UK
RSA moves back to underwriting profit in UK
RSA has delivered an underwriting profit of £3m in the UK for 2019, reversing the underwriting loss of £93m the year before.
Direct Line to cut 800 jobs
Direct Line Group is cutting 800 jobs over the next two years, the insurer has confirmed.
Kennedys spins out inhouse innovation team as stand-alone business
Law firm Kennedys has spun out part of its innovation function as a separate wholly-owned limited company in order to speed up product development and attract staff more suited to its technology/software focus.
FSCS declares CBL Insurance Europe in default
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is now stepping in to protect the majority of policies sold in the UK to individuals and small businesses by CBL Insurance Europe having declared the insurer to be in default.
ABI calls for annual government flood defence spending to rise to £1.2bn
Jon Dye, the chair of the Association of British Insurers, has called for government flood defence investment to rise to at least £1.2bn a year.
Allianz UK operating profit drop driven by 'large number of factors': Jon Dye
There was “a very large number of factors” behind the significant drop in operating profit at Allianz UK in 2019, according to CEO Jon Dye.
Operating profit down one third at Allianz UK
Allianz UK has reported profit of £138.1m for 2019 supported by investment gains as operating profit fell.
Gunter replaces Hendrick as Axa XL CEO
Scott Gunter has been appointed as CEO of Axa XL joining from Chubb to replace Greg Hendrick who is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
Government delay to claims portal expected within days
Industry experts have predicted that the government is ready to delay the upcoming launch of the claims portal with an announcement expected “very soon”.
Call Connection creditors set to share £246,000 as claims hit £4.7m
Call Connection creditors will share a payout of around £246,000 as claims from secured and unsecured creditors total £4.7m, administrators BDO have estimated.
Post Office switches from BGL panel to Ageas home insurance partnership
Post Office Insurance has teamed up with Ageas on an exclusive five-year deal for home insurance.
Bollington still offering all lines after Gefion suspension, Patterson confirms
Bollington’s decision to stop trading with unrated Danish insurer Gefion has not changed the firm’s insurance footprint, group managing director Chris Patterson told Post.
Ardonagh buys Bennetts for £26m
Ardonagh Group has agreed to pay Saga £26m for Bennetts Motorcycling Services.
UK commercial insurance pricing leaps 14% in Q4
Composite insurance pricing in the UK rose by 13.7% in the fourth quarter of last year according to research by Marsh.
Interview: Amanda Blanc on life in the NED seat
The former Zurich, Axa and Towergate leader discusses her portfolio of NED positions, challenges for insurers in the current market, the partnership opportunities for insurtech businesses as well as rugby and schools.
Covid-19: Travel insurers at odds on coronavirus approach
Travel insurers are keeping a close eye Foreign Office travel advice and have taken differing positions on whether travelling to China amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak would invalidate policyholders' coverage.
Q&A: Gary Humphreys, Markerstudy
Markerstudy’s group underwriting director, Gary Humphreys, discusses taking a pause on commercial business, progress on the Co-op Insurance buy, debt, making further acquisitions and the rated versus unrated debate as well as backing MGAs and the future…
Markerstudy not 'exercised' by May debt deadline
Markerstudy is in discussions with Qatar Re over the repayment of its $316m (£244m) loan ahead of the next deadline of May this year, group underwriting director Gary Humphreys told Post.
This Month: Looking forwards, listening back
Post’s new Motor Mouth Podcast series is proving quite the hit with listeners.
Failed Staveley Head and its AR Policyplan paid £10m to parent company last year
The directors of Policyplan and in-administration Staveley Head paid £10m in total dividends to new parent company Gelert Group in 2019.
PE driving market consolidation but private ownership still dominates
Exclusive: Private equity houses and PE backed firms were behind more than 50% of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions activity last year in the £5m plus category, Imas Corporate Finance has calculated.
Andy Fairchild to lead Applied in UK
Former Broker Network CEO Andy Fairchild has been appointed to the newly created role of CEO of Applied Systems Europe.
Analysis: Reinsurance hikes add to motor pricing pressure
The UK motor market had the unwanted title of the biggest riser in the annual global reinsurance renewal season this January, adding another reason for intense scrutiny on insurance pricing in the loss-making sector
Crawford appoints Caroline Poppleton as D&I inclusion leader in UK
Caroline Poppleton has been appointed diversity and inclusion leader for Crawford’s UK operation alongside her current role as head of business development.