Zurich Building Guarantee Announces Awards Scheme For Customers - New Building Control Manager Appointed to Head New Team  

20 April 2006. Zurich Building Guarantee today announced that it has launched this year's Customer First Awards. The annual awards, which are now in their sixth year, are designed to recognise house builders who are delivering exceptional customer service and demonstrating excellence in technical performance. Entrants will be assessed via the results of a questionnaire sent out to Zurich warranty policy homeowners in 2005 as well as the analysis of site data drawn from Zurich's site inspections.

"The Customer First Awards reflect the thoughts of the people that really count - the new homeowners.  New to the awards this year is the Site Award. This will capture not only the picture of finished and successful housing developments but also those currently in progress", said Martin Horsler, head of Zurich Building Guarantee.

Information gathered prior to the awards ceremony will also be used by Zurich Building Guarantee to benchmark companies against the national performance of other registered developers.  This service is available to all companies registered with Zurich.

Zurich Building Guarantee has also appointed Mark Van Schalkwyk to the position of Building Control Manager. Mark will be responsible for the Building Control Services Ltd, a newly created Approved Inspector service within Zurich. Building Guarantee. The new department has been set up to provide a greater degree of choice in both the residential and commercial property sectors and it will be offering a building control service for mixed-use schemes, urban regeneration projects and housing developments whether on greenfield or brownfield sites.

Mark Van Schalkwyk commented: "Zurich Building Guarantee is continually developing and updating its service to reflect changes in the marketplace. Building Control will allow our registered developers to work with Zurich's surveying team for both warranty policy cover and building regulation compliance. With Zurich providing the building control service the developer has the benefit of expert advice on technical issues and will only have to deal with one surveyor, which reduces the risk of any potential conflict of views and possible delays."

Note to Editors:

Zurich Building Guarantee is part of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 55,000 people serving customers in more than 120 countries.Zurich is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.