Terms of Use

THESE TERMS OF USE (THE "TERMS OF USE") ARE ISSUED BY SWISS RE LTD AND ITS DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY HELD COMPANIES (TOGETHER, "SWISS RE"). THEY APPLY TO ALL WEBSITES, MICRO-SITES, BLOGGING SITES AND OTHER ONLINE DIALOGUE PLATFORMS OWNED OR MANAGED BY OR ON BEHALF OF SWISS RE UNDER THE URL SWISSRE.COM (THE "SWISS RE SITES", EACH A "SWISS RE SITE").

By accessing the Swiss Re sites and any page thereof, you agree to be bound by these terms of use and to comply with any applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, do not proceed to further pages of this swiss re site.

Swiss Re reserves the right to vary or amend these Terms of Use at any time and Swiss Re is under no obligation to inform you about such variations or amendments. The most recent version of the Terms of Use will govern the services on Swiss Re Sites and will always be available on the Swiss Re Sites. By continuing to access or use this Swiss Re Site after any changes become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised Terms of Use. Please visit these Terms of Use on a regular basis to ensure that you have read the latest version. These Terms of Use were updated the last time on the date indicated at the end of the Terms of Use.

The headings used for each of the paragraphs of these Terms of Use do not affect its interpretation. The reference to a “person” is a reference to an individual, a body corporate and an unincorporated association of persons. “You” means a user of Swiss Re Sites. “We” means Swiss Re.

For the purpose of these Terms of Use, “Content” means any text, written work, software, database, format, graphic, image, photo, video clip, podcast, listing or any other information or material which appears on or forms part of a Swiss Re Site.

Local access restrictions and additional local information

Swiss Re Sites and all Content and functionality contained within them are not directed to or intended for use by any person resident or located in any country where the distribution of such Content or functionality is contrary to the laws, rules or regulations of such country. The same applies to any person resident or located in any country where such distribution is prohibited without obtaining the necessary licenses or authorisations and such licenses or authorisations have not been obtained. If any such local access restriction applies to you, you are not authorised to access the relevant Swiss Re Site or use any of the Content on it.

Swiss Re is an international group of companies active in the reinsurance and insurance business in many countries. Swiss Re offices in particular countries may be subject to additional or different laws, rules, regulations and/or supervisory standards. Please note that, in addition to these Terms of Use, Swiss Re Sites may include legal information specific to one or several countries. Such information may, in particular, include corporate and contact information, local licensing information or other local disclosure requirements. Such information shall not be construed or interpreted as being an advice on such matters and may not be relied on.

Company information and website operation

Swiss Re Sites are group-wide sites that include Content relating to Swiss Re and its businesses. Swiss Re Sites are provided by Swiss Re Ltd (group holding company), a public stock company (Aktiengesellschaft) incorporated under the laws of Switzerland with registered and principal office in Zurich, Switzerland and registered under the number CH-020.3.036.183-8 in the Commercial Register of the Canton of Zurich. Swiss Re Ltd is listed in accordance with the Main Standard on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The VAT number of Swiss Re Ltd is CHE-116.291.855.

Swiss Re Sites are operated on platforms (the “Platforms”, each a "Platform") of two service providers: Limelight Networks, Inc., with principal place of business in the U.S.A., and EverWare AG, with principal place of business in Switzerland (the “Service Providers”). The Service Providers have data centres in the USA and Switzerland and provide various services to Swiss Re in connection with the operation of Swiss Re Sites (the “Services”). The Service Providers own all right, title, and interest to all software, products, works, and other intellectual property created, used, or provided by such Service Provider including, but not limited to, the Platform and any other part of the Services. Swiss Re Sites include various functionalities, including, but not limited to, log-in, commenting, posting, uploading, sharing subscription, RSS, ordering, downloading and printing functionalities. Certain functionalities of Swiss Re Sites may not work unless you have installed appropriate software on your local station. It is the sole responsibility of each user to install the necessary software in order to effectively use Swiss Re Sites.

Services and solutions

Swiss Re makes no guarantee, representation or warranty that all services and solutions described on Swiss Re Sites are appropriate or available for use in your country. Some services or solutions may not be available in all countries where Swiss Re has business activities. Furthermore, some services or solutions may only be available to certain categories of persons. Therefore, please read carefully the relevant description on the respective Swiss Re Site or request further information about the relevant service or solution.

Content available on Swiss Re Sites has no regard to the specific objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific recipient. Swiss Re does not guarantee, represent or warrant that any services or solutions discussed on Swiss Re Sites are suitable for any individual or corporate recipient. No representation or warranty, either express or implied, is provided in relation to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of Content, nor is Content a complete statement of the services or solutions, markets or developments referred to therein. Content should not be regarded by recipients as a substitute for the exercise of their judgment. Any opinions are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by other business areas or members of Swiss Re as a result of using different assumptions and criteria. Swiss Re is not under any obligation to update or keep current the information about services and solutions contained on Swiss Re Sites.

No offer

Content contained on Swiss Re Sites is just for information purposes. The information is subject to, and must be read in conjunction with, all other publicly available information published by Swiss Re. No Content available on a Swiss Re Site constitutes a solicitation, an offer, or a recommendation to buy any services or solutions, to effect any transactions or to conclude any legal act of any kind whatsoever. You or your company may not rely on Content on a Swiss Re Site for making any decision relating to services or solutions of Swiss Re.

In making Content available, Swiss Re gives no advice and makes no recommendation to buy, sell or otherwise deal in its shares, or in any other securities or investments whatsoever.  The Content does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer for sale or subscription of, or solicitation of any offer or invitation to subscribe for, underwrite or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of Swiss Re and it does not constitute an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity under section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.  None of the Swiss Re securities have been, or will be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Act and in compliance with state securities laws. The Content does not constitute an invitation to effect any transaction with, or to make use of any services provided by, Swiss Re. Statements in Content as to historical performance or historical share price are not intended to mean that future performance or historical share price for any period will necessarily match or exceed those of any prior year.  Nothing in Content should be construed as a profit forecast.  The information and opinions are subject to change without notice.

Swiss Re does not intend to provide legal or tax advice through any Swiss Re Site.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements and illustrations contained on Swiss Re Sites are forward-looking. These statements (including as to plans objectives, targets and trends) and illustrations provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical fact or current fact. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by words or phrases such as “anticipate“, “assume“, “believe“, “continue“, “estimate“, “expect“, “foresee“, “intend“, “may increase“ and “may fluctuate“ and similar expressions or by future or conditional verbs such as “will“, “should“, “would“ and “could“. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Swiss Re’s actual results of operations, financial condition, solvency ratios, liquidity position or prospects to be materially different from any future results of operations, financial condition, solvency ratios, liquidity position or prospects expressed or implied by such statements or cause Swiss Re to not achieve its published targets. Such factors include, among others:

  • further instability affecting the global financial system and developments related thereto, including as a result of concerns over, or adverse developments relating to, sovereign debt of euro area countries;
  • further deterioration in global economic conditions;
  • Swiss Re’s ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and access to capital markets, including sufficient liquidity to cover potential recapture of reinsurance agreements, early calls of debt or debt-like arrangements and collateral calls due to actual or perceived deterioration of Swiss Re’s financial strength or otherwise;
  • the effect of market conditions, including the global equity and credit markets, and the level and volatility of equity prices, interest rates, credit spreads, currency values and other market indices, on Swiss Re’s investment assets;
  • changes in Swiss Re’s investment result as a result of changes in its investment policy or the changed composition of its investment assets, and the impact of the timing of any such changes relative to changes in market conditions;
  • uncertainties in valuing credit default swaps and other credit-related instruments;
  • possible inability to realise amounts on sales of securities on Swiss Re’s balance sheet equivalent to their mark-to-market values recorded for accounting purposes;
  • the outcome of tax audits, the ability to realise tax loss carryforwards and the ability to realise deferred tax assets (including by reason of the mix of earnings in a jurisdiction or deemed change of control), which could negatively impact future earnings;
  • the possibility that Swiss Re’s hedging arrangements may not be effective;
  • the lowering or loss of one of the financial strength or other ratings of one or more Swiss Re companies, and developments adversely affecting Swiss Re’s ability to achieve improved ratings;
  • the cyclicality of the reinsurance industry;
  • uncertainties in estimating reserves;
  • uncertainties in estimating future claims for purposes of financial reporting, particularly with respect to large natural catastrophes, as significant uncertainties may be involved in estimating losses from such events and preliminary estimates may be subject to change as new information becomes available;
  • the frequency, severity and development of insured claim events;
  • acts of terrorism and acts of war;
  • mortality, morbidity and longevity experience;
  • policy renewal and lapse rates;
  • extraordinary events affecting Swiss Re’s clients and other counterparties, such as bankruptcies, liquidations and other credit-related events;
  • current, pending and future legislation and regulation affecting Swiss Re or its ceding companies, and the interpretation of legislation or regulations;
  • legal actions or regulatory investigations or actions, including those in respect of industry requirements or business conduct rules of general applicability;
  • changes in accounting standards;
  • significant investments, acquisitions or dispositions, and any delays, unexpected costs or other issues experienced in connection with any such transactions;
  • changing levels of competition; and
  • operational factors, including the efficacy of risk management and other internal procedures in managing the foregoing risks.

These factors are not exhaustive. Swiss Re operates in a continually changing environment and new risks emerge continually. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Swiss Re undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Market Data and analysts’ views

Swiss Re uses Swiss Re Sites to provide investors with data relating to Swiss Re shares and possibly other Swiss Re financial instruments listed or admitted to trading on the SIX Swiss or another Stock Exchange as well as a link to information about competitors’ shares (“Market Data”). Swiss Re obtains such Market Data through Reuters or other third parties (“Market Data Vendors”). Swiss Re can stop providing you with Market Data at any time without prior notice. The liability of both Swiss Re and the Market Data Vendor for the accuracy or completeness of Market Data, for any delay or interruption of the supply of Market Data or for losses or damage that are incurred in any way in connection with the Market Data, including, but not limited to, any indirect or consequential loss or damage and lost profit, shall be excluded to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules and regulations. All rights to the intellectual property of or in respect of Market Data shall be retained by Swiss Re or the relevant Market Data Vendor. You will strictly observe forwarding restrictions, if any, contained in such Market Data.

Swiss Re Sites may include analysts’ views relating to Swiss Re shares. Analysts’ views that are made accessible on Swiss Re Sites are not necessarily shared by Swiss Re and Swiss Re does not confirm the content of analysts’ views by placing them on Swiss Re Sites. Swiss Re does not and is under no obligation to verify the content of the analysts’ views. The liability of Swiss Re for the accuracy or completeness of analysts’ views made accessible on Swiss Re Sites shall be excluded to the extent permitted by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Storytelling, personal opinions and pictures

Swiss Re Sites may include stories about reinsurance or insurance related topics (e.g. climate change). The stories may be incomplete or not entirely correct in a scientific sense. Furthermore, Swiss Re Sites may include personal opinions that are provocative and arguable. Such personal opinions are based on the author’s interpretation of information available at the given time and do not necessarily reflect the view of Swiss Re. Moreover, Swiss Re Sites may include pictures that may be understood by users as not entirely appropriate in a particular context. The use of a picture in a particular context is based on the author’s discretion and does not necessarily reflect the view of Swiss Re.

Swiss Re allows storytelling, personal opinions and pictures on Swiss Re Sites. Users must not understand them as statement of facts or review them applying scientific criteria. Swiss Re does not wish and is under no obligation to verify the content of stories or personal opinions or the use of pictures on Swiss Re Sites. The liability of Swiss Re for any required accuracy or completeness of stories, the defensibleness of opinions and the appropriateness of the use of pictures shall be excluded to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules and regulations.

Third party statements and quotes

Swiss Re Sites may include statements and quotes of third parties relating to Swiss Re and its business operations. Such statements and quotes are generally labelled as information provided by third parties. Swiss Re does not and is under no obligation to verify the content of third party statements or quotes on Swiss Re Sites. The liability of Swiss Re for the accuracy or completeness of such third party statements and quotes shall be excluded to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules and regulations.

Event information

Swiss Re Sites may include information about future Swiss Re or other events. Such information may not be accurate, for example, if an event is cancelled due to an insufficient number of registrations after the event information has been placed on a Swiss Re Site. Swiss Re is under no obligation to update or alter its information about future events as a result of new or revised information. Therefore, please verify all event information directly with the event organiser. Swiss Re will not be liable for any costs incurred based on wrong event information on Swiss Re Sites.

No warranties

Content contained on Swiss Re Sites is provided “as is” and “as available”. Swiss Re, the Service Providers and third party Content providers give no guarantee, representation, warranty or condition, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to condition, satisfactory quality, performance, fitness for purpose, non-infringement, merchantability or otherwise in respect of Swiss Re Sites or their Content. Without limiting the foregoing, Swiss Re, the Service Provider and third party Content providers do not guarantee, represent or warrant the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, reliability or availability of Swiss Re Sites or the information or results obtained from them (whether based on manual access, subscriptions, RSS-feeds or otherwise), or that Swiss Re Sites or downloads (e.g. PDF, pictures, podcasts, videos) from Swiss Re Sites are virus-free or error-free. All such guarantees, representations, warranties and conditions are excluded, except to the extent that their exclusion is not permitted by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Please also check disclaimers on or in respect of individual Content on Swiss Re Sites (e.g. disclaimers on press releases, disclaimers on documents provided by third parties).

Both Swiss Re and the Service Providers (without limiting the foregoing) disclaim all guarantees, representations, warranties and conditions with respect to the operation of the Platform and related software for Swiss Re Sites, express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied guarantees, representations, warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for particular purpose and the non-infringement. Swiss Re and the Service Provider disclaim all guarantees, representations, warranties or conditions that the Platform and related software are not interrupted or error free. Swiss Re and the Service Provider disclaim all guarantees, representations, warranties or conditions as to the results that may be obtained from the use of Swiss Re Sites.

No liability

Neither Swiss Re, the Service Provider, any third party providing Content, nor any of their respective affiliates, directors, employees, advisors or agents will be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive or exemplary loss, liability or costs, whether arising from negligence, breach of contract or otherwise and regardless whether the damage was foreseeable or not. Neither Swiss Re, the Service Provider, any third party providing Content, nor any of their respective affiliates, directors, employees, advisors or agents will be liable for any loss of profits, business or data. Neither Swiss Re, the Service Provider, any third party providing Content, nor any of their respective affiliates, directors, employees, advisors or agents will be liable for any damage or loss (especially loss of data, alteration of data, or downtime) that may be caused to any equipment or software due to any viruses, defects or malfunctions in connection with the access or use of any Swiss Re Site or downloads from any Swiss Re Site (whether based on manual access, subscriptions, RSS-feeds or otherwise).

Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual Property Rights in the pages of Swiss Re Sites and the Content available through them belong to Swiss Re and/or to the Service Provider or other third parties. You do not acquire, by virtue of your use of a Swiss Re Site, any rights, title or interest in any of the Intellectual Property Rights in the Content or the Swiss Re Site. For the purpose of these Terms of Use, “Intellectual Property Rights” means (i) copyright, patents, database rights and rights in trademarks, designs, know-how and registered or non-registered confidential information; (ii) applications for registration and the right to apply for registration for any of these rights; and (iii) all other intellectual property rights and equivalent or similar forms of protection existing anywhere in the world.

Individual pages and/or sections of a Swiss Re Site and its Content may be printed or saved for personal or internal use only. Such print-outs or savings, however, must retain all applicable copyright or other proprietary notices. You must not modify, copy, transmit, distribute, display, reproduce, publish, perform, license, frame, create derivative works from, transfer or use in any other way for commercial or public purposes in whole or in part any Content obtained from a Swiss Re Site without the prior written permission of the owner of the relevant Intellectual Property Rights (whether that be Swiss Re, the Service Provider or another third party). It is prohibited to systematically retrieve Content from any Swiss Re Site to create or compile, directly or indirectly, a collection, compilation, database or directory (whether through robots, spiders, automatic devices or manual processes) without written permission from Swiss Re.

The copyright in some Content available on Swiss Re Sites belongs to third parties (“Third Party Content”).You must check copyright notices on or in respect of individual Third Party Content.

User Generated Content

You may provide Content to Swiss Re by using relevant functionalities on Swiss Re Sites, by logging-in, by e-mail or otherwise ("Submissions"). Furthermore, Swiss Re may invite users to provide Submissions in own or third party surveys or polls and on a particular issue raised. If you provide Submissions to Swiss Re, Swiss Re is entitled, but not in any way obliged, to use and make available all or parts of your unmodified or modified Submissions on any Swiss Re Site. Swiss Re will not mention your name or contact details, unless you have agreed and you have logged in with an identified account. If you provide Submissions to Swiss Re, you grant Swiss Re all necessary rights, if any, or license to use, reproduce, distribute, modify, and publicly display your Submissions on any Swiss Re Site for an unlimited period of time.

By communicating a Submission, you guarantee, represent and warrant that the Submission complies with applicable laws, rules and regulations and in particular:

  • Is legal, decent and truthful and not defamatory, unreliable, misleading or otherwise objectionable;
  • That you own or have the necessary rights, licenses, consents and permissions, without the need for any permission from or payment to any other person or entity, to exploit, and to authorise Swiss Re to exploit, such Submission in all manners contemplated by these Terms of Use;
  • Does not harm others, in particular minors, or infringe their personal rights.

Users must not provide Submissions which:

  • Contain a virus, so-called Trojan Horse, or any other program that could damage data;
  • Amount to advertising material or unsolicited  (so-called "spam") material;
  • Contain inaccurate warnings of viruses, defects or similar material;
  • Solicit or requests participation in any lottery, snowball system, chain letter, pyramid game or similar activity.

You hereby agree to indemnify, defend, and hold Swiss Re harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities and costs (including settlement costs and any legal or other fees and expenses for investigating or defending any actions or threatened actions) incurred by Swiss Re in connection with any claim arising out of any breach by you of these Terms of Use or claims arising from your use of Swiss Re Sites. You shall use your best efforts to cooperate with Swiss Re in the defence of any claim. We reserve the right, at our own expense, to employ separate counsel and assume the exclusive defence and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you.

Swiss Re may deny you access to Swiss Re Sites at any time, in particular if you breach any of the above provisions.

Contacting users

If you subscribe to mailing services, provide comments or otherwise communicate with Swiss Re through a Swiss Re Site or e-mails provided on a Swiss Re Site, you may be requested to provide your contact details, in particular your e-mail address. By providing your contact details you expressly agree that Swiss Re retains your contact information and may contact you, in particular for the following reasons: requesting clarifications or additional comments; sending Swiss Re publications; sending information about Swiss Re events; asking for your participation in surveys or polls; sending information about services and solutions or other marketing information of Swiss Re. However, Swiss Re will not send out mass unsolicited e-mails or mails.

You may when first contacting Swiss Re or at any time thereafter inform Swiss Re that you would rather not receive any information or certain information (e.g. promotion material) from Swiss Re. You may inform Swiss Re through the general contact functionality provided on any Swiss Re Site.

Links to and Feeds from External Websites

From certain Swiss Re Sites you are able to obtain access to websites operated by third parties (“External Websites”) by means of links or RSS functionality. External Websites are not monitored or managed by Swiss Re and we do not endorse or accept any responsibility for their content or operation. You access External Websites at your own risk. Swiss Re does not accept any responsibility for any damage or loss you may suffer arising out of access to External Websites, including, but not limited to, damage or loss arising from your use of documents or other information found on External Websites.

Website Privacy

Our Privacy Policy Statement is available on each Swiss Re Site. You understand that your use of a Swiss Re Site will result in our processing of personal data that you provide. The Privacy Policy Statement sets out the basis on which we will use personal data. By using a Swiss Re Site, you are deemed to agree with the terms of the Privacy Policy Statement. In performing your obligations under these Terms of Use, you commit to comply with applicable data protection laws.

General provisions

If a provision of these Terms of Use is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any country, that will not affect the legality, validity or enforceability in that country of any other provision or in other jurisdictions of that or any other provisions of these Terms of Use.

Certain pages or areas on Swiss Re Sites may contain additional terms, conditions, disclosures or disclaimers (“Additional Terms”). In the event of a conflict between these Terms of Use and the Additional Terms, the Additional Terms will govern for those pages or areas.

Swiss Re's rights under these Terms of Use may be exercised as often as necessary. They are cumulative and not exclusive of rights or remedies provided by law, rules and regulations. They may be waived only in writing and specifically. Delay in the exercise or non-exercise of any such right is not a waiver of that right. An express or implied waiver of any of the provisions or of any breach of or default in performing any of the provisions of these Terms of Use will not constitute a continuing waiver and that waiver will not prevent the waiving party from subsequently enforcing any of the provisions of these Terms of Use not waived or from acting on any subsequent breach of or default by the other party under any of the provisions of these Terms of Use.

Any notice or other communication given under or in connection with these Terms of Use will be in English. All other documents provided under or in connection with these Terms of Use will be in English. A document in another language must be accompanied by a certified English translation. In such a situation the English translation will prevail, unless the document is a statutory or other official document.

Governing law / place of jurisdiction

These Terms of Use shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with Swiss law and we and you each submit irrevocably to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Zurich, Switzerland.

Contact

If you have any questions relating to these Terms of Use, please contact us using the general contact functionality provided on any Swiss Re Site.

Latest update: 12 March 2013