acquisition in Ireland

CGNU to exit Canadian life market

May  2000

Merger of CGU and Norwich Union takes effect

CGNU plc to be in UK life assurance sector of London Stock Exchange

Court approves merger of CGU and Norwich Union

Apr  2000

European Commission clearance for merger of CGU and Norwich Union

Mar  2000

Shareholders vote in favour of merger at EGMs

Feb  2000

CGU and Norwich Union announce proposed merger