Commercial
Ardonagh adds agricultural specialist Rural to MGA suite
Ardonagh has acquired agricultural specialist Rural Insurance Group from Primary Group for an undisclosed sum.
Hiscox profits dive 61% in 2019
Hiscox Group has reported a slump in pre-tax profits to $53.1m (£41.6m) in 2019 as catastrophe costs of $165m took their toll despite a significant rise in investment income.
ERS posts record profit under Aquiline ownership of £13.9m
ERS has recorded profit of £13.9m for 2019, its best performance since being bought by Aquiline in 2013.
Blog: Whither next or wither next for Pool Re?
Post senior reporter Emmanuel Kenning asks if Pool Re is facing an existential crisis after the Office for National Statistics’ judgement that the mutual reinsurer should become part of the government.
Pool Re development a 'massive change': Biba
Graeme Trudgill, executive director at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, has pledged to support Pool Re during consultations about the future of the mutual reinsurer.
ABI flags 'potentially serious implications' as Pool Re classified part of government
The Office for National Statistics has judged that Pool Re should be classified as part of the central government subsector in a surprise move that has raised questions about the future of the mutual reinsurer.
This week: Ups and downs
It's been a swings and roundabouts kind of week.
Q&A: Forum of Insurance Lawyers CEO Laurence Besemer
In 2009 Laurence Besemer became the first CEO of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers, the UK trade body for defendant law firms. A decade into the role he spoke to Jonathan Swift about its commitment to its members, a successful 2019 and why it is definitely…
Blog: Sexual harassment in the post-Weinstein era
As American film producer Harvey Weinstein's sexual abuse case again makes headlines, the spotlight on diversity and equality is having an impact on many businesses, regardless of size, nature or geographical location writes Jennifer Boldon, partner in…
Trade Voice: John Ludlow of Airmic on using the harsh market to forge closer relations with clients
John Ludlow, CEO of Airmic, argues that 2020 should be the year where insurance moves from a tripartite to roundtable relationship.
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.
Egan hails UK underwriting profit at RSA
UK & International CEO at RSA, Scott Egan, has hailed the provider’s underwriting profit for 2019, its first since 2016.
RSA moves back to underwriting profit in UK
RSA has delivered an underwriting profit of £3m in the UK for 2019, reversing the underwriting loss of £93m the year before.
Tractable targets SE Asia and mulls property diversification after $25m raise
Insurtech Tractable is targeting new clients in South East Asia, the Middle East and Latin America after unveiling a $25m (£19.2m) Series C investment, led by Georgian Partners
Direct Line to cut 800 jobs
Direct Line Group is cutting 800 jobs over the next two years, the insurer has confirmed.
Kennedys spins out inhouse innovation team as stand-alone business
Law firm Kennedys has spun out part of its innovation function as a separate wholly-owned limited company in order to speed up product development and attract staff more suited to its technology/software focus.
FSCS declares CBL Insurance Europe in default
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is now stepping in to protect the majority of policies sold in the UK to individuals and small businesses by CBL Insurance Europe having declared the insurer to be in default.
UKGI CEOs want to fix the loyalty penalty: Penny James
General insurance CEOs want to tackle dual pricing and support further regulatory intervention, a conference heard.
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.
Arch to pay £400m for Coface minority stake
Arch Capital Group has agreed to pay Natixis €480m (£401.8m) for a 29.5% stake in France-based trade credit insurer Coface.
Deliveroo investors back £3.3m raise for ex-Aviva innovation head's gig economy insurtech
Insurtech start-up Collective Benefits has closed a £3.3m seed funding round involving Stride VC alongside existing investors Delin Ventures and Insurtech Gateway.
Flood impact driving on claims surge after storms Dennis and Ciara
The "significant" impact of river flooding is expected to persist over the next few days, the Environment Agency confirmed, as insurers continue to receive a surge of claims on the back of storms Dennis and Ciara.
Allianz UK operating profit drop driven by 'large number of factors': Jon Dye
There was “a very large number of factors” behind the significant drop in operating profit at Allianz UK in 2019, according to CEO Jon Dye.
Operating profit down one third at Allianz UK
Allianz UK has reported profit of £138.1m for 2019 supported by investment gains as operating profit fell.