Articles by Harry Curtis
Land developers face heightened contract cancellation risk, following court judgement
Land developers face an increased risk of public contract award cancellations, following a court judgement last year that struck down a contract between a developer and West Berkshire council.
European firms have until 30 October to secure no-deal Brexit permits
European firms passporting into the UK need to notify the Financial Conduct Authority that they wish to enter the temporary permissions regime by 30 October in order to ensure they are able to continue operating in the event of no-deal Brexit, the…
This week: All at sea
The fraudulent claims we’re used to hearing about involve banged-up cars and invented cases of whiplash. Ones involving oil tankers, pirates, the Admiralty Judge, and statements given in places as far-flung as Aden and Manila are somewhat harder to come…
London company market premiums written in Europe on the rise
Gross premiums written in London by the company market increased 6.7% in 2018, reaching £19.56bn, according to the International Underwriting Association.
Acquisitions eat into Seventeen Group's 2018 profits
Seventeen Group, which includes brokers James Hallam and MGA Touchstone Underwriting, saw its pre-tax profits dip by 36% to £812,716 in 2018.
FCA to act quickly in fixing dual pricing
The Financial Conduct Authority will not engage with the industry in “an extended dialogue for many months” to find alternative remedies to dual pricing, the regulator has warned.
European insurers paid out €2.9bn every day in 2018
European insurers paid out €1069bn (£953bn) in claims and benefits to insureds in 2018, according to figures gathered by Insurance Europe.
Clyde & Co names Matthew Kelsall as CEO successor
Matthew Kelsall is set to take over as CEO of Clyde & Co when Peter Hasson steps down at the end of this year.
Sedgwick restructures UK leadership team
Sedgwick UK deputy CEO Paul White has been promoted to lead the business, following the appointment of current CEO Stewart Steel as head of a combined Continental Europe, Middle East and Africa division.
Markel sells Brazilian subsidiary
Markel has sold its Brazilian subsidiary to its existing executive team following a strategic review.
MS Amlin to withdraw from nine lines of business
MS Amlin is to withdraw from nine lines of business that “no longer form part of its future strategic direction” as part of a wider restructure following an underwriting review.
Lloyd's releases 2020 modernisation plan
Lloyd’s has published the first blueprint for its market modernisation strategy, detailing how it will begin to deliver proposals it consulted on earlier this year in 2020.
Analysis: Reinsurance rates - breaking the cycle
Reinsurance rates have started to rise after a series of natural disasters in 2017 and 2018, but the increases are not being seen across the board.
LM Tom to be wound down ahead of Lloyd's future blueprint publication
The London Market Target Operating Model is to be wound down and its work to be continued as part of the Future at Lloyd’s market modernisation drive.
Typhoon Faxai insured losses could hit $9bn: RMS
Catastrophe modelling firm RMS has estimated that the insured losses from Typhoon Faxai in Japan will be in the range of $5bn to $9bn (£4.1bn to £7.3bn).
Markel appoints wholesale and national markets claims leaders
Markel International has promoted three of its claims leadership team, with a view to giving parts of the business more specialised management.
Aviva appoints Jason Windsor as CFO
Aviva have appointed Jason Windsor as chief financial officer and executive director with immediate effect.
Neal emphasises the importance of speaking up about bullying and harassment
Lloyd’s CEO John Neal has underscored the importance of individuals speaking out about instances of bullying and harassment at a panel discussion on the first day of the Dive In festival.
Insurers respond following Thomas Cook collapse
Insurers have responded following the failure of Thomas Cook in the early hours of this morning, which has prompted the largest peacetime repatriation in British history.
Lloyd's execs encouraged by more disciplined underwriting
Lloyd’s is beginning to see the green shoots of improved underwriting thanks to stringent business planning measures, executives have said following the market’s interim results.
Lloyd's posts £2.3bn first-half profit driven by investment income
Lloyd’s recorded pre-tax profits of £2.3bn in the first six months of 2019, with strong investment returns offsetting a year-on-year deterioration in underwriting profitability.
Pool Re CEO predicts greater ILS diversification beyond US property-cat
Julian Enoizi, CEO of UK government-backed terrorism reinsurer Pool RE, has predicted that the insurance-linked securities market will diversify away from US property-catastrophe risks, into other “difficult to insure perils” such as terrorism.
2018 catastrophe loss levels are the new norm: Air Worldwide
The industry can expect to be hit with on average $92bn (£74.5bn) in insured losses from catastrophes annually going forward, according to catastrophe modeling firm Air Worldwide.
Lloyd's prepared to 'hang' perpetrators of bad behaviour after sobering culture survey
Lloyd’s of London chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown has said that the results of the specialty insurance market’s culture survey are “sobering” and that it won’t hesitate to make an example of perpetrators in order to stamp out bad behaviour.