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==Notable advertising==
==Notable advertising==
Direct Line auto insurance's television adverts featuring the "[[Cleaner (crime)|cleaner]]" [[Winston Wolfe]] from ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'' are played during [[Foyle's War (series eight)|''Foyle's War'' series eight]] on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11104293/Harvey-Keitels-Direct-Line-ad-and-6-other-examples-of-actors-selling-out.html|title=Harvey Keitel's Direct Line ad and 6 other examples of actors selling out|publisher=The Telegraph|date=18 September 2014|accessdate=16 January 2015}}</ref>
Direct Line auto insurance's television adverts feature the "[[Cleaner (crime)|cleaner]]" [[Winston Wolfe]] from ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'' .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/11104293/Harvey-Keitels-Direct-Line-ad-and-6-other-examples-of-actors-selling-out.html|title=Harvey Keitel's Direct Line ad and 6 other examples of actors selling out|publisher=The Telegraph|date=18 September 2014|accessdate=16 January 2015}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 12:43, 22 February 2015

Direct Line Insurance Group plc
Company typePublic
LSEDLG
IndustryInsurance
FoundedFebruary 2012[1]
HeadquartersBromley, Kent,
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Italy
Germany
Key people
Mike Biggs
(Chairman)
Paul Geddes
(Chief Executive)
[2]
ProductsGeneral insurance, finance
Revenue£ 3,924.6 million (2013)[3]
£ 449.6 million (2013)[3]
£ 312.8 million (2013)[3]
Number of employees
14,400 (2014)[4]
SubsidiariesDirect Line
Churchill
Green Flag
Privilege
Brand Partners
Websitewww.directlinegroup.com

Direct Line Insurance Group is a leading insurance business which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

History

The company was originally established in 1985 by Peter Wood and Martin Long as the insurance division of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS).[5] It was the first telephone-only insurance company in the UK.[5] In September 2012, the Group's Chief Executive, Paul Geddes, announced the business was "operating as a standalone insurance company", in advance of a future full divestment from the RBS Group.[6] The company was the subject of an initial public offering (IPO) in October 2012.[7] RBS sold a 30% share of the business in the IPO, and sold a further 17% in March 2013, reducing its holding in the business to 48.5%.[8] RBS sold a further 20% in September 2013,[9] and is due to sell the remainder of its holding during 2014.[10]

In September 2014, it was announced that Mapfre would acquire the Italian and German businesses of Direct Line for a sum of €550 million.[11]

Operations

The Group owns a number of general insurance brands operating within the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany primarily, including Direct Line, Churchill, Privilege and Green Flag.

Notable advertising

Direct Line auto insurance's television adverts feature the "cleaner" Winston Wolfe from Pulp Fiction .[12]

References

  1. ^ Alex Brownsell (9 February 2012). "RBS Insurance division to rebrand as Direct Line Group". Marketing. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Board". Direct Line Group. 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Preliminary Results 2013
  4. ^ "Group profile". Direct Line Group. 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Halifax opens fire in motor cover war". London: The Daily Telegraph. 10 January 2001. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Direct Line nears RBS separation". BBC News. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Direct Line IPO 'priced to go' at 175p". The Telegraph. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  8. ^ Steve Slater (13 March 2013). "RBS races ahead with Direct Line sell-off". Reuters. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  9. ^ "RBS makes £630m from sale of 20% of Direct Line". BBC News. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  10. ^ "RBS set to make £1bn from remaining Direct Line stake". BBC News. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  11. ^ Spain's Mapfre to buy Direct Line's German, Italian units for $700 million. Reuters, 25 September 2014
  12. ^ "Harvey Keitel's Direct Line ad and 6 other examples of actors selling out". The Telegraph. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015.

External links