Monday, April 21, 2008

Norwich Union Deadlock

Norwich Union Deadlock

The negotiations over the fate of the orphan assets of Norwich Union have become deadlocked.

As such the task of freeing up the deadlock has fallen to John McFall, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee.

Norwich Union are refusing to offer policyholders anymore. However, policyholder advocate Clare Spottiswoode is standing firm against the current offer on the table by Norwich Union.

Norwich Union have surplus (orphan) assets of £5BN (aka "inherited estate"). They are using £2.1BN to increase the value of policyholders' assets over the coming 3 years.

However, the dispute centres around what will happen to another £2.7BN.

The argument is focused on whether it is right for Norwich to use the money in ways that do not benefit policyholders, eg instance paying tax or financing growth.

The danger is that Norwich walk away from the negotiations and keep this £2.7BN for themselves.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Time Bar Pays Dividends

Time Bar Pays Dividends

Life assurance group Chesnara, the holding company for Countrywide Assured plc and City of Westminster Assurance Company Limited, has benefited from the time bar on making mortgage endowment complaints for mis-selling.

Its results for 2007 have improved.

Figures show that pre-tax profits rose 11% to £27.7M in 2007 from £25M in 2006. The significant reduction in endowment complaints allowed for a provision release of £2.8M.

Chesnara Chairman, Christopher Sporborg, said:

"Our recent experience of mortgage endowment mis-selling complaints has been generally positive. The number of complaints has reduced significantly and an increasing proportion of those received are time-barred in line with FSA rules, while uphold rates on those complaints which are not time-barred have increased.

Although we do not believe that this issue has fully run its course, we do feel able, however, whilst maintaining an element of conservatism, to reduce our redress provisions, by £2.8 million, based on our revised expectation of future complaint activity
."

It's nice to see that someone can make money out this mess.