Safeco: Difference between revisions
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'''Safeco Insurance''', a member of [[Liberty Mutual Group]], is a national U.S. [[insurance]] company. It holds [[naming rights]] to the [[Seattle Mariners]]' [[baseball]] [[stadium]], [[Safeco Field]]. |
'''Safeco Insurance''', a member of [[Liberty Mutual Group]], is a national U.S. [[insurance]] company. It holds [[naming rights]] to the [[Seattle Mariners]]' [[baseball]] [[stadium]], [[Safeco Field]]. |
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== History == |
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Safeco was founded in [[Seattle, Washington]] in 1923 by Hawthorne K. Dent as the '''General Insurance Company of America''', a [[property]] and casualty insurer. This name is still used by Safeco on some of its insurance products.<ref>As of February 2008, "members of the Safeco family of companies include" American Economy Insurance Company, American States Insurance Company, American States Insurance Company of Texas, American States Lloyds Insurance Company, American States Preferred Insurance Company, First National Insurance Company of America, General Insurance Company of America, Insurance Company of Illinois, Safeco Insurance Company of America, Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois, Safeco Insurance Company of Indiana, Safeco Insurance Company of Oregon, Safeco Lloyds Insurance Company, Safeco National Insurance Company, and Safeco Surplus Lines Insurance Company. [http://www.safeco.com/safeco/legal/default.asp]</ref> Thirty years later the company founded the '''Selective Auto and Fire Ensurance<!--not Insurance--> Company of America''', or '''SAFECO''' (i.e., S.A.F.E. Co.). |
Safeco was founded in [[Seattle, Washington]] in 1923 by Hawthorne K. Dent as the '''General Insurance Company of America''', a [[property]] and casualty insurer. This name is still used by Safeco on some of its insurance products.<ref>As of February 2008, "members of the Safeco family of companies include" American Economy Insurance Company, American States Insurance Company, American States Insurance Company of Texas, American States Lloyds Insurance Company, American States Preferred Insurance Company, First National Insurance Company of America, General Insurance Company of America, Insurance Company of Illinois, Safeco Insurance Company of America, Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois, Safeco Insurance Company of Indiana, Safeco Insurance Company of Oregon, Safeco Lloyds Insurance Company, Safeco National Insurance Company, and Safeco Surplus Lines Insurance Company. [http://www.safeco.com/safeco/legal/default.asp]</ref> Thirty years later the company founded the '''Selective Auto and Fire Ensurance<!--not Insurance--> Company of America''', or '''SAFECO''' (i.e., S.A.F.E. Co.). |
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Safeco replaced the Brooklyn Building with the 22-story [[UW Tower|Safeco Plaza]] building in 1973. It remains the tallest building in the city outside Downtown. |
Safeco replaced the Brooklyn Building with the 22-story [[UW Tower|Safeco Plaza]] building in 1973. It remains the tallest building in the city outside Downtown. |
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== Acquisitions == |
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In 1997, Safeco bought American States Financial Corporation to expand beyond the West Coast. [[Washington Mutual]]'s WM Life Insurance Company was purchased the same year. Two years later Safeco bought R.F. Bailey (Underwriting Agencies) Limited of [[London]]. |
In 1997, Safeco bought American States Financial Corporation to expand beyond the West Coast. [[Washington Mutual]]'s WM Life Insurance Company was purchased the same year. Two years later Safeco bought R.F. Bailey (Underwriting Agencies) Limited of [[London]]. |
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== Restructuring == |
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In 2001, new management was brought in to restructure the company. Commercial credit operations were sold to [[General Electric]] in 2001, and on March 15, 2004, the company announced the sale of its most profitable division, the life insurance and investments business, to a group of private investors led by Safeco board members and [[Warren Buffett]]'s [[Berkshire Hathaway Inc.]] and [[White Mountains Insurance Group]], Ltd., incorporating as [[Symetra]] Financial Corporation. The same day, it was announced that Hub International Ltd. was buying Safeco's insurance brokerage operations. Less than a month later, on April 12, it was announced that [[Mellon Financial Corporation]] would buy Safeco Trust Company, whose business is providing financial and estate planning services to individuals with over $1 million in assets. On August 2, the closure of Safeco Asset Management, the mutual-fund business, was announced. |
In 2001, new management was brought in to restructure the company. Commercial credit operations were sold to [[General Electric]] in 2001, and on March 15, 2004, the company announced the sale of its most profitable division, the life insurance and investments business, to a group of private investors led by Safeco board members and [[Warren Buffett]]'s [[Berkshire Hathaway Inc.]] and [[White Mountains Insurance Group]], Ltd., incorporating as [[Symetra]] Financial Corporation. The same day, it was announced that Hub International Ltd. was buying Safeco's insurance brokerage operations. Less than a month later, on April 12, it was announced that [[Mellon Financial Corporation]] would buy Safeco Trust Company, whose business is providing financial and estate planning services to individuals with over $1 million in assets. On August 2, the closure of Safeco Asset Management, the mutual-fund business, was announced. |
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[[File:1001 Fourth Avenue Seattle Washington.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza|The current Safeco Plaza]], originally the [[Seafirst]] Building.]] |
[[File:1001 Fourth Avenue Seattle Washington.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza|The current Safeco Plaza]], originally the [[Seafirst]] Building.]] |
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On April 6, 2005, CEO [[Mike McGavick]] announced that Safeco would be consolidating operations at either the University District "home office" campus or the newer Eastside campus in [[Redmond, Washington|Redmond]], pending a competition between Microsoft and the University of Washington for the sale of one or the other location. On January 19, 2006 it was announced that [[Microsoft]] would purchase the Redmond campus for $209.5 million.<ref>[http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=webmsftsafeco18&date=20060118&query=microsoft+%2B+safeco Search Results | Seattle Times Newspaper<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Plans were announced for a new 125-foot office tower across the street from Safeco Plaza to house the approximately 1,300 Redmond employees. However, McGavick subsequently stepped down as CEO to [[Washington U.S. Senate election, 2006|run for the U.S. Senate]]. In a surprise move, his replacement Paula Rosput Reynolds announced on August 30, 2006], that the entire University District complex would be sold as well, to the [[University of Washington]] for $130 million.<ref>[http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2006/08/30/71830.htm Safeco Sells U-District Complex to University of Washington<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Employees were told they would be moved to leased space in downtown Seattle. Some speculate this signalled the imminent sale of the company, although Safeco denied this. Safeco moved back downtown in 2007; its new headquarters at [[1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza|1001 Fourth Avenue]] became the new Safeco Plaza, and the old Safeco Plaza was renamed [[UW Tower]]. |
On April 6, 2005, CEO [[Mike McGavick]] announced that Safeco would be consolidating operations at either the University District "home office" campus or the newer Eastside campus in [[Redmond, Washington|Redmond]], pending a competition between Microsoft and the University of Washington for the sale of one or the other location. On January 19, 2006 it was announced that [[Microsoft]] would purchase the Redmond campus for $209.5 million.<ref>[http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=webmsftsafeco18&date=20060118&query=microsoft+%2B+safeco Search Results | Seattle Times Newspaper<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Plans were announced for a new 125-foot office tower across the street from Safeco Plaza to house the approximately 1,300 Redmond employees. However, McGavick subsequently stepped down as CEO to [[Washington U.S. Senate election, 2006|run for the U.S. Senate]]. In a surprise move, his replacement Paula Rosput Reynolds announced on August 30, 2006], that the entire University District complex would be sold as well, to the [[University of Washington]] for $130 million.<ref>[http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2006/08/30/71830.htm Safeco Sells U-District Complex to University of Washington<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Employees were told they would be moved to leased space in downtown Seattle. Some speculate this signalled the imminent sale of the company, although Safeco denied this. Safeco moved back downtown in 2007; its new headquarters at [[1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza|1001 Fourth Avenue]] became the new Safeco Plaza, and the old Safeco Plaza was renamed [[UW Tower]]. |
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== "Teensurance" == |
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On June 27, 2007, Safeco introduced a new service, Teensurance, aimed at "providing parents peace of mind while teens earn their freedom." The product put [[Global positioning system|GPS]] units in cars driven by children of insureds, allowing parents to monitor location, speed, distance and driving habits, remotely lock or unlock doors, and provide 24/7 roadside assistance.<ref>http://www.supernannyrules.com/teensurance-would-you-pay-for-this-service/</ref> |
On June 27, 2007, Safeco introduced a new service, Teensurance, aimed at "providing parents peace of mind while teens earn their freedom." The product put [[Global positioning system|GPS]] units in cars driven by children of insureds, allowing parents to monitor location, speed, distance and driving habits, remotely lock or unlock doors, and provide 24/7 roadside assistance.<ref>http://www.supernannyrules.com/teensurance-would-you-pay-for-this-service/</ref> |
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== Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation == |
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On April 23, 2008, Safeco announced an agreement to be acquired by [[Liberty Mutual]] for $68.25 per share.<ref>[http://www.safeconews.com/pressrelease.php?p_id=164 Liberty Mutual Group to Acquire Safeco Corporation]</ref> Safeco continues to offer personal lines insurance (including auto, home, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, watercraft and more) through independent agents <ref>http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/09/24/93995.htm</ref> |
On April 23, 2008, Safeco announced an agreement to be acquired by [[Liberty Mutual]] for $68.25 per share.<ref>[http://www.safeconews.com/pressrelease.php?p_id=164 Liberty Mutual Group to Acquire Safeco Corporation]</ref> Safeco continues to offer personal lines insurance (including auto, home, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, watercraft and more) through independent agents <ref>http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/09/24/93995.htm</ref> |
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== Philanthropy == |
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On February 12, 2010, Safeco announced its donation of more than 800 pieces of its Safeco Art Collection to the Washington Art Consortium This move was hailed as being a significant and rare gift by members of the local arts community.<ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011050789_safeco12m.html</ref> |
On February 12, 2010, Safeco announced its donation of more than 800 pieces of its Safeco Art Collection to the Washington Art Consortium This move was hailed as being a significant and rare gift by members of the local arts community.<ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011050789_safeco12m.html</ref> |
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Revision as of 09:03, 16 November 2011
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| Company type | Mutual Company - Member of the Liberty Mutual Group Companies |
|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance |
| Founded | Seattle, Washington (1923) |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington, USA |
Key people | Michael Hughes, President |
| Products | Insurance Auto Insurance Homeowners Insurance Liability Insurance Title Insurance |
| Revenue | $6.29 billion USD (2006 Sales) |
| $880 Million USD (2006) | |
Number of employees | 7,200 (2004) http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=SAF |
| Website | www.safeco.com www.libertymutualgroup.com |
Safeco Insurance, a member of Liberty Mutual Group, is a national U.S. insurance company. It holds naming rights to the Seattle Mariners' baseball stadium, Safeco Field.
History
Safeco was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1923 by Hawthorne K. Dent as the General Insurance Company of America, a property and casualty insurer. This name is still used by Safeco on some of its insurance products.[1] Thirty years later the company founded the Selective Auto and Fire Ensurance Company of America, or SAFECO (i.e., S.A.F.E. Co.).
General Insurance's first headquarters were in downtown Seattle at the corner of University Street and Fourth Avenue. In 1936, it moved to the eight-story Brooklyn Building at the corner of N.E. 45th Street and Brooklyn Avenue N.E. in the University District.
General Insurance began to sell life insurance in 1957. Eleven years later the corporate name changed from the General Insurance Company of America to Safeco Corporation. (The company would end up changing the capitalization of its name from SAFECO to Safeco at the turn of the century.) Around the same time the company began to offer mutual funds and commercial credit (though precursors to the Safeco Funds had been around since the 1930s).
Safeco replaced the Brooklyn Building with the 22-story Safeco Plaza building in 1973. It remains the tallest building in the city outside Downtown.
Acquisitions
In 1997, Safeco bought American States Financial Corporation to expand beyond the West Coast. Washington Mutual's WM Life Insurance Company was purchased the same year. Two years later Safeco bought R.F. Bailey (Underwriting Agencies) Limited of London.
Restructuring
In 2001, new management was brought in to restructure the company. Commercial credit operations were sold to General Electric in 2001, and on March 15, 2004, the company announced the sale of its most profitable division, the life insurance and investments business, to a group of private investors led by Safeco board members and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd., incorporating as Symetra Financial Corporation. The same day, it was announced that Hub International Ltd. was buying Safeco's insurance brokerage operations. Less than a month later, on April 12, it was announced that Mellon Financial Corporation would buy Safeco Trust Company, whose business is providing financial and estate planning services to individuals with over $1 million in assets. On August 2, the closure of Safeco Asset Management, the mutual-fund business, was announced.
On April 6, 2005, CEO Mike McGavick announced that Safeco would be consolidating operations at either the University District "home office" campus or the newer Eastside campus in Redmond, pending a competition between Microsoft and the University of Washington for the sale of one or the other location. On January 19, 2006 it was announced that Microsoft would purchase the Redmond campus for $209.5 million.[2] Plans were announced for a new 125-foot office tower across the street from Safeco Plaza to house the approximately 1,300 Redmond employees. However, McGavick subsequently stepped down as CEO to run for the U.S. Senate. In a surprise move, his replacement Paula Rosput Reynolds announced on August 30, 2006], that the entire University District complex would be sold as well, to the University of Washington for $130 million.[3] Employees were told they would be moved to leased space in downtown Seattle. Some speculate this signalled the imminent sale of the company, although Safeco denied this. Safeco moved back downtown in 2007; its new headquarters at 1001 Fourth Avenue became the new Safeco Plaza, and the old Safeco Plaza was renamed UW Tower.
"Teensurance"
On June 27, 2007, Safeco introduced a new service, Teensurance, aimed at "providing parents peace of mind while teens earn their freedom." The product put GPS units in cars driven by children of insureds, allowing parents to monitor location, speed, distance and driving habits, remotely lock or unlock doors, and provide 24/7 roadside assistance.[4]
Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation
On April 23, 2008, Safeco announced an agreement to be acquired by Liberty Mutual for $68.25 per share.[5] Safeco continues to offer personal lines insurance (including auto, home, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, watercraft and more) through independent agents [6]
Philanthropy
On February 12, 2010, Safeco announced its donation of more than 800 pieces of its Safeco Art Collection to the Washington Art Consortium This move was hailed as being a significant and rare gift by members of the local arts community.[7]
References
- http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002888249_safeco25m.html
- http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2006/08/30/71830.htm
- http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/09/24/93995.htm
Notes
- ^ As of February 2008, "members of the Safeco family of companies include" American Economy Insurance Company, American States Insurance Company, American States Insurance Company of Texas, American States Lloyds Insurance Company, American States Preferred Insurance Company, First National Insurance Company of America, General Insurance Company of America, Insurance Company of Illinois, Safeco Insurance Company of America, Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois, Safeco Insurance Company of Indiana, Safeco Insurance Company of Oregon, Safeco Lloyds Insurance Company, Safeco National Insurance Company, and Safeco Surplus Lines Insurance Company. [1]
- ^ Search Results | Seattle Times Newspaper
- ^ Safeco Sells U-District Complex to University of Washington
- ^ http://www.supernannyrules.com/teensurance-would-you-pay-for-this-service/
- ^ Liberty Mutual Group to Acquire Safeco Corporation
- ^ http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2008/09/24/93995.htm
- ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011050789_safeco12m.html