HDI Group opens company museum in Hannover
- HDI Museum records the history of the insurance group over more than 110 years
- Exhibits, eyewitness accounts and installations on floor space of 140 square metres
- The name comes from HDI V.a.G., origin of the Talanx Group
93 exhibits, eyewitness reports and installations bring the journey of the company to life from its very beginnings in 1903 up to the present day. “Our intention is to record the story of our company through the museum and make it tangible for our employees, business partners and guests,” said Dr Christian Hinsch, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Management of Talanx AG and Chairman of the Management Board of HDI Global SE. “We want to highlight the special nature of the Group and we hope that the museum will make a positive contribution in helping our employees to identify with the Group.”
Milestones in the history of the company
A number of elements are used to present the history of the Group in the HDI Museum. The exhibition opens by explaining to visitors the purpose of insurance in a series of film clips from the complex area of risk and peril, and this is linked to the story of establishing HDI V.a.G. Collective and mutual protection against unexpected hazards provided the motivating factors for the six workers’ compensation insurers and 176 companies from the iron and steel industry to establish the Haftpflichtverband der deutschen Eisen- und Stahl-Industrie – liability association of the German iron and steel industry – in Frankfurt in 1903. In 1919, the headquarters were transferred to Hannover.
A timeline along 15 metres of wall highlights the key events over more than 110 years. The milestones presented include the change in name to “Haftpflichtverband der Deutschen Industrie” in 1936, which means “liability association of German industry”, the expansion into retail business in 1952 and the foundation of the predecessor company to today’s Hannover Rück SE in 1966. In 1978, the establishment of companies in the Netherlands and in Brazil reflected the start of internationalisation, and this was followed in 1983 by companies in the USA and Austria.
In 1991, the foundation of HDI Leben marked the entry into business with life insurance. HDI celebrated its landmark centenary in 2003 and Talanx AG was established at the same time. The year 2006 was defined by the takeover and integration of the Gerling companies. This was followed in 2012 by the initial public offering of Talanx AG. In 2016, HDI-Gerling Industrie Versicherung AG was rebranded as HDI Global SE.
Tour through offices of yesteryear
Alongside the information on the timeline, visitors can experience different decades of working life at the centre of the exhibition. Replicas of offices from different eras have been set up there with wallpaper and office requisites to match the period. Audio stations with reports by eyewitnesses complete the tour.
Disclaimer
This news release contains forward-looking statements which are based on certain assumptions, expectations and opinions of the Talanx AG management. These statements are, therefore, subject to certain known or unknown risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond Talanx AG’s control, affect Talanx AG’s business activities, business strategy, results, performance and achievements. Should one or more of these factors or risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results, performance or achievements of Talanx AG may vary materially from those expressed or implied in the relevant forward-looking statement. Talanx AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does Talanx AG accept any responsibility for the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. Talanx AG neither intends, nor assumes any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated.
