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Looking at the provider market for equity release products at present one might be forgiven for wondering, where did all the players go? It is certainly true to say that a significant number of lifetime mortgage providers have fled the equity release nest, with Prudential’s departure leaving a sizeable hole. So, why should this have happened? Well, before the credit crunch providers found the equity release market strategically attractive for all the following reasons: The UK is fundamentally a nation of ‘homeowners’ and there is an estimated £250 billion of available equity in reti...