St. Paul Travelers Cos. Inc. today announced it will change its name to Travelers Cos. and re-acquire from Citigroup the trademark red umbrella that had been associated with the insurer for more than a century.
Travelers, St. Paul, Minn., also said its shares, which currently traded under the symbol STA on the New York Stock Exchange, will now trade under the symbol TRV.
The sale of the umbrella trademark is expected to close in March. Terms were not disclosed.
The transaction comes as Citigroup moves to unify its brands under the “Citi” name and logo with its red arc and lower-case letters, Citigroup said.
The umbrella first appeared in a Travelers ad in 1870, becoming the official company trademark in 1959, Travelers said. The logo became Citigroup’s property when the financial giant acquired Travelers in 1993.
Citigroup spun off the Travelers property-casualty business in 2002. In 2004, Travelers combined with St. Paul Cos. to form St. Paul Travelers Cos.
“Our research continued to show that the trademark red umbrella was more connected with insurance, specifically St. Paul Travelers,” Citigroup chairman and CEO Charles Prince said. “We are pleased to have entered into this agreement.”
Beginning in the second quarter, Citigroup said its corporate and investment banking division will use the brand name Citi; wealth management will use the brand names Citi Smith Barney, Citi Investment Research and Citi Private Bank; and alternative investments will use the brand name Citi Alternative Investments.
Citi’s global consumer businesses, including the Citibank branch network, will maintain the signature blue Citi with the red arc brand name.
St. Paul Travelers rebrands as Travellers
Citigroup sells umbrella trademark as it moves to unify its brands
- By: IE Staff
- February 13, 2007 February 13, 2007
- 10:20