CGU announces new life bancassurance joint venture in Portugal

CGU plc announces a new life bancassurance joint venture with the Portuguese bank, Banco Nacional de Credito Immobilario ("BNC").

CGU plc announces a new life bancassurance joint venture with the Portuguese bank, Banco Nacional de Credito Immobilario ("BNC").

The business will be called Eurovida, and will sell a range of unit-linked life and pensions products through BNC's 100 branches, providing a national network. Sales are expected to commence in the first quarter of next year.

CGU currently has a small life business in Portugal and this business will form part of the new joint venture.

Notes to Editors

  • CGU is Europe's 5th largest insurance group and the largest in the UK (based on worldwide sales of some Ł18bn per annum).
  • CGU's life business in Portugal had premium income of around Ł18m in 1998.
  • BNC is a top 20 bank in Portugal, with over 100,000 customers.
  • The Portuguese life market is one of the fastest growing in Europe, achieving growth of over 30% per annum since 1991.
  • Bancassurance accounts for around 80% of life assurance sales in Portugal.
  • The population of Portugal is approximately 10m.