Twelve shareholders disrupted the Aviva annual shareholders meeting this morning. The shareholders protested the meeting by blocking access to the boardroom. They were calling on the insurer to stop:
propping up companies involved in fossil fuel extraction, the genocide in Gaza, and abuse of migrants in detention.
Andrew Taylor, a campaigner at Boycott Bloody Insurance, said:
Aviva insures and invests in companies causing death and destruction across the world. We are here today to demand that they end their support for genocide, climate breakdown and the abuse of migrants.
Protesters condemned Aviva for underwriting and investing in a number of companies including Serco, Saudi Aramco and Elbit Systems. Some protesters had to be carried out of the building, while others were escorted:
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Amid the proceedings, Beth Jones from York said to the attendees:
Aviva is investing £2bn in Israeli weapons companies, bankrolling the slaughter of civilians though companies like Elbit Systems, who market their weapons as battle tested on Palestinians.
Taylor added:
Our research into the UK insurance market shows that Aviva insures more migrant detention and surveillance contractors than any other company, underwrites oil majors such as Saudi Aramco, and invests billions in fossil fuel and weapons companies.
Data from Boycott Bloody Insurance shows Aviva:
- Insures border detention companies Serco, G4S and Mears.
- Invests $8bn in fossil fuel companies, including in Shell and BP.
- Invests $2bn in weapons companies complicit in the genocide in Gaza.
Aviva’s client, Serco, runs four “immigration removal centres”, including the infamous Yarl’s Wood, as well as the UK’s GPS tagging program for migrants and asylum seekers, subjecting them to 24/7 surveillance.
Taylor said:
Aviva is enabling companies to profiteer from the abuse of migrants. Private companies are raking in millions while subjecting people fleeing war and persecution to cruel and dangerous conditions.
A 2025 government review admitted private providers made “record profits” amid “profiteering” accusations, yet conditions remain appalling, with overcrowding, infestations, and staff mistreatment. Workers at Serco-run Liverpool hotels have described “institutional abuse”.
Other shareholders disrupted the AGM to press Aviva on their ongoing support for fossil fuel companies. One shareholder calling out the company’s investments in ExxonMobil:
who ran a decades-long campaign of climate denial and misinformation, that has led to inaction and devastating impacts on communities across the world.
Taylor concluded:
Aviva likes to present itself as an ethical business, but when you look at the companies it supports, that turns out to be a sham. We are calling on Aviva to be stripped of its ethical accreditations and for organisation across the UK to boycott their products and services until that changes.
Reclaim Finance also challenges Aviva
Reclaim Finance also challenged Aviva at its AGM over its continuing support for new oil and gas through its underwriting. The group raised concerns about the company’s support for liquified natural gas terminals, such as the Calcasieu Pass in Louisiana.
Local communities have been vocal about the health impacts of the existing CP1 terminal at Calcasieu Pass. Aviva has insured the terminal through its Lloyd’s business Probitas. Communities have raised concerns about plans for a second terminal (CP2) nearby.
Luke Whiting, UK insurance campaigner at Reclaim Finance, said:
It makes no sense that Aviva has ruled out insuring oil and gas drilling, yet continues to insure terminals which export fossil gas extracted by fracking.
Shareholders need to understand that as well as causing climate pollution, these activities have major health impacts for nearby communities.
They must push Aviva to make a clean break and withdraw its support for all new oil and gas, including pipelines and liquified natural gas terminals.
Probitas, which Aviva acquired in 2024, has a significant fossil fuel underwriting business. Market intelligence provider Insuramore estimates that Aviva’s fossil fuel underwriting increased by nearly 300% between 2023 and 2024 to $60m, due to the Probitas acquisition.
Aviva expects Probitas to align with Aviva’s existing sustainability goals by next year. Reclaim Finance will continue to monitor this.
Featured image via the Canary
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