Articles by Harry Curtis
Updated: Insurers will continue to renew annual travel policies amid sales pause
Travel insurers that have pulled their products off the market due to the coronavirus pandemic will continue to offer renewals to existing customers.
FCA calls on insurers to show 'flexibility' in dealing with customers amid pandemic
The Financial Conduct Authority has said it expects insurers to show flexibility in dealing with customers affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Insurers' investment earnings face coronavirus blow
Insurers are facing depleted investment earnings this year, as the coronavirus pandemic translates to greater volatility in financial markets and falling bond yields.
Existing travel policies likely to be eligible for cancellation claims as FCO discourages 'all but essential' trips
Direct Line reported facing increased calls from travel insurance customers on Tuesday after the Foreign Office advised against all but essential international travel in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
RIMS cancels US conference for first time in 70-year history due to coronavirus concerns
North America’s Risk Management Society has cancelled its annual conference and exhibition in light of growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
QBE to close UK offices to test coronavirus readiness
QBE will shut nine UK offices on Wednesday as it stress tests its remote working contingencies in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Updated: Admiral, Aviva and Direct Line latest to pull travel cover
Aviva, Admiral and Direct Line have joined a growing list of insurers that have pulled travel insurance products off the market due to the coronavirus outbreak.
LMA publishes coronavirus disruption clause as Lloyd's conducts stress test
The Lloyd’s Market Association has published policy language that aims to ensure policyholders aren’t left without cover if the coronavirus outbreak disrupts renewal discussions.
Analysis: The insurtechs crossing the Channel
This winter, three European insurtechs have signalled their ambitions to expand to the UK market. Post investigates whether they are outliers or likely to be the first cohort of an insurtech invasion.
'Disappointing' Aon/WTW merger could see risk managers turn backs on broking giants, warns Airmic CEO
The UK risk management association Airmic has voiced disappointment at Aon’s merger with Willis Towers Watson, warning that its members are prepared to turn to alternative modes of risk transfer if they feel they aren’t getting value for money.
Aon CFO outlines costs and timeline of WTW merger
The cost of bringing together Aon and Willis Towers Watson will be up to $1.8bn over three years, with the combined firm facing a months-long process of securing regulatory approval in almost 100 jurisdictions around the world.
Aon strikes deal to buy Willis Towers Watson
Aon is set to buy fellow broking giant Willis Towers Watson in an all-stock deal worth $29.9bn expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.
Coronavirus disruption not covered by BI policies, says Aviva
Aviva's business interruption policies will not cover disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the insurer’s general insurance CEO Colm Holmes has confirmed.
Aviva has axed 1200 of 1800 jobs set to be cut
Operating profits for Aviva’s UK general insurance business fell 35% to £250m in 2019, though the result excludes the £45m cost of strengthening reserves following July’s Ogden rate revision, as it revealed it has cut 1200 jobs across the company so far.
Coronavirus to gain notifiable disease status across UK
Businesses disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak may be able to recoup their losses if they have purchased insurance policy extensions indemnifying losses stemming from “notifiable disease”, following updates to public health statutes.
Lloyd's silent cyber mandate leads to 'challenging conversations' over cover
A mandate issued by Lloyd’s of London with the aim of tackling the issue of insurers’ exposure to silent cyber coverage has led to questions over how some cyber-related risks will be underwritten in future.
Direct Line profits slump under weight of restructuring and Ogden rate
Direct Line’s profits slumped by 12.2% in 2019 as the group incurred the first of a multi-year package of restructuring costs and strengthened reserves in response to the revised Ogden rate.
Ardonagh adds agricultural specialist Rural to MGA suite
Ardonagh has acquired agricultural specialist Rural Insurance Group from Primary Group for an undisclosed sum.
Analysis: Closing the natural catastrophe protection gap
Though losses from natural catastrophes fell in 2019, the proportion of losses that were uninsured rose to a three-year high. Post investigates why.
UK insurers warned they could face US-style social inflation
UK insurers could soon see their claims costs increase as a result of social inflation similar to that which is challenging carriers in the US, law firms RPC and Hinshaw and Culbertson have warned.
Jon Hancock to become AIG international GI CEO after leaving Lloyd's
Jon Hancock has been appointed CEO of AIG’s international general insurance division, and will join the company this spring.
Hastings looks to suppliers and fraud detection to staunch claims inflation
Hastings is hoping that investment in its anti-fraud capabilities and supplier partnerships secured in the tail-end of last year will mitigate the impact of claims inflation on its bottom line.
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.
Restructuring costs weigh on Ageas' 2019 profits
Ageas UK saw its profitability slump by 21% last year, reporting full-year profits of £60.3m compared to £76.7m in 2018.