WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - (Business Wire) Aviva USA, part of Aviva plc, the fifth-largest insurance group in the world, today held a groundbreaking ceremony for the company
’s new 360,000-square-foot U.S. operations headquarters building located in West Des Moines, Iowa. The $135-150 million project will be located on a 71-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Jordan Creek Parkway and George Mills Civic Parkway.
Aviva plc acquired AmerUs Group in late 2006. Since that time, more than 280 new jobs have been added to the Greater Des Moines area. There are currently 900 employees in the Greater Des Moines area and the new operations headquarters is planned to accommodate up to 1,500 employees.
“Building our new U.S. operations headquarters in West Des Moines demonstrates Aviva’s commitment to building bright futures in Greater Des Moines and the state of Iowa,” said Tom Godlasky, president and CEO of Aviva USA and Aviva North America. “Bringing Aviva USA’s employees together at one location will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations to benefit customers, employees and the community.”
The new operations headquarters facility design will comply with guidelines adopted by the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). The LEED Green Building Rating System is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
To offset the impact of tree clearing during the construction phase, Aviva USA announced a donation of $50,000 to the Arbor Day Foundation for the planting of trees in West Des Moines.
“This is great news for Iowa,” said Governor Chet Culver. “Aviva’s new operations headquarters will create hundreds of new high-quality, high-salary jobs in our state. Iowa is now home to many insurance and financial giants and is widely known as a major center for the insurance and financial services industries.”
“The City of West Des Moines is a great place to do business,” said West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer. “We are pleased to see Aviva USA begin construction today on their U.S. operations headquarters and look forward to creating new opportunities together, encouraging more of the best and brightest to live and work in West Des Moines.”
ABOUT AVIVA
Aviva is the leading provider of life insurance and annuities to Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world’s fifth-largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums as of December 31, 2007. Aviva’s principal global business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of $98.4 billion and assets under management of $724.6 billion as of December 31, 2007.
Aviva currently has 57,000 employees serving 45 million customers.
Aviva is traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol AV.
ABOUT AVIVA USA
In 2006, Aviva grew its existing U.S. presence by acquiring AmerUs Group, a national leader in indexed annuities and indexed life insurance. Nationally, Aviva USA is ranked number one in sales of indexed life insurance and number two in sales of indexed annuities.
Aviva USA had $40 billion in assets as of December 31, 2007. Aviva’s U.S. employees are committed to helping customers meet their long-term savings, insurance and retirement income needs. www.avivausa.com.
Online media materials available for download and publication:
Word Documents:
www.hanser.com/About_Aviva.doc
www.hanser.com/Aviva_LEED_Backgrounder.doc
www.hanser.com/Aviva_Donation_to_Arbor_Day_Foundation_Backgrounder.doc
High-res Images:
www.hanser.com/Aviva_Headquarters_Front.jpg
www.hanser.com/Aviva_Site_Map.pdf
www.hanser.com/Aviva_logo.jpg
www.hanser.com/Aviva_Groundbreaking_Photo.jpg (to be posted following the ceremony at approximately 2:00 p.m., central time April 24)
For Aviva USA
News Media Contacts:
Hanser & Associates
Ronald Hanser, 515-224-1086
Mobile: 515-229-8181
rhanser@hanser.com
or
Aviva USA
Jonna LaToure, 515-557-3910
Mobile: 515-537-9060
jonna.latoure@avivausa.com
