New plans to tax death benefit from unit-linked policies have been revealed in the press.
New plans to tax death benefit from unit-linked policies have been revealed in the press. AFER, our partner of 33 years, has published an open letter from its chairman appealing to the government to protect the stability of the legal framework of life insurance, which is one of the factors unpinning the confidence of the French in life insurance.
Aviva France supports the demands of the AFER on behalf of all its policyholders.
Casting doubt, once again, over the status of life insurance would send a negative signal to savers. Life insurance drives the French economy. It is recovering after a difficult year in 2008, which was marked by a reduction of receipts and stagnation of amounts outstanding. Nonetheless, the latest statistics published for the French market show that savers still have confidence in the sector.
In order to get firmly back onto the path of growth, and maintain its capacity to finance businesses and any exceptional funding needs of the state, life insurance needs stability and trust. Therefore, a stable regulatory and fiscal framework that gives savers the confidence to invest in long-term savings, which our economy needs now more than ever, is crucial.
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Aviva press contacts:
Aviva
Karim Mokrane
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 7685
E-mail: karim_mokrane@aviva.fr
HDL Communication
Valérie Dudoit
Telephone: +33 (0)1 5865 2016
E-mail: vdudoit@hdlcom.com
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
Aviva is the world’s fifth-largest insurance group*, with 50 million customers throughout Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region. Aviva’s principal business activities are: life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance.
At 31 December 2008, Aviva had total turnover of €64.3 billion, with €393 billion of assets under management. Aviva is the largest insurer in the UK and one of the leading providers of life insurance and pension products in Europe. A selection of images and all the press releases from the Aviva Group are available in the press area www.aviva.com/media. Videos can also be downloaded from the site www.thenewsmarket.com/aviva.
With more than 180 years’ experience in France, Aviva is among the top ten players in the insurance market. Aviva France operates a balanced multi-distribution model based on a comprehensive range of products, mainly intended for individuals and SMEs. Some 900 general agents, 1,800 branch staff, 400 life insurance advisers, almost 900 wealth management advisers (Union Financière de France) and more than 1,000 active partner brokers are at the service of three million clients every day.
Aviva has developed unique expertise in building effective partnerships for the benefit of its clients, particularly with AFER, the largest savings association in France, and the Crédit du Nord, Société Générale and Ford groups.
Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is recognised for the excellent performance of its long-term funds, the quality and innovation of its products, and solid commitment to its customers through its Good Advice approach.
Aviva France is a socially responsible company and has developed initiatives that include reducing and neutralising its CO2 emissions, supporting more than 250 projects to help children and the elderly through the Aviva Foundation, and implementing an acclaimed diversity policy.
The Aviva Group directly employs more than 4,700 staff in France.
At 31 December 2008, Aviva France reported consolidated sales of €6.0 billion and an IFRS-based net profit of €130 million. The company had €69.6 billion of assets under management at 31 December 2008.
*Based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2008.