Sun Alliance (company)
Insurance business
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sun Alliance Group plc was a large insurance business with its main offices in the City of London and later Horsham. In 1996 Sun Alliance merged with Royal Insurance to form the Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group.
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.jpg) 1 Bartholomew Lane in London (the stone building straight ahead) | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance |
| Predecessor | Sun Insurance Alliance Assurance |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Fate | Merged with Royal Insurance |
| Successor | RSA Insurance Group |
| Headquarters | London, England |
History
The company was created in 1959 by the merger of Sun Insurance, founded in 1710, and Alliance Assurance founded in 1824.[1]
In the mid-1960s Sun Alliance established its administrative centre in a large office block, spanning an A-road through the town centre of Horsham, a railway town 31 miles (50 km) south of London's centre.[2][3] and its head office at 1 Bartholomew Lane in London.[4] The Horsham building, St Marks Court is earmarked as developable.[5] In an external recess, to the market place (Carfax) side, is the tall spired tower of the church.[6] Its nave was demolished in about 1985.[6] The spire was part of the original church of 1841 constructed from sandstone. The tower's base has become a florist and volunteers’ centre.[6]
Sun Alliance went on to acquire the London Assurance Company in 1965 (becoming Sun Alliance & London)[7] and Phoenix Assurance in 1984.[7] The company thus added suffix "Group" in 1989, consolidated most UK-based operations into the Horsham office in 1990,[8] and yet kept its London head office.[9] The company merged with Royal Insurance to form the Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group in 1996.[10][11]
Summary of all notable mergers to 1996 and company inception dates:[12]
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Sun Alliance offices in Horsham, behind the spire that sits in one of its recesses
A Sun Fire Office insurance mark
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