Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. ( JEN-ər-AH-lee, Italian: [assikuratˈtsjoːni dʒeneˈraːli]; meaning 'general insurances') or simply Generali Group is an Italian insurance company based in Trieste. As of 2019, it is the largest of its kind in Italy and among the top ten largest insurance companies in the world by net premiums and assets.The company was founded on December 26, 1831, as Imperial Regia Privilegiata Compagnia di Assicurazioni Generali Austro-Italiche ('Imperial and Royal Privileged Company for General Austrian-Italian Insurances'). At the time, Trieste was the most important seaport of the Austrian Empire. The company grew in importance, becoming one of the largest insurance operators both in Italy and in Central Europe. As of 2017, the company ranks 57th on the Fortune Global 500 list of companies and 43rd on MITs worldwide "Smartest Companies" ranking in 2015.Generali's major competitors at the international level are AXA, Allianz and Zurich Insurance Group.