Press Release: 23rd June 2008

ABC Insurance, part of the LV= Liverpool Victoria Group, today celebrates a successful first year in business, including the launch of a range of products, new regional offices, and several senior appointments.

In its first year of trading, ABC has launched a range of new products offering comprehensive levels of cover at competitive prices, including Car, Commercial Combined, Property Owners, Shops and Offices & Surgeries Insurance.  ABC's products are available exclusively via insurance brokers.

The company has also opened commercial branches in Croydon, Maidstone, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.  In contrast to many insurers, ABC intends to continue to develop its branch network to ensure brokers have easy access to local decision makers.

During the last 12 months ABC has also made a number of key appointments to support its ambitious growth plans, including Mike Crane as Head of Broker Underwriting with responsibility for underwriting and developing the commercial branch network.  Mike joined from NIG. 

Other key appointments include Elspeth Hackett into the role of Motor Underwriting Manager and Kevin Hawkins as Commercial Packages Manager.  Regional appointments include David Parker to manage the Maidstone branch, Kim Chambers for the Leeds branch and Andrew Lake for the Bristol branch.

To deliver its strong growth strategy ABC plans to employ a further 70 people across its head office and branch network over the coming 12 months.  At a time when a number of insurers are cutting back on their staff, ABC is continuing to invest in high quality staff that can provide a high quality service to brokers.

Phil Bunker, Managing Director of ABC Insurance, commented: "I am very pleased with our first year of trading.  We have had a very successful first year of business and recruited some really strong industry players to the team, which will enable us to continue to develop ABC over the coming years."

To tie in with the anniversary the company is also unveiling a new brand identity, which has been developed to highlight ABC's parent company, LV= Liverpool Victoria, an insurance and investment group with £7.7 billion in funds under management.

Commenting on the new logo, Phil Bunker said: "LV= Liverpool Victoria is a major financial services group and we wanted to highlight this to the broker market.  ABC is able to draw on the huge amount of experience and resources within the company, which employs 2000 people nationwide, and bring that expertise to the broker market."