Articles by Mark Sands
Towergate network division has “gone backwards” admits Hodges
Towergate chief executive Mark Hodges has conceded that the broker’s network business has "gone backwards" this year, despite being bullish on the future of the division.
CVC in exclusive talks over Domestic & General deal
Private equity house CVC is closing in on a deal to acquire home appliance insurer Domestic & General according to reports.
Esure sees H1 profits surge over 15%
Personal lines insurer Esure has reported climbing profits for the first six months of 2013, alongside a boosted combined ratio.
Towergate hit by £10m H1 loss after loan fee write-off
Towergate has reported a pre-tax loss of £9.9m for the first six months of 2013, in spite of boosted income and flat operating earnings.
Ageas UK boss Watson optimistic despite limited H1 profit growth
Ageas UK chief executive Andy Watson has told Post the insurer’s H1 results are in line with expectations, in spite of net profit growth almost entirely driven by the integration of Groupama.
RSA's Brown says underlying result not as 'impressive' as headline figures
RSA’s improved commercial lines results are “overstated” according to UK and Western Europe chief executive Adrian Brown, who downplayed the results.
Besso pre-tax profits climb 52%
Lloyd’s broker Besso has seen its pre-tax profits climb 52% in the year ending 31 December 2012.
Whiplash small claims track extension under threat
The conclusion of a Transport Select Committee inquiry into the cost of motor insurance has sparked “disappointment” among insurance industry bosses after MPs refused to support Ministry of Justice plans to place whiplash claims on the small claims track.
Transport Select Committee publishes whiplash report
The Transport Select Committee has declined to approve government plans to switch whiplash claims to the small claims track in its long awaited report on the cost of motor insurance.
US doubles supercomputer power for hurricane forecasting
US weathermen have been boosted by newly upgraded supercomputers capable of processing computer models on forecasts almost twice as rapidly.
AJ Gallagher wins Giles race
US-broker AJ Gallagher has entered into exclusive negotiations with Giles, according to reports, beating off competition from Aon and Towergate.
O’Roarke forecasts “barely acceptable” LV returns for 2013
LV’s managing director of general insurance John O’Roarke has said a combination of low investment return and falling premiums means the firm will struggle to hit targets for return on equity in 2013.
Former Co-op GI boss Neave named LV non-exec
David Neave has been approved as a non-executive director at LV, after leaving the Co-operative Insurance at the end of 2012.
UK index shows ‘record reductions’ in motor cover costs
Average pricing for home and car cover in the UK is continuing to slide, according to the AA’s latest insurance premium index.
Pro expands Gloucester teams by 15
Insurance service provider Pro is to boost its Gloucester-based underwriting support teams with a sweep of new hires.
Aviva targeting Indonesian life deal
Aviva is reportedly seeking an an Indonesian life distribution deal with Astra International, a division of Jardine Matheson.
Aviva plotting Indonesia life expansion
Aviva is looking to enter into an Indonesian life distribution deal with Astra International, a division of Jardine Matheson, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
AA index shows ‘record reductions’ in motor cover costs
Average pricing for home and car cover in the UK is continuing to slide, according to the AA’s latest British insurance premium index.
Be Wiser grows turnover 24%, but profits slip
Andover broker Be Wiser has reported substantially boosted income in its figures for the year to 31 March.
Midlands property claims spike after heavy rains
Heavy storms have generated a surge in claims for adjusters, with some regions receiving as much as 2 inches of rain in half an hour.
Mapfre boosted by international growth as H1 profits climb 5%
Spanish insurance group Mapfre has seen growth in Latin American and other international territories bolster its pre-tax profits climb in spite of a contraction in its home market.
Mapfre grows pre-tax H1 profits 5%
Spanish insurance group Mapfre has seen its pre-tax profits climb in spite of a contraction in its home market.
Lancashire delivers 58.8% H1 COR
Bermudian insurer and reinsurer Lancashire has reported a combined ratio of 58.8% for the first half of the year, and 66.9% for Q2.
Aviva faces cost backlash over adjusting panel cuts
Redundancies feared at Crawford after lost business.