From many companies to one group

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The Basel insurance companies founded in the 1860s operated for a long time as separate companies with interlocking ownership and management. In the course of the twentieth century, they were combined into a group. The Basler Holding, later renamed Bâloise Holding and then Baloise, became the parent company of the Basel fire, life and transport insurers and of their foreign subsidiaries.¹ The group expanded through acquisitions in Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg and became one of the leading insurance groups of Switzerland.

In 2025, Baloise and Helvetia, the St Gallen insurer that had participated in the foundation of Swiss Re in 1863, announced their merger. The merged group, Helvetia Baloise Holding, established its legal seat in Basel and became one of the largest insurance groups of Switzerland and of Europe.² The merger, which brought together two companies whose origins lay in the response to the great fire of Glarus in 1861, confirmed Basel's position as a centre of the Swiss insurance industry. Part I examines the merged group, the modern regulation of insurance and the role of insurance in the Basel financial centre.

Notes

On the formation of the holding structure of the Basel insurance group (Basler Holding, later Bâloise Holding, Baloise Holding AG) in the twentieth century, see the history of Baloise. Dates to be verified. ↩
On the merger of Baloise and Helvetia announced in April 2025 and the formation of Helvetia Baloise Holding AG with its legal seat in Basel, completed in December 2025, see the press releases of the companies. Status and dates to be verified. ↩

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of August 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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From many companies to one group

Notes

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?