Articles by Mark Sands
Portal extension unlikely to bring EL/PL claims surge: Kennedys
Next week’s extension of the Road Traffic Accident portal to include employer’s liability and personal liability claims is unlikely to result in a rapid increase in claims according to law firm Kennedys, following counteremeasures introduced by the…
Cat bond market must expand: Willis
If total alternative reinsurance solutions like catastrophe bonds are to continue to grow, a wider range of perils should be considered according to Willis Capital Markets & Advisory.
Insurers in the dark over how pensions deficit input will impact levies
Insurers are unlikely to find out how much of an impact a £200m pensions deficit left over from the Financial Services Authority will have on their individual levies, in spite of changes to plans that will see them contribute more.
Axa settles ahead of its first Accident Exchange retrial
Axa has agreed an estimated £30 000 settlement, ending the prospect of what would have been the first retrial for the insurer in its ongoing legal battles over Accident Exchange credit hire rates.
Ascot CUO Pepper named London’s most credible underwriter
Ascot chief underwriting officer Mark Pepper has been named as the most credible underwriter in the London market in a study by Gracechurch Consulting.
ABI welcomes elderly care scheme
The Association of British Insurers has welcomed a scheme to cap the cost of care and support at £72 000 from 2016, with funding coming from the Treasury.
E-trading boss Thornton to leave NIG
NIG's director of e-trading is set to leave the Direct Line Group-owned business in October, Post can reveal.
LV to pay £7m PPO after newlywed hit by uninsured driver
LV will today be ordered to pay a £7m settlement to a bride who suffered brain damage when knocked off a motorbike by an uninsured driver.
Portal extension rules published 14 days ahead of implementation
The Ministry of Justice has revealed rules for the extension of depth and breadth of the road traffic accident portal two weeks ahead of its actual implementation.
Aspen puts Q2 cat losses at £39m
Bermudian insurer Aspen has announced an initial loss estimate of $59m (£38.8m) for the second quarter of 2012.
RSA hikes pensions contributions despite 36% drop in deficit
RSA has increased to contributions to its pensions deficits, in spite of valuations showing a drop of more than a third in the size of the shortfall, due to lower bond yields.
Quindell takes 19% stake in US telematics provider
Outsourcer Quindell has completed a deal for a 19% stake in Himex, as US provider of usage-based insurance products.
UK driverless car trial planned for 2013
A trial of driverless cars is set to be launched onto UK roads later this year, the Department for Transport has announced.
Broker Network inks three year Alps deal
Broker Network & Countrywide has signed a deal with Auto Legal Protection Services that will serve its members with products and services.
AJG swoops for JLT Europe chair Wade
Arthur J Gallagher has recruited Jardine Lloyd Thompson’s former European chairman and group general counsel to lead international growth.
Hardy hires Thomas in non-exec role
Lloyd’s insurer Hardy has appointed a former Willis risk management leader and insurance solicitor to join its board as a non-executive director.
AJG tipped as early favourite to complete Giles swoop
Arthur J Gallagher has emerged as an early frontrunner among a pack of brokers looking to secure Charterhouse's majority stake in Giles.
Markerstudy makes Brightside bid after “non-aggressive” 9% stake
Gibraltar-based motor insurer Markerstudy has approached Brightside over a potential takeover, despite the insurer’s chief underwriting officer insisting an earlier purchase of a stake in the firm would be “non-aggressive”.
Axa blocked in latest Autofocus retrial bid
Axa has experienced a legal setback in the latest of its battles with credit hire firm Accident Exchange, just a week before an Autofocus retrial is scheduled to come to court for the first time.
Swiss Re confirms it is in merger talks for Admin Re
Swiss Re has confirmed it is in talks over the potential merger of its remaining Admin Re closed life business with Phoenix Group - less than a year after selling the US side of the operation.
Greenberg launches Spitzer defamation suit
Maurice “Hank” Greenberg has filed suit against former New York state governor and attorney general Eliot Spitzer, accusing the politician of a campaign of defamatory statements.
SMEs under austerity pressure
Spending cuts are pushing SMEs in some of Britain’s largest cities to the brink, according to data from Zurich.
Moneysupermarket blames Google for slow insurance growth
Price comparison site Moneysupermarket has said changes to Google’s search systems have hit the company’s growth in Q2, with insurance business suffering.
Swiss Re confirms Admin Re merger talks
Swiss Re has confirmed it is in talks over the potential merger of its remaining Admin Re closed life business with Phoenix Group - less than a year after selling the US side of the operation.