Tesco launches van and tradesman insurance with AXA

Tesco has announced the launch of specialist van and tradesman covers for SMEs, in a new partnership with AXA. The insurer is responsible for the "sales, adminstration and underwriting" of the new products and it is understood that this is through its Partner Solutions team based in Glasgow.

Tesco van insurance can also include motor breakdown and legal cover provided by AXA Assistance and Lawclub respectively. The tradesman policy is based primarily on a public liability cover, which can be extended to include employer's liability, tools and trailer contents.

The launch of SME covers by Tesco does not come as a surprise, although the choice of AXA over its car and houseold insurance joint venture partner, Ageas, is of some interest.  

RSA announces John Lewis partnership

RSA has announced a partnership to provide household and pet insurance to John Lewis and Waitrose customers.

The announcement came in RSA's results for the first quarter of 2012 and unusually for such a major partnership deal, this was made in advance of final contracts being signed. (Update: Official confirmation of the deal made on 24 July 2012.)

The partnership follows a detailed tender exercise managed by the John Lewis Partnership in 2011 and represents a significant loss for AXA; of what is widely regarded as one of the UK's leading affinity partnerships. AXA remains the incumbent insurer for household, pet, travel, wedding and event covers. It is understood that the travel cover is also likely to be removed from AXA's portfolio and further launch announcements are expected soon.

Ageas continues as the motor provider through its UKAIS operation and Friends Life as the life provider.

RSA selected as pet insurer for Argos & Homebase

RSA has recently secured a new partnership with Home Retail Group to offer pet insurance through its Argos and Homebase brands. The deal commenced at the end of January 2012 and is for a 5 year period.

RSA has replaced BDML Connect; the latter having previously distributed a product underwritten by Agria Forsakring AB.

Unlike many other major insurers, RSA has focused a great deal of effort in developing pet insurance partnerships and other significant deals include Tesco Bank and Marks & Spencer. 

BDML Connect continues to partner with Argos and Homebase for Home Insurance (May 2013 - no longer available) and Chartis provides the retailers' Travel Insurance (May 2013 - Chartis replaced by Insure & Go).

Provident joins Equity's affinity panel

Provident Insurance announced recently (February 2012) that it is to join Equity Insurance Partnerships' motor panel.

EIP is the specialist affinity division of IAG UK and boasts an impressive list of motor insurance clients including Nissan, Santander, Mazda and First Direct.

Provident already works as an insurer on a wide range of partnerships' panels including those of Tesco and Marks & Spencer and is often regarded as an obvious and complementary choice to work with other insurers.

L&G's protection partnership with Mansfield B.S.

Legal & General has announced a mortgage and family protection partnership with Mansfield Building Society, the UK's 31st largest society, with a membership of approximately 27,000.

No details have yet been provided about the length of the partnership or the start date. However, it again demonstrates the commitment of L&G to the sector; in which it has similar deals with societies including Yorkshire, Skipton and Cambridge. 

At the time of writing, the Mansfield continues to partner with Heath Lambert for home insurance and with local IFAs, R.A. Cowen & Partners, for financial planning.

Yorkshire B.S. extends partnership with L&G

Yorkshire Building Society, the UK's second largest building society, has announced that L&G is to become the main provider of finanical advice (protection, investments and planning) for its major brands. L&G already provides advice for Yorkshire and Barnsley Building Society customers and this will be extended to Chelsea Building Society customers during 2012.

The 2 organisations have stated that this will allow the Society to offer customers a range of advised and non-advised products, in preparation for the RDR in January 2013.

The move shows more evidence of L&G's push into partnerships, although Yorkshire's home and motor insurance remains with RSA and MPPI with Cardif Pinnacle.