Two Norwich Union with profit funds are set to pay their policyholders an average of GBP1,000 each should they accept the offer.
Around a million customers hold these particular Norwich Union funds, with 700,000 of them set to receive between GBP400 and GBP1,000 and a further 220,000 looking at a minimum of GBP1,000 up to GBP3,500. The policies in question are the CGNU Life and CULAC with profit fund. The payout will be instead of any future claim on the surplus value of the funds so the options should the considered carefully.
The general opinion is that the offer is a very fair one and is likely to be accepted by most customers, especially in the current economic climate. Payouts are expected to begin in the middle of 2009 since there are a number of administrative procedures to carry out prior to Norwich Union allocating the funds.
The Prudential is said to be expanding the partnership it has with Standard Chartered a bank that works in the emerging markets sector.
At the moment the Prudential provides both insurance and savings products across Asia through the existing partnership, though this is set to develop with the partnership expansion. Moving forwards the Pru will be in a position to provide insurance products to customers in Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.
Current market figures show that the Prudential is the market leader for life insurance in Asia so the move into these far eastern countries is expected to be a fruitful one, the current status of the Prudential helping it quickly gain market share.
A spokesman from Norwich Union has said that the GBP2.6 billion reattribution of surplus funds is close to being resolved following previous disputes.
A representative for policyholders has been asking for changes since the reattribution of funds was biased in favour of Norwich Union shareholders and needed attention. Following this a committee from the government has been looking at the situation to ensure fairness.
Norwich Union are offering payments to with profits insurance fund policy holders but they will then not be eligible for any further annual bonuses. They are yet to hear if this latest offer is acceptable but hope it will be so that the funds can be paid out.