Articles by Harry Curtis
Beazley looks to raise £247m through share placement
Beazley hopes to raise £247m through the placing and subscription of new shares representing 15% of the insurer’s existing issued share capital.
Hiscox accused of confirming businesses' coronavirus cover then rejecting claims
Some businesses that have had coronavirus-related claims rejected by Hiscox were told in writing prior to lockdown that they would be covered, according to an action group challenging the insurer.
Hiscox Action Group to launch £40m arbitration claim 'within days'
An action group of 400 Hiscox business insurance policyholders is to launch an “expedited arbitration claim” against the insurer worth almost £40m.
FCA invites broker and policyholder input as it builds BI test case
The Financial Conduct Authority has invited policyholders and brokers with unresolved Covid-19-related disputes with insurers over business interruption polices to put forward their arguments for why claims should be paid.
Covid-19 will cost insurance industry $203bn, says Lloyd's
Lloyd’s of London has forecast that Covid-19 will cost the insurance industry $203bn (£166bn) in underwriting and investment losses, putting the pandemic on a par with century’s most catastrophic hurricane seasons.
Aon prepared to shed up to $1.8bn in revenues to get WTW deal done
Aon agreed to dispose of business and assets up to a cap of $1.8bn (£1.5bn) in 2019 revenues to satisfy competition regulators or else pay a $1bn fee to Willis Towers Watson in order to get its takeover of the rival broker across the line, filings with…
Pandemic crisis accelerating hard market return, say execs
Pricing momentum towards a hard insurance and reinsurance market will continue with the coronavirus crisis acting as a catalyst for steeper rate increases, industry executives have said.
Broker gender pay gap wider than insurers' and static in 2019
The gender pay gaps of top insurance brokerages showed little movement in 2019, with the divide between the mean pay of men and women shrinking by 0.33% while the gap in median pay grew by 0.34%.
UK and US insured losses could hit $80bn under year-long lockdown: WTW
The UK and US insurance markets face losses of $80bn (£64bn) if lockdowns and social distancing measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus need to be kept in place for 12 months, according to Willis Towers Watson.
FCA to put BI wordings before the courts to determine coronavirus cover
The Financial Conduct Authority will ask the courts to rule on whether a “representative sample of the most frequently used” business interruption policy wordings provide cover for Covid-19-related losses.
Swiss Re predicts further credit and surety losses as events bulk up $476m coronavirus hit
Swiss Re’s first quarter earnings were pushed into the red by a $476m hit from the coronavirus pandemic to its property and casualty businesses, driven by event cancellation and postponement.
Lancashire predicts $35m Q1 pandemic blow as it presses on with dividend payment
Lancashire has predicted it faces $35m in first-quarter losses rated to the pandemic, stemming predominantly from business interruption claims in its property book.
Analysts talk up chances of 'now or never' Beazley equity raise
Jefferies has revised the probability of Beazley raising equity up to 40%, citing feedback from investors that, were the insurer considering the option, it should come “now or never”.
We will not wait for the ombudsman, says Hiscox BI challenge lawyer
A lawyer advising pubs and clubs mulling legal action against Hiscox over rejected business interruption claims has said the group won’t wait for the Financial Ombudsman Service to process complaints before launching arbitration proceedings.
Private schools and Marsh dispute Ecclesiastical's denial of BI cover
Ecclesiastical’s rejection of business interruption claims relating to closures caused by coronavirus is being challenged by Marsh and an association of private schools, Post has learned.
Former Swiss Re CEO Stefan Lippe dies following Covid-19 complications
Former Swiss Re group CEO Stefan Lippe, who led the reinsurer between 2009 and 2012, passed away aged 65 earlier this week following complications after contracting coronavirus.
This week: The gathering of the clouds
As insurers are fond of saying, every claim is an opportunity to show their customers the value of what they get for forking out their premiums.
Reinsurers' annual Monte Carlo conference cancelled
The Rendez-Vous de Septembre, the reinsurance market’s annual conclave in Monte Carlo, will not go ahead in 2020 due to uncertainty over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Insurance risks damaging reputation 'for a decade' warns dispute expert
The insurance industry should work with government to avoid legal actions against insurers over rejected coronavirus claims that could decimate its reputation “for a decade,” claims dispute expert Roger Flaxman of Flaxman Partners has said.
Hiscox Action Group appoints top City law firm as it surpasses 200 members
The Hiscox Action Group, which now represents more than 200 claimants, has appointed City law firm Mishcon de Reya to handle its case.
Analysis: Policyholders band together as BI group actions mount
Ecclesiastical, Hiscox, QBE and RSA could all face class actions from businesses that have had claims for losses from coronavirus-related closures rejected as policyholders group together and brokers also come under fire.
90 nurseries mull legal action against Ecclesiastical and broker over BI cover
A group of 90 daycare nurseries are considering a legal challenge against both their insurer and broker, Ecclesiastical and Pound Gates respectively, following rejected business interruption claims, Post can reveal.
RSA faces group action over disputed Cottagesure BI wording
RSA faces a legal challenge from a group of 50 businesses which had claims rejected for losses sustained due to Covid-19-related closures, Post has learned.
Analysis: Will lockdown car insurance profits trickle down to policyholders?
Quieter roads have led many to assume that car insurers are in for pandemic profits. Post investigates calls for lockdown windfalls to be re-gifted to motorists.