Post - 2010-03-11
Articles in this issue
Aviva and Fortis-backed start-up targets 450 brokers in 2010
Aviva, Fortis and LV have thrown their weight behind a new broking support service aimed at rivalling long-standing offerings Countrywide from Open GI, and Keychoice from SSP.
Allianz boss: Tesco-sized affinity deal possible
The general manager of Allianz Retail has hailed its latest affinity win with Volkswagen Insurance Service as a "milestone" for its fledgling corporate partners business, and a sign that it could do a deal of the size of Tesco Bank.
Foil claims focus
The Forum of Insurance Lawyers is to turn its focus to the impact of claims on the public and private sector, against the backdrop of Lord David Young's review into health and safety legislation for the Conservative Party.
Allianz SME tie-up
Allianz has created a tie-up between its commercial and legal protection divisions to offer free advice to its small business policyholders.
Two new quote-and-buy
Towergate has launched two new online quote-and-buy facilities for brokers.
Third Parties Bill reading
The Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Bill was referred to a second reading on 9 March in the House of Commons.
Bell axed in restructuring
The Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Bill was referred to a second reading on 9 March in the House of Commons.
Credit card compliance low
Only 11% of UK companies, including insurers, are certified as payment card industry compliant, according to new research by Tripwire.
Secret Millionaire broker will continue support
Former Protectagroup chief executive Paul Ragan has vowed to continue his support for the people he helped while starring in the Channel 4 show Secret Millionaire that first aired on Monday.
UK General confirms 20 jobs are at risk
UK General has confirmed that 20 jobs are potentially at risk as a result of the restructure of its branch network.
Top five Post stories
The top five most popular stories on postonline.co.uk over the last week were:
Merlin refinancing
Claims management company Merlin has announced the completion of its refinancing deal after it was approved by investors and financial stakeholders.
New Hastings branch
Hastings has opened its first branch in Bexhill-on Sea.
ABI slams proposal for compulsory dog cover
The Association of British Insurers has slammed government proposals to introduce compulsory third-party dog insurance in the UK.
Total 100% liable
Insurers have moved closer to recovering an estimated £750m in claims from Total, stretching back to the Buncefield oil depot explosion.
QBE shakes up European arm
QBE Europe has puts its asset protection book into run-off, following a restructure of its product underwriting and distribution model.
AMA and Nacho confirm merger
The Accident Management Association and the National Association of Credit Hire Operators this week confirmed their merger.
Editor's comment: Is Aviva now fitter?
For months there has been speculation about how much business Aviva had shed in its efforts to bolster its profitability. The answer — as highlighted in its 2009 full year accounts out this week — was quite a lot, as it reported net written premiums in…
LV to recruit another 75 staff
LV's new 24-hour call centre for motor insurance customers in Hudddersfield may be expanded to household during 2010. The insurer hopes to create up to 75 jobs over the next 18 months following the opening.
Beazley Furlonge results
The board of managing agency Beazley Furlonge has announced its results for syndicate 623, which writes business on behalf of third party capital at Lloyd's.
Novae pre-tax profit fall
Novae Group has posted a 35% fall in adjusted pre-tax profit in 2009, hurt by aviation reinsurance and credit losses in the first half of the year.
Axa Corporate growth
Axa Corporate Solutions posted a 2.3% growth in 2009 turnover on a comparable basis, reaching E1.93bn (£1.75bn), while underlying earnings were up by 17% at E133m
Chilean earthquake
Early estimates indicate the 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile on 27 February, will bring high insured losses, which will likely pressure overall profitability.
Hodges: no 'land grab' for Aviva
Aviva UK plans to build its capability in the commercial property owners and motor sectors after its business insurance book shrunk by £400m in 2009.
Hardy sees profits rocket before exchange
Bermuda-domiciled insurer Hardy has reported a steep increase in profit before tax and foreign exchange movements of £26.7m (2008: £4.4m), in contrast to a slight dip in profit before tax of £20.1m (2008: £23.1m). The combined ratio before foreign…
Chaucer redomiciliation likely over tax fears
Chaucer has indicated that high corporation tax in the UK could force it to redomicile to Switzerland, Bermuda or Ireland in 2011, despite posting an increase in profit of £134.8m for 2009.
ULR wins Kwik Fit contract
Legal expenses insurer ULR is poised go on a recruitment drive, having picked up a major contract with personal lines broking giant Kwik Fit Financial Services.
Landau Manson renamed
Broker Alan Turner has announced that the general business of Landau Manson, which it acquired last year, will now trade under the group's main broking name of James Hallam.
Fulwood signs up
Preston-based broker Fulwood Insurance Services, has signed up to Broker Network's new start-up proposition, launched last month.
M&M to sell Kroll
Marsh & McLennan is set to sell its subsidiary Kroll arm for $1.3bn (£870m), $600m less than it paid for it in 2004.
Two more employees leave Aon to head to Bluefin
Two more people have left Aon for Bluefin to form part of its new real estate division, Post has learnt.
Westinsure reveals plans for 40 more members in 2010
Westinsure aims to grow by £50m gross written premium in 2010 and recruit another 40 members, after reporting its most successful year to date in 2009. The broker alliance reported £300m GWP for 2009 and added more than 35 brokers to its ranks,…
Commission disclosure fear for brokers seeking IPO
Brokers planning to list on the London Stock Exchange should be wary of potential changes to commission disclosure rules, KPMG warned this week.
WNS web service
Motor claims management specialist WNS Assistance is offering insurers an integrated web service solution in line with the Ministry of Justice's new electronically streamlined compensation system for low-cost road traffic accident personal injury claims.
Questgates integration
<p>Questgates has completed the integration of the liability adjusting division acquired from Teceris Corporate and Complex Adjusting — part of Capita Group.
Thornside pet insurance
Thornside, the pet insurance division of Capita Insurance Distribution, is to work with Home Retail Group to provide and administer its new pet insurance programme in Ireland.
Chartis and Parabis deal
Chartis has signed a two-year deal to work with Parabis to establish a third-party injury handling unit due to go live this month.
GAB Robins sets sights on casualty
GAB Robins has set it sights on overhauling rival adjusters Cunningham Lindsey and Crawford & Company to become the market leader in casualty claims.
ILAA targets FSA fees
The newly-formed Independent Loss Adjusters Association has pledged to make Financial Services Authority fees its top priority when it officially launches in spring.
Bolt warns underwriters of claims increase
Lloyd's recently appointed director of performance management Tom Bolt has warned underwriters to prepare for an increase in claims from financial institutions.
UKTFA members threatened with ejection
Members of the UK Timber Frame Association not signed up to its Site Safe initiative will be ejected from the body, while the "ultimate sanction" against principal contractors flouting the new process will be for members to stop work.
Poor MI still limits industry influence on government
<p>Property insurers were urged to boost the level of large fire loss reports currently being submitted to the industry's online database, after the level so far recorded revealed a "misalignment" with reality.
Anxiety over fire engineering
Insurers were among the most heavily criticised groups in a recent interview-based survey on attitudes towards fire-engineered building solutions.
Election 2010: Interview - Colin Breed MP, Lib Dems
The Liberal Democrats' voice has been prominent during the recent economic turmoil. In the third of Post's six-part profile on all the major parties, Jonathan Swift talks to MP Colin Breed, the party's shadow Treasury minister.
Interview - Arron Banks: The bright side of life
The rumour mill has been in overdrive regarding Brightside over the past 12 months. Daniel Dunkley talks to founder and insurance director Arron Banks about the broker's distinctive approach to the market.
BIBA 2010 Countdown - Roll up, roll up it's conference time
Post has unearthed the centuries old diary of Daul Ponaldson, Sun Insurance employee, on the eve of his first Great British Insurance Brokers' Association conference.
View from the top: The tipping point
In his best-selling book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell says that ideas and behaviours spread like viruses, and that intervention (or a nudge) at just the right point — the tipping point — results in a cascade of change.
Postbox: Dutch show potential to youth
I read the recent article 'CII launches campaign to woo young people' with interest and believe that it is possible to get young people interested in insurance.
Postbox: An age old conundrum
In The Times on the 24 February, there was a piece on Towergate's acquisition of John Charcol.
Roundtable: Mobile Technology - Applying a mobile strategy
Ever since the launch of Apple's Iphone, the march of mobile technology, smart phones and applications has been relentless. So what opportunities and challenges do these developments present for the general insurance industry? Ant Gould reports.
Outsourcing - India: The evolution of India
India is no longer being treated as a place to just outsource menial functions. Edward Murray reports on the evolution of the market to include core corporate activities.
Fire Risks - Timber Frame: The burning issue
Timber frame construction has seen a massive resurgence in the past couple of years. Stefan Bramwell and Chris Dee look at the benefits and the risks involved.
Building Repairs - energy efficiency: It's not easy being green
Planning requirements focused on energy efficiency are increasingly affecting property owners nationwide. Matthew Gordon reports on the pros and cons for property owners.
Legal Update - Scottish credit hire: A common courtesy?
Credit hire issues have again hit the headlines. Julie Keenan reports on a Scottish case involving a professional rugby player and looks at the evolving case law north of the border.
Music case highlights the folly of unreasonable litigation
Far Out Productions v Unilever UK & CN Holdings and others (High Court of Justice — 16 December 2009)
Secondary measures decision is upheld
Supershield v Siemens Building Technologies FE (Court of Appeal — 20 January 2010)
English courts show willingness to interpret fraud widely
Cavell USA and Randall v Seaton Insurance Company and Stonewall Insurance Company (Court of Appeal — 16 December 2010).
Arc Angels marathon run for Sense
Arc Legal Assistance director Richard Finan and Arc senior claims and complaints adviser Ian Brown will run this year's London Marathon on behalf of the legal expenses firm's charity arm Arc Angels.
Jelf acclaimed in customer awards
Jelf has scooped an 'outstanding' Investor in Customers rating for the second year running.
IRM embraces social media
The Institute of Risk Management has launched an online resource centre to equip members with free access to tools, templates and information to assist them with each stage of the risk management process, as well as implementation of effective risk…
Zurich
Two new regional managers have joined Zurich's North American environmental team.
Bennetts
Bennetts Commercial has appointed Carole Lowe to its senior management team.
Faber & Dumas
Gerry Tollan has joined Faber & Dumas, the wholesale brokerage division of Willis Group Holdings, as business development director.
Kennedys
Iain Sharp has joined Kennedys in Singapore as a partner in the maritime & international trade practice.
Biba 2010 Countdown: Get to know your Biba representatives.
With 10 weeks to go before the start of the British Insurance Brokers¹ Association conference, Post has decided to shine a light on some of the perhaps lesser-known staff at the trade body. This week, we talk to Lindsay Campbell, Biba executive assistant.
Ansvar
Ansvar Insurance has appointed Richard Lane to the newly created role of sales director.
Arista
Arista Insurance has promoted Anthony Foulds to regional underwriting manager for the South-east.
Aviva
Aviva UK Health has appointed Rob Cowley as finance director.
Giant
Colin Hutchinson has been appointed senior regional underwriter at Giant to head up the Belfast office it opened last year.
Interglobal
International private medical insurer Interglobal has appointed Nicola Norris as business development manager, with responsibility for building distribution and sales of individual and group PMI in the UK through the intermediary channel.
Penny black's insurance week
If anyone had doubts about Axa's IT team, then Penny would like to say that its online policing is second to none. Just ask the member of staff who spent a few lunchtimes searching for "golden shower curtain rings".