The FCA Announces Outcome of Investigation Into 4 Life Insurance Companies

LONDON, England, Sept. 19 -- The Financial Conduct Authority, a provider of financial services, issued the following news release:

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today announced that its remaining investigations into firms, following its thematic review into the fair treatment of longstanding customers in the life insurance sector, have each been closed.

The FCA launched the investigation following a thematic review, published on 3 March 2016. This identified further work was required to determine whether 6 of the 11 firms that were involved in the thematic review had failed to meet our standards. These 6 firms were Abbey Life, Countrywide Assured, Old Mutual, Police Mutual, Prudential and Scottish Widows.

The investigations into Police Mutual and Scottish Widows were closed earlier without further action.

All of the remaining investigations have now been closed. The FCA found the conduct of the 4 remaining firms (Abbey Life, Old Mutual, Prudential and Countrywide Assured) did not warrant enforcement action. In each firm, some issues have been identified during the investigations, which are being addressed as part of our ongoing supervision of those firms.

The FCA published its Final Guidance publication in December 2016. This sets out the expectations on how life insurance firms treat their closed-book customers fairly, including when disclosing the existence of paid-up and exit charges to existing customers.

The FCA will continue to assess life insurance firms' adherence to the required standards and Principles, and take appropriate steps where necessary.