Released on: October 7, 2008, 8:03 am

Press Release Author: Andrew Kerr

Industry: Financial

Press Release Summary: SADIF-Investment Analytics SA has applied its StockMarks™
stock-rating system to Aviva Plc and produced a research report, rating the
company's attractiveness to long-term investors.


Press Release Body: Mira, Portugal – October 7th, 2008 – SADIF Investment Analytics
SA, today announced the release of a new equity research report covering Aviva Plc
(LON:AV). The report utilizes SADIF's powerful StockMarks™ stock rating system and
is required reading for any current or potential Aviva Plc investor.

Report Summary: UK insurer Aviva Plc has experienced a slow and steady decline in
its share price since 2006. The decline gained momentum over recent months as the
global financial climate worsened. Fears over Aviva's potential exposure to
collapsed investment bank Lehman Brothers and struggling insurer AIG also surfaced,
along with concerns that the company's 1.8B capital surplus has recently lost 30% of
its value. However, Aviva's chief executive stated on October 6th that the company's
exposure to Lehman accounted for less than 0.1% of Aviva's GBP 300B in managed
assets while AIG exposure was approximately GBP 100M. Despite Aviva's attempts to
alleviate some of the fears surrounding its balance sheet, the company's shares fell
almost 13% on October 6th. In the company's half-year results to June 30, Aviva
reported a 7% rise in operating profit on an IFRS basis (12% on an EEV basis).
Operating profits declined in the company's fund management and general insurance
operations while the company experienced strong growth in its core life insurance
business in the UK, Europe and North America. Nevertheless, the company reported an
after-tax loss. With insurance giant AIG floundering under the global credit crunch,
investors should scrutinize the fundamentals of any financial company they are
considering as an investment target. We can assess Aviva's long-term outlook through
the use of the StockMarks framework. Aviva currently has an overall long-term
investment-attractiveness rating (Total StockMark or SMT) of 57, placing slightly
above the UK market average and ranking the company sixth when compared to eight of
its closest UK peers selected on the basis of similarity of business and market
positioning factors such as size.

The complete report breaks down the Total StockMark into its three components –
Business, Management and Price, performing a thorough analysis of Aviva Plc for
long-term investors.

A summary of the StockMarks™ ratings for Aviva Plc is available here:
http://sadifanalytics.com/stockmarks/company.php?ticker=AV.&cod_country=110

The report has been distributed to Reuters, and forwarded to Yahoo Finance and
FT.com. It is available under 'Analyst Reports' from these websites or directly from
SADIF-Investment Analytics SA at
http://sadifanalytics.com/stockmarks/article/hist_article.php?cod_article=151&cod_country=110


About SADIF-Investment Analytics SA
SADIF-Investment Analytics SA is an independent investment research company covering
sixteen different markets and over 12,000 companies. Our StockMarks™ system is based
on proven investment principles and is designed to drive long-term shareholder
returns.


Web Site: http://www.sadifanalytics.com

Contact Details: Company: SADIF-Investment Analytics SA
Address: AIBAP,
Rua do Matadouro,
3070-436 Mira, Portugal
Phone Number: (+351) 231849038
Website: www.sadifanalytics.com