Articles by Jen Frost
BGL CEO Matthew Donaldson to step down this week
BGL CEO Matthew Donaldson will leave the business on 19 June after 20 years at the broker, to be succeeded by the former CEO of RBS’ digital banking app.
Insurers and FCA butt heads on pandemic spread analysis in BI case
Insurers’ counsel have decried the Financial Conduct Authority’s intention to use the “controversial” Cambridge analysis of Covid-19 spread in its business interruption test case, as representatives warned another trial might be needed to iron out…
Hiscox plots comparison between Sweden and ‘draconian’ UK in BI test case
Hiscox could look to an analysis of the Covid-19 economic impact on Sweden versus the UK, which its counsel said has faced “draconian” lockdown measures, as a defence in the Financial Conduct Authority’s business interruption test case.
This week: Contra proferentem
No – it’s not a Harry Potter spell. This week the Financial Conduct Authority said it would whip out the ‘contra proferentem’ argument on behalf of policyholders in its business interruption test case against insurers.
Mike Bruce ascends to GRP CEO as Searchlight deal completes
Searchlight Capital’s GRP deal has completed, with former group managing director Mike Bruce becoming group CEO of the broker.
In numbers: The FCA’s business interruption insurance test case
The Financial Conduct Authority has received 105 letters from MPs concerned about business interruption insurance, 51 relating to RSA’s Cottagesure policies, according a representative of the regulator, who revealed several key stats in his witness…
Brokers flagged concerns to FCA over ‘long-term’ damage to industry due to BI claims handling
Insurers have been accused of mis-steps in claims handling on four counts by brokers, according to a witness statement from Financial Conduct Authority director of general insurance and conduct specialists Matthew Brewis.
Briefing: Pat Gallagher’s anti-racism pledge – Simon Matson, Vyvienne Wade and the elephant in the room
It's a positive step that the industry says it is taking a stand against racism and discrimination, but one pledge, in particular, feels somewhat hollow given recent events.
Briefing: Lemonade’s IPO plans – losses, lines, Lloyd's and 'love'
Lemonade will seek to raise up to $100m (£78.5m) via an initial public offering, with its prospectus shedding snippets of insight into its past, present and future.
Lemonade files for IPO
Insurtech Lemonade has made an application to go public on the New York Stock Exchange.
Royal London to absorb Police Mutual
The Police Mutual Group will become part of life and pensions mutual Royal London, a move driven by a need to bolster its financial position, according to Police Mutual CEO John Perks.
Nearly 500 people set to lose their jobs at Markerstudy
Markerstudy has opened a “redundancy consultation exercise”, the insurer has confirmed.
Briefing: Business interruption insurance – reported ‘u-turns’ have yet to prove significant
Some insurers have now decided to pay up on business interruption policies, the regulator has said, but just how much of an impact do these 'u-turns' really have on the BI situation and consumer confidence?
Briefing: Aon pay cuts – let’s not mistake consent for approval
Aon UK chief operating officer Nathan Shanaghy and the rest of the leadership team may have been left “humbled” by staff responses to global pay cuts, but that doesn’t mean the broker hasn’t served its workforce up a raw deal.
Qudos buyer’s €46m lawsuit against former owner pushed back
Qudos owner New Nordic Advisor’s legal action against Echelon Financial Holdings has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Aviva predicts £200m in Covid-19 BI claims
Aviva has predicted it will see £200m in business interruption claims net of reinsurance.
Zurich expects $750m Covid-19 hit
Zurich has predicted a $750m (£614m) property and casualty hit over the course of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Regulator to require payment deferrals for insurance customers from Monday
The Financial Conduct authority has confirmed temporary measures aimed at helping insurance customers who find themselves in financial difficulty due to the coronavirus pandemic, including requiring payment deferrals.
Automatic motor premium refunds little more than a ‘marketing initiative’: Ageas CEO Bart De Smet
Providing premium refunds of £20 to £25 to all motor policyholders in the wake of Covid-19 behaviour changes amounts to little more than a “marketing initiative”, Ageas CEO Bart De Smet has said.
Ageas UK pushed into loss as weather bites in Q1
Ageas’ UK operations suffered a £23.5m hit from storms Dennis and Ciara, which drove it into a loss after tax of £2.7m for the first quarter of 2020.
Allianz CFO outlines potential €1bn plus Covid-19 hit
Allianz could see a €1bn (£882m) or more hit from the coronavirus pandemic across property and casualty, Allianz group chief financial officer Giulio Terzariol has cautioned.
Allianz and LV's £68m weather hit edges first quarter COR above 101%
Allianz Holdings, comprising of LV General Insurance and Allianz Insurance, saw £68m in claims relating to storms and flooding in the first quarter of 2020 as Allianz unveiled a global property and casualty €400m (£351m) Covid-19 hit.
Direct Line saw motor claims slide 70% in April
Motor claims notifications fell 70% at insurer Direct Line Group in April compared to the same month in 2019, as drivers stayed indoors due to lockdown measures.
Direct Line standard BI policy wordings at ‘tight end’ of the industry: CEO Penny James
Direct Line Group CEO Penny James has said 99.5% of its business interruption customers have standard policies and the insurer believes the wording is “robust” enough that it will not be liable for coronavirus-related pay outs on these.