London, 3 January 2012: Specialist broker Voyager Insurance Services Ltd has acquired the Fresh Start book of business from Culpeck Insurance Services for an undisclosed sum. Fresh Start is a niche offering that provides home buildings, contents and all risks cover to individuals who, either through their own criminal conviction or the criminal conviction of a family member or partner residing with them, often have difficulty obtaining insurance. Cover can also be offered to landlords letting to people with criminal convictions. Fresh Start is a rapidly expanding retail brand which grew by 25% in 2011. Fresh Start was established in 1999 and has referral links with agencies, charities, prison and probation services aimed at helping those people with unspent criminal convictions to make insurance provisions in what is a very difficult area for most insurers. Voyager director Jonathan Buttery commented: “We are extremely pleased to announce the acquisition of Fresh Start. This complements our development in carefully selected areas that have previously been confined to travel and event-related coverages. We will be progressing this strategy as opportunities present themselves.” Ends
For further information please contact: Richard Adams (T) 020 7623 2368 FWD – PR (M) 07882 140722 (E) richard.adams@fwdmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors Voyager Established in 1996 and acquired by Somerville in September 2007, Guildford-based Voyager is one of the UK’s leading travel insurance specialists providing bespoke travel insurance schemes to insurance brokers and third party intermediaries. These include tour operators, travel agents, ferry companies and online insurance specialists. Its product offering spans the full range of travel insurance from single-trip, long stay and annual multi-trip to winter sports and European vehicle assistance. They also operate the Dreamsaver brand for wedding insurance, one of the leading wedding insurance products available online, as well the more recently established asianweddinginsurance. Somerville Independent underwriting and broking group Somerville Holdings plc was formed 26 years ago. From a solo broking operation, the group has expanded both organically and through acquisitions to include HNW and home underwriting, wholesale and retail general insurance broking and IFA businesses. The group’s now manages approximately £50m of gross written premium.
