24 January 2013

As previously announced as part of Legal & General's general insurance business strategy to expand the range of personal line insurance products it offers, it has launched Enhanced home insurance, designed for those customers in the mid and high net worth market who are looking for bespoke insurance cover and service.

Despite the economic downturn, the number of more affluent individuals in the UK is forecasted to grow on average by an annual rate of 8%, reaching 12.4 million in 2014, with younger professionals expected to become richer, faster than any other age group.*

Legal & General's new Enhanced home insurance cover has been designed to meet the needs of these more affluent customers who look for a personal and professional service, have a high level of understanding of their insurance needs yet prefer to use a trusted brand.

With this in mind, Legal & General's general insurance business decided to partner with Aqueduct Underwriting Limited, who has the experience and expertise of arranging and administering home insurance for larger properties and higher valued possessions that are required by customers in this market. Enhanced offers customers greater product flexibility, yet is still competitively priced and is supported by personalised customer service and the security that comes with the Legal & General valued and trusted brand.

The new Enhanced household insurance is initially available through regional brokers where the new cover will complement Legal & General's existing Rainbow and Home Insurance Choices (HIC) products and in the direct market, Essentials and Extra home insurance cover. Enhanced will then be rolled-out to Legal & General's other intermediary and affinity distribution channels. .

Mark Holweger Director, Legal & General's general insurance business, said: "Legal & General's multi-distribution strategy enables us to support consumers' demand to have choice in the way that they wish to arrange their home insurance cover. The launch of Enhanced importantly complements the existing cover options available to customers through our broker partners.

By talking to brokers we recognised that what their mid net worth and high net worth clients really value is the personalised service that their broker or intermediary is able to offer them and with their professional advice this means that the broker understands and is able to deliver a bespoke service that is truly valued.

As Legal & General is committed to providing quality and competitive products to our customers, we believed that it was key to work in association with Aqueduct as our business partner in developing our Enhanced home insurance proposition. We believe that with their expertise and experience in this market and our heritage and strength, the total proposition we are able to offer will be consider outstanding by both our broker partners and their mid and high net worth customers."

Jonathan Rouse, Director Aqueduct Underwriting Limited said: "Our expertise and approach means we are able to bring an excellent understanding of the cover and service that brokers want for their more affluent customers. So the Enhanced home insurance proposition that Aqueduct has developed with Legal & General is an outstanding proposition, as it is a combination of quality protection with quality service - which we know will meet the high expectations of brokers and importantly their clients."

Brokers and other intermediaries and business partners wanting more information on the new Enhanced home insurance cover should contact their usual Legal & General contact or visit www.legalandgeneral.com/gibroker

Notes to editors

Sources: * Datamonitor Mass Affluent Market research, 2010

Enhanced home insurance cover is an 'All Risks' worldwide policy, with cover provided for all types of homes, subject to certain exclusions For example cover includes:

  • Cover for buildings sum insured over £800,000
  • Cover for contents sum insured over £80,000
  • High valued items are covered as standard so there is no need to list individual items valued under £10,000 for example jewellery and watches or £15,000 for other valuable items
  • For a claim involving a specified item which has been lost or damaged beyond repair, there is the choice to replace the item or receive a cash settlement
  • The valuations of items is only requested at the claim stage
  • Large or complex claims are made easier as a home visit by a specialist loss adjuster is arranged
  • The replacement of undamaged items in a set if the matching item cannot be replaced
  • Worldwide cover as standard for theft, loss or damage of possessions when temporarily away from the home
  • Dependent child belongings are covered while they are residing at boarding school or University.

Legal & General's Enhanced home insurance is arranged and administered by Aqueduct Underwriting Limited a specialist underwriter which began trading in 2010 to offer household insurance products designed to cater for the demands and needs of affluent homeowners. Every policyholder receiving a high level of professional service.Aqueduct issues the insurance, which is provided by insurers at Lloyd's of London, who are rated A+ by both Standard's & Poor's and Fitch. More details are available at http://www.aquaunderwriting.com/

About Legal & General

Founded in 1836, Legal & General has been in business for over 175 years which not only gives us credibility but demonstrates our experience in every kind of economic climate. Legal & General is one of the UK's leading financial services companies and as at 30 June 2012, we were responsible for investing £388 billion worldwide on behalf of investors, policyholders and shareholders. We also had over seven million customers in the UK for our life assurance, pensions, investments and general insurance plans. The general insurance business was recently voted by Your Money: Best Home and Contents Provider 2012 and a consumer-focused approach and drive to deliver outstanding products and services.

  • The information contained in this release is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions.
  • Full consumer product information for Enhanced can be found at www.legalandgeneral.com/enhancedor by calling 0500 66 55 55. We may record and monitor calls. Lines are open 9am - 8pm Monday to Thursday; 9am - 6pm Friday and 9am - 1pm Saturday. Alternatively, customers should speak to their insurance adviser.
  • Legal & General is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, FSA.
  • Legal & General Distribution Services Limited. Registered address: One Coleman Street, London EC2R 5AA. Registered in England No 8083925.

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