Press Release - 2nd August 2007

• Regional growth continues
• Four key appointments announced

ABC Insurance, part of the LV= Group, today announced the opening of its north of England regional branch office based in Sheffield.

The Sheffield operation goes live on 1st August 2007 and will target commercial SME business from brokers across the north of England. The launch follows the recent opening of ABC's office in Croydon and is a key part of ABC's strategy to develop a UK-wide branch network.

The branch will be headed by Mick Davis, formerly Regional Manager at NIG's Leeds Commercial Branch, who has over 30 years' underwriting experience in the local market.  Mick will be joined by three further key appointments.

Kim Chambers has been appointed Branch Underwriting Manager.  Previously Kim was Operations Manager at NIG, Leeds and she will be responsible for generating premium growth and underwriting profit.

James Leigh and Jonnie Armstrong have been appointed as Regional Sales Executives with responsibility for business development and broker relationship management.

James joins ABC from insurance broker, Greystone, and will be responsible for developing the North West region. Prior to Greystone, James was a New Business Development Manager at Allianz Cornhill in Manchester.

Jonnie Armstrong will focus on business development in Yorkshire and the North East. He has previously held sales and development roles with NIG, Zurich and Abbey Legal Protection.

Phil Bunker, Head of ABC Insurance comments: "The launch of our Sheffield office is an important step for ABC, giving us immediate access to key insurance markets in the north of England.

"ABC Insurance has been designed for today's broker – we have invested a lot of time listening to brokers and have built products and services to match their needs and help them grow their businesses. We will provide brokers with a strong local underwriting service, direct access to key decision makers and a fast quotation service.

"In Sheffield, as in Croydon, we have recruited an experienced and well respected team with long established broker relationships and a successful track record of delivery."

Over the next 18 months ABC Insurance will continue to build its branch network and will open three further offices by the year end.