Stop press...Ratings exposed

Ratings exposed
Standard & Poor's (S&P) will expose the insurance rating system in a presentation to members of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) on 11 and 12 June.

S&P director of financial services ratings Peter Hughes will explore rating criteria and the processes involved.

He will also look at the ways in which ratings are used outside the insurance industry.

He said: "Ratings have consistently proved their value in the insurance market.

"But with a broader understanding of the intricacies of a rating and the methodology used to create a rating, users can gain a far greater understanding of an insurer."

Web benefits
Broker Heath Lambert has extended its employee benefits service to the internet, in a move aimed at strengthening and differentiating the group's employee benefits.

Heath Lambert has formed a strategic partnership with Vebnet, an employee benefits technology provider, to deliver a web-based benefits service.

The service, which uses Vebnet's FIX&FLEX technology, ranges from consultancy on benefits design, through to online delivery and enrolment, supported by automated administration.

Illness policy boom
Swiss Re Life & Health had a record year for critical illness sales and topped 200,000 income protection policy sales in 2001, a new report says.

HealthWatch says UK sales of new critical illness policies increased by 11.8% in 2001 and new income protection policies by 10.6% over sales in 2000.

HealthWatch is a comprehensive review of sales and distribution of individual long-term health care products in 2001.

Bupa removal deal
Bupa International and Allied Pickfords, the removals company, have joined forces to help customers move abroad.

Allied Pickfords has released the MoveCare guide, which incorporates details of various insurance services to cover all aspects of the moving process.

Bupa International's products and services are featured in the guide, which will be given to all customers by Allied Pickfords.