Churchill Group insurer NIG has revealed the Avon brand will continue following its purchase of the company from NFU Mutual.

NIG confirmed earlier today that NIG will take on Avon renewals from 1 January 2003.

NIG announced that the Avon brand will continue for the forseeable time. NIG's Managing Director, Phil Bunker said "For Avon's customers - it is very much a case of business as usual.

"This arrangement strengthens our position in both the personal lines and SME markets and reinforces our position with the broker community."

NIG spokesman David Grant said all staff affected by the acquisition would be retained. "We have some excellent people on board and we plan to utilise this human capital over the coming months to enhance the Avon brand," he said.

Grant would not deny plans to innovate new Avon products in the near future. He added: "This will strengthen our position in the marketplace by enhancing our position through broker relationships."

The agreement will see 45,000 commercial and 305,000 personal lines policies moving under NIG's control. The policies concerned generated a gross written premium in 2001 of £126m.

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