Re Joint Venture

Aviva PLC
15 July 2002

                                                                    15 July 2002

Aviva in talks with Mederic in France

Aviva plc (Aviva) announces that CGU France, an Aviva subsidiary in France, and
Mederic are in discussions to establish a partnership.

The aim of the partnership is to offer CGU France's range of life insurance
products to Mederic's client base through a new joint venture life insurance
company. CGU France will undertake the contract administration for the company
and the investment management will be shared between CGU France and Mederic.

In addition, CGU France will sell its group protection business to Mederic.

The structure and the operational details of this potential partnership are
under discussion with the aim of reaching a conclusion later this year.

Enquiries:

Analysts / Investors:

James Matthews, Head of Investor Relations          [phone]


Media:

Hayley Stimpson, Director of External Affairs           [phone]

Stuart Blackmore, Financial Dynamics                [phone]


Notes to editors:

  • On 1 July 2002, CGNU plc changed its name to Aviva plc. Aviva's French
    businesses will change their name to Aviva around the end of 2002.

  • Aviva is the UK's largest insurance group, one of the top-five life
    insurers in Europe and has substantial positions in other markets around the
    world. Aviva is the world's seventh-largest insurer based on worldwide gross
    written premiums.


  • Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund
    management and general insurance, with worldwide premium income and retail
    investment sales from ongoing business of more than £28 billion, and over
    £200 billion of assets under management at 31 December 2001.


  • Mederic is a mutual life company, specialising in group business, with a
    total client base of 100,000 companies. For more information Mederic's
    website can be found at: www.mederic.com.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange