Merger strengthens a Swiss beacon of reliability

The Swiss insurance industry is one of the country's strongest sectors. Internationally, Swiss insurance groups represent such well-known national core values as precision, reliability, knowhow, capital strength and security.

In recent months, a new Swiss insurance group has emerged as a result of the acquisition of Nationale Suisse - one of the earliest specialty insurers for engineering, marine and fine art risk - by another Swiss insurance company, Helvetia, itself one of the world's oldest marine insurers and reinsurers established in 1858.

"Through the merger, the new Helvetia will become No 3 in the domestic market, gain attractive positions in selected European markets and become a leading international niche reinsurer for the combined treaty and facultative specialty reinsurance book," said Stefan Loacker, its CEO. "The two companies are a perfect fit, from a domestic as well as an international point of view, and the merger will help us to serve our clients worldwide even better."