Zurich launches Guaranteed Capital Account 18

The Zurich Guaranteed Account 18 is designed to offer intermediaries and their clients' access to potential stock market returns whilst protecting their clients' original capital investment.

Zurich Guaranteed Capital Account 18 offers 100% of any growth in the FTSE Index and is open until 12 June 2008.

An early bird bonus is available for customers:

0.33% is payable for applications received before 12 May 2008

Zurich's Guaranteed Accounts provide intermediaries and their clients with the flexibility to invest throughout the year, as one product tranche closes a new one opens. All of the products, which are deposit based, will continue to offer full capital security and growth potential with returns linked to the FTSE 100 Index.

Paul Wright, Zurich's Investment Management Director, comments, "With current stockmarket volatility, these products are proving extremely popular with intermediaries and their clients. We believe that their popularity is due to the fact that these products are simply structured and offer capital security, as well as stock market linked returns.

Key features of the Capital Account include:

100% capital guaranteed
Gross interest of 100% of any growth in the FTSE 100 Index over five-and-a-half years, but this participation rate may change for future tranches.
Early maturity feature - 30% gross interest and closure of the account if the Index has grown by 30% or more on the third anniversary.
Interest on the ISA element is tax-free under current regulations
100% allocation
Minimum and maximum investments £2,500 and £250,000 respectively

Concludes Wright, "Given the current market conditions, we believe that Zurich's guaranteed accounts will prove particularly appealing to those investors looking to protect their original capital and access potential stockmarket growth."