March 2007

NIG launches its first imarket SME package products on Acturis

16th March 2007 – Broker-only insurer NIG is enhancing its commercial e-trading capability by launching its first imarket integrated SME package products on the Acturis1 broker platform.

NIG’s Retailer, Office, Tradesmen and Property Owners products went live on March 5, followed closely by hair and beauty, hotel, public bars and restaurants and working from home products. All eight SME products are fully integrated into the Acturis system and provide brokers with the benefit of single keying of data, instant quotations, new business acceptance and electronic documentation. All products comply with the imarket industry standards.

The partnership with Acturis, which is seen as a key part of the insurer’s online strategy, brings NIG’s SME products to Acturis brokers, many of whom now prefer doing business electronically.

Vivek Banga, NIG Director of eCommerce, said: “We are delighted to join forces with Acturis who will undoubtedly help NIG to realise its ambitious SME growth plans. By delivering our imarket integrated products via Acturis we aim to provide our brokers with more choice as to how they choose to trade electronically with us.”

Theo Duchen, co-CEO of Acturis commented: “Integrating NIG’s SME package products on to Acturis provides our users access to an even wider range of quotations. We are delighted with the quality of products offered by NIG and look forward to bringing more products to market through our system in the future.”

Peter Knowles, Strategy & Marketing Director for imarket said: “We are delighted that NIG is offering its entire SME package product range using imarket standards via the Acturis broker system. Obviously, this is another step forward for imarket increasing the number of integrated products available via the imarket infrastructure.”

ENDS
Notes to editors:

NIG is a leading insurer of small to medium sized businesses and private customers throughout the UK and is part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Visit www.nig.com for further details.

For more information, please contact:
Unni Schmidt, Senior Marketing Executive (External Communications)
Tel: 020 7656 6122 E-mail: unni.schmidt@nig-uk.com

NIG is the trading name of The National Insurance and Guarantee Corporation Limited.
Registered in England and Wales number 42133 at Crown House, 145 City Road, London EC1V 1LP.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Calls may be recorded.

imarket is the general insurance industry portal that facilitates brokers and insurers communicating electronically and efficiently with each other. There are currently:

- 6 insurer members of imarket : AXA, AllianzCornhill, Groupama, Norwich Union, Royal & SunAlliance & Zurich
- 1800 broking firms registered to use imarket
- 7 software houses: Acturis , CDL , insurE-com , Misys , Sectornet , Sirius & Software Solutions Partners all of whom have committed to integrating with the imarket portal.

For more information please contact Peter Knowles, Strategy & Marketing Director, Polaris UK Ltd.
Tel: 0207 265 5763
Mobile: 07850 140827

1. Acturis
Acturis has worked with forward-looking provincial brokers and a number of leading insurers to develop the broking system of the future.
The Acturis Broker Platform uses Internet connectivity and innovative technologies to make brokers more efficient, effective and successful in a new connected and regulated environment. The Acturis Broker Platform provides the IT base for a new and innovative way of transacting insurance, reducing duplication of work, lowering error rates and driving cost out of the broker distribution channel.
The Acturis Broker Platform has been trading fully live since July 2002 and is now used throughout the UK.
The Acturis Team
Sir Brian Pitman, the former Lloyds-TSB Chairman, is Chairman of Acturis. Sir Brian is a known and respected name throughout the financial services market and the City, and his experience in driving efficiency savings and innovation through Lloyds-TSB is invaluable.
Our experienced team is led by co-CEOs, David McDonald and Theo Duchen. Both are ex-partners at McKinsey, where David managed the UK eCommerce practice area and Theo managed the UK General Insurance team. Jointly they have in excess of 20 years experience in UK financial services and have worked with many top UK insurers and brokers.
For further information visit www.acturis.com

All Acturis press enquiries to:
Simon Ronaldson
Sales & Marketing Manager
Acturis Ltd
0207 079 4017
simon.ronaldson@acturis.com

Return to Listings