TWO IRISH-BASED Halifax companies that are part of the Lloyds banking group have brought petitions for transfer of their insurance businesses to two London-based firms within the Lloyds group.

Halifax Insurance Ireland Ltd (HIIL) and Halifax Assurance Ireland Ltd (HAIL), both with registered offices at Shannon, Co Clare, have 220 employees. They anticipate most employees associated with policy administration services will be transferred to an outsourcing company, Wipro Outsourcing Services Ireland Ltd.

The companies said a small number of employees would remain in HIIL and HAIL until completion of the transfer of policies to St Andrew’s Insurance and St Andrew’s Life Assurance, after which they would be made redundant.

A further small number of employees would be made redundant on transfer of the administration of the business.

Denis McDonald SC, for the companies, applied to Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday to fast-track in the Commercial Court the hearing of the petitions for transfer of the businesses.

The judge agreed to admit the case, made directions for advertisement of the petitions and associated directions, and listed the petitions for hearing on October 11th next.

He was anxious the employees be given clear information of what was being proposed, he also said.