Aviva news
Aviva is a global insurer and is one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance.
Its primary products are life and home insurances, as well as business lines.
Other business streams include retirement products such as annuities, equity release schemes (home equity loans), pension products, and other investment and savings products.
Aviva Healthcare, a major provider of private medical insurance in the UK, covers hospital and outpatient care and provides disability products.
Main Aviva products:
- Life insurance
- Car insurance
- Home & Contents insurance
- Retirement planning
Website: Aviva
Latest Aviva News:
Aviva enters Indonesian market
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva enters Indonesian market
Aviva has broken into a new market with the acquisition of a 60% stake in PT Asuransi Winterthur Life Indonesia (WLI).
According to the insurer, Indonesia is one of the fastest growing life insurance markets in Asia, and the acquisition is consistent with the its long-term strategy to build a presence in key South East Asian [...]
Aviva launches “Little Book of Claims”
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva launches “Little Book of Claims”
Aviva has launched a series of online guides aimed at bringing brokers up to speed on the group’s claims process, so they can let policyholders know what to expect in the event of a claim.
The series of six guides includes “The Little Book of Claims”, which explains Aviva’s overall claims service.
The “Little Book” is accompanied [...]
Hard-up travellers warned against skipping insurance
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Hard-up travellers warned against skipping insurance
According to new research from Aviva, the torrid weather of winter has fuelled an understandable desire to holiday abroad.
However, the insurer has discovered that, worryingly, the ongoing economic difficulty and consumer belt-tightening has led 31% of would-be travellers to state they intend to skip taking out travel insurance or were considering going without it.
Sixty-two percent [...]
Fire risk blights modern construction methods
by Gill Montia
Story link: Fire risk blights modern construction methods
“Building” has warned that insurance companies, including Aviva and AXA, may refuse to cover some UK buildings because of fire risk.
According to the construction magazine, recent figures from insurance research body, RISCAuthority, indicate that 40% of fires involving a loss exceeding £150,000 are related to timber-frame and light-gauge steel-frame buildings.
Concerns centre on the performance of [...]
Aviva Investors sends warning shot over executive pay
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva Investors sends warning shot over executive pay
Aviva’s fund management arm, Aviva Investors, is reported to have written to the chairmen of every large listed company in Britain warning that they need to be able to justify their executive remuneration policies for 2010.
According to The Times, Aviva Investors holds around 1.5% of every company quoted on the FTSE All-share index and voted [...]
Aviva gives SSP brokers access to Personal Best
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva gives SSP brokers access to Personal Best
Aviva has teamed up with IT company, SSP, to give 600 additional brokers access to personal lines products.
The move means that SSP brokers can now access Personal Best from Aviva via an extranet portal.
SSP is the second software house to integrate with Aviva’s rating engine following on from Insurecom, and there are plans for Open [...]
Aviva promotes life and critical illness coverage
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Aviva promotes life and critical illness coverage
New research commissioned by Aviva has revealed that the British household would only have enough money to cover bills for a fortnight should they or a partner suffer critical illness or death.
According to the research 24% would be able to access only £100 without borrowing, and that without borrowing the average household would have access [...]
Over two-thirds of UK drivers hazy on “fronting”
by Gill Montia
Story link: Over two-thirds of UK drivers hazy on “fronting”
Large numbers of motorists could be deceiving their car insurers by naming themselves as the main driver of a vehicle when they are not.
An example of this would be a parent insuring a car and declaring themselves the main driver in order to reduce the premium, when in fact their son or daughter will be [...]
Right insurance essential for empty retail units
by Gill Montia
Story link: Right insurance essential for empty retail units
The recession has left plenty of empty shops on the UK’s High Streets and Aviva is reminding property owners of the importance of having the right insurance in place.
According to research by Local Data Company, retail property vacancy rates across Britain have risen to 12%, with some towns seeing as much as 24% of shops [...]
Millions thrown away in annuity income
by Gill Montia
Story link: Millions thrown away in annuity income
Ignorance causes the UK’s over 55s to throw away millions in annuity income.
So claims Aviva, which is concerned that over 8.5 million people in this age group could be jeopardising their retirement income through a worrying level of ignorance about annuities.
Gaps in knowledge are illustrated by the fact that almost two-thirds of couples aged over [...]
Aviva reports challenges ahead for over 55s
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva reports challenges ahead for over 55s
Aviva has outlined the challenges ahead for the over 55s in its first Aviva Real Retirement Report.
The new quarterly report reviews the finances of the three ages of retirement: pre-retirees (55-64); retiring (65-74) and long-term retired (Over 75).
The study reveals that Britons approaching retirement have finances in far worse shape than those either aged 65 [...]
Aviva reports 21% rise in life and pensions sales
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva reports 21% rise in life and pensions sales
Aviva saw a 21% rise in worldwide life and pensions sales in the fourth quarter of 2009, to £8 billion, compared with the previous three month period.
The group said it had put in a strong regional performance, with life and pension sales up 17% in the UK, 39% in Aviva Europe and 45% in the [...]
Over-80s refused car insurance
by David Masters
Story link: Over-80s refused car insurance
Motorists over 80 years old are being denied car insurance quotes, according to new research by Age Concern and Help the Aged.
Half of motor insurance companies will not provide car insurance to drivers aged over 80, their investigation found.
A significant number of insurers refused to provide quotes for any driver over the age of 65.
The [...]
Aviva appoints global media agency
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva appoints global media agency
Aviva has appointed ZenithOptimedia as its global media buying, planning and digital agency.
The move follows an extensive review of the insurer’s media supplier arrangements and is aimed at maximising the impact of its media investment around the world.
In addition, it should generate significant cost savings for the group and bringing greater consistency to communications with [...]
Aviva scoops Market Research Society award
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva scoops Market Research Society award
Aviva has won the Financial Services category at the 2009 Market Research Society (MRS) Awards.
The UK’s biggest insurer was acknowledged for its “Customers at the Heart of Aviva” project conducted with Ipsos MORI.
The work was commended for using cutting edge techniques that uncovered consumer views on the current economic climate whilst remaining focused on longer [...]
Abbey enhances Additions home insurance range
by Gill Montia
Story link: Abbey enhances Additions home insurance range
Abbey for Intermediaries is alerting mortgage brokers to the fact that they could be losing out on a market potentially worth £30 million in sales commission this year, if they fail to exploit the general insurance market.
The lender suggests intermediaries can supplement their business revenues by cross selling insurance products to homeowners, and by way [...]
Freezing weather sees water damage claims soar
by David Masters
Story link: Freezing weather sees water damage claims soar
Householders are being warned to keep their homes warm during the current freezing weather or risk having their property flooded by burst water pipes.
Research by Virgin Money found burst water pipes and “escape of water” accounted for 15% of claims between December 2008 and November 2009.
The average amount paid out for these claims was £3,000, [...]
Aviva almost maintains regular bonus rates
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva almost maintains regular bonus rates
Aviva has published details of its regular bonus rates for 2010, saying “despite the volatility of investment markets over the past two years, the vast majority of regular bonus rates have been maintained”.
According to the insurer, its with-profits funds continue to give consistent and stable returns.
For example, a customer who invested £10,000 five years ago [...]
Aviva backs parental involvement for young drivers
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Aviva backs parental involvement for young drivers
Aviva has conducted research revealing that around a quarter of young drivers are completely lacking any parental instruction and are thus entirely reliant on paid driving instructors for their lessons.
In addition, one in three young drivers had less than ten hours of practice with their family prior to their driving test.
Young drivers are clearly the [...]
Aviva enhances Group Risk products
by Richard Kilner
Story link: Aviva enhances Group Risk products
Aviva has today announced that its Group Risk products are being substantially improved, adding Lump Sum and Pay Direct options to its Group Income Protection and enhanced Free Cover Limits on its Group Life policies.
By enhancing its products in this way Aviva has acted to increase the flexibility and choice available from its Group Risk [...]
