Articles by Chris Wheal
Councils put flood risk burden on insurers
Council leaders have attacked "unfair and unaffordable insurance premiums" for residents and local authorities close to water, claiming they face an £11bn liability.
Experian reports fall in insolvencies
Credit watcher Experian has said that the rate of insolvencies fell from 0.11% in December 2012 to 0.07% in January this year – the same rate as in January 2011.
Chartis cuts underwriting losses
AIG’s insurance operation Chartis has chipped away it its underwriting losses cutting its combined ratio to 109% from 116.8% and turned in operating and pre-tax profits compared with losses in 2010.
Kiln claims results show resilience
Tokio Marine's Kiln syndicates at Lloyd's has released the final results for its four non-aligned syndicates for the 2009 year of account, updated forecasts for the 2010 year of account and initial forecasts for the 2011 year of account.
AM Best confirms RSA's A rating
AM Best has affirmed the A (Excellent) financial strength rating and 'a' issuer credit ratings of the main UK operating subsidiaries of RSA Insurance Group.
Lloyds bank puts £3.2bn price tag on PPI
Lloyds Banking Group has reported insurance premium income of £8170m (2010: £8148m) with claims of £6041m (2010: £19 088m) but said payment protection insurance provision had cost it £3.2bn.
Invicta buys home insurance book from IFA
Invicta Insurance Services is to buy the general insurance portfolio of Surrey-based financial adviser Financial Profiles.
Willis calls for insured reputation cover
Willis has said a staggering 95% of major corporations have suffered at least one major reputational crisis in the past 20 years, but that less than 10% of these events are insurable.
Willis Re issues Solvency II OSRA guide
Willis Re has released a report discussing the function and contents of the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment under Solvency II, warning that it remains a challenge for insurers of all sizes.
Riverbourne administrator expects sale soon
Cobra Network broker Riverbourne looks set to be sold as a going concern to get it out of administration, one of its joint administrators has told Post.
Axa buys into HSBC's insurance arm
Axa is said to have bought at least a stake in the non-life insurance business of HSBC and is expected to disclose the transaction details this week.
Quindell integrates claims firms
Insurance outsourcing firm Quindell Portfolio has appointed Gillian Baker to a newly formed strategy and integration advisory board for all its claims businesses.
Medics to tell MPs their reports add value
The British Medical Association and medical reporting firm Premex Group will today tell MPs on the All Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance & Financial Services that medical reports help the personal injury claims process.
Smith: Ageas saw "a step change"
Ageas boss Barry Smith has told Post that high street provincial brokers provided the biggest boost to business last year, with broker business growing by as much as 20%.
Mapfre Warranty to target car industry
Mapfre Warranty has appointed Richard Hage as head of sales to help spearhead its growth in the motor and insurance industries.
QBE merges divisions under Harries
QBE is merging its casualty international into its professional and financial lines business to form a new division led by financial lines boss David Harries.
Lloyds bank reclaims bonuses over PPI
Lloyds Banking Group is to become the first bank to strip directors of their bonuses because of the payment protection insurance mis-selling scandal, according to The Telegraph.
Tesco deal gives Ageas a record year
Ageas UK cited organic growth and its new Tesco business for a near 70% boost to its premium income for 2011 to £1,979.5m and a record profit of £105m compared with a loss of nearly £25m in the previous year.
Argent expands with ex-Garwyn pair
Argent Liability Adjusters has announced a series of hires across its national network.
Cega recruits doctors and bolsters IT
Emergency medical assistance and claims management provider Cega Group has recruited two new doctors to its medical team.
Chartis warns on Olympics and boosts cover
Chartis has warned that the Olympics in London this summer poses huge risks for businesses.
BSA says fire sprinklers save water
The Business Sprinkler Alliance is using crisis talks on water saving measures to call on UK businesses to install automatic fire sprinklers as an active measure to save billions of litres of water every year.
SRA receives 121 ABS applications
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has revealed it has received 121 Stage 1 applications from organisations wanting to be regulated as an alternative business structure.
BT Claims to serve insurers and brokers
Telecoms firm BT's in-house claims arm has applied to the Solicitors Regulation Authority to become an alternative business structure, with plans to offer services to insurers and brokers.