Allianz AG History

Company Perspectives:

Our strategic objectives and our priorities reflect our commitment to making full use of the tremendous business opportunities brought about by the profound transformation of our markets. In this process we are guided by five long-term business principles. We believe that we can best serve our shareholders by giving priority to our clients. We realize that our continued success is based on our reputation, our acceptance by society, and our ability to attract and retain the best people. We foster the entrepreneurial spirit of our local group companies while providing the leverage of a global institution. We recognize that sustainable performance requires primary focus on operational excellence and sustainable growth, supported by profitable acquisitions. We aim to be among the top five competitors in the markets in which we choose to participate.

Key Dates:

1890:

Carl Thieme and Wilhelm Finck found Allianz Versicherungs-Aktien-Gesellschaft.

1917:

Dr. Kurt Schmitt becomes company's executive managing director.

1922:

Allianz creates Allianz Lebensversicherungsbank-AG (Allianz Life-Assurance Bank AG).

1927:

Allianz merges with Stuttgarter Verein Versicherungs-AG.

1943:

Allianz's headquarters in Berlin are destroyed.

1975:

Allianz establishes the Allianz International Insurance Company Ltd. in London.

1977:

Allianz enters the American market with creation of the Allianz International Insurance Company Ltd.

1985:

Company reorganizes its operations; Allianz AG is established as a holding company.

1990:

Allianz acquires the state insurance company of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

1991:

Allianz acquires Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.

1997:

Allianz acquires Assurances Générales de France (AGF).

2000:

Allianz purchases PIMCO Advisors.

2001:

Allianz takes over Dresdner Bank.

Company History:

Further Reading:

• "Allianz, the First of the Few," Economist, August 11, 1990, pp. 79-80.
• "Allianz to Hike Rates: Policyholders Drafted into War on Underwriting Losses," Business Insurance, November 8, 1993, pp. 25, 27.
• Arps, Ludwig, Wechselvolle Zeiten: 75 Jahre Allianz Versicherung 1890-1965, Munich: Allianz-Versicherungs-AG, 1975.
• Borscheid, Peter, 100 Jahre Allianz 1890-1990, Munich: Allianz Aktiengesellschaft Holding, 1990.
• Collings, Richard, "Allianz Is Buying Nicholas-Applegate," Investment Management Weekly, October 23, 2000.
• Fisher, Andrew, and Ralph Atkins, "Deceptive Image of Anonymity," Financial Times, December 15, 1994, p. 25.
• Fuhrmans, Vanessa, "Allianz Gets Started on Major Shuffle of Industrial Assets," Wall Street Journal Europe, February 11, 2000.
• "Hana Bank, Allianz to Form Strategic Partnership," Korea Times, March 6, 2000.
• Kirk, Don Lewis, "Allianz Goes Own Way in Setting Rates," Business Insurance, June 5, 1995, pp. 39-40.
• Raghavan, Anita, and Marcus Walker, "Insurer Allianz in Talks to Acquire Dresdner Bank," Globe and Mail, March 29, 2001.
• Rhoads, Christopher, and Marcus Walker, "Insurer Allianz Nears Deal to Acquire Dresdner," Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2001.
• Steinborn, Deborah, "Allianz Shares Poised to Rise on AGF Bid," Wall Street Journal Europe, November 20, 1997.
• Steinmetz, Greg, "Bigger or Better? Allianz Wants Both," Wall Street Journal, May 30, 1995, p. A11.
• Templeman, John, et al., "A Challenger for Germany's Heavyweight Banking Title," Business Week, August 12, 1991, pp. 36-37.
• "Underwriting Loss Triggers Fall in Allianz Stock," Business Insurance, August 24, 1992, pp. 23, 25.
• "A Wholly German Empire," Economist, November 2, 1991, pp. 77-78.

Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 57. St. James Press, 2004.