By Ian Walker
LONDON--Insurer Aviva PLC (AV.LN) said Monday it will focus its
U.K. operations on five core sites, with the closure of offices at
Salisbury, Stretford and Salford over the next 18 months.
Aviva didn't say how many jobs will be affected by the closures,
but has previously said it will cut 1,500 roles following its
acquisition of Friends Life, which it completed in April. The three
sites currently employ 1,085 staff.
At the time of its acquisition of Friends Life, Aviva set out a
plan to deliver 225 million pounds ($348.19 million) of annual
savings by the end of 2017 from a number of areas, including
simplifying the business and reducing property costs.
"Any role reductions which may occur as a result of Aviva's
integration with Friends Life will form part of the potential
reduction of 1,500 roles we announced in January 2015," a
spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Aviva's core locations in the U.K. will be Bristol, Norwich,
Perth, Sheffield and York. These sites will be supported by a
number of specialist and trading sites across the U.K., it said.
Aviva's group headquarters will remain in London.
There will be a reduced presence in Dorking, but it will remain
a specialist site for the corporate pensions business, Aviva added.
It will also have a reduced presence in Exeter and Manchester city
center.
"The changes will happen between now and the end of 2016 and we
will look to minimize the impact by offering redeployment
opportunities where possible," the spokesperson said.
-Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com; @IanWalk40289749
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