News
Axa moves to divest US assets worth $500m
French insurer Axa is seeking buyers for US life insurance assets worth at least $500m, Bloomberg said yesterday, quoting sources.
Barclaycard director joins BGL
BGL Group has appointed Catherine Lynch, pictured, as human resources director.
Groupama 'BB-' IFS rating affirmed
Groupama SA has had its BB- long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength rating affirmed by Standard and Poor's, along with its guaranteed subsidiaries.
DAS to consider buying First Assist
Legal expenses insurance company DAS is in takeover talks with First Assist Legal Protection.
Whiplash given greater focus in new medical certificate
A pair of medico legal reporting agencies has developed a new 'kite mark' of independence for medical experts which touches on understanding whiplash injuries.
S&P affirms Groupama SA rating following UK sale
Standard & Poor's has affirmed its BB- long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on French insurer Groupama SA and its guaranteed subsidiaries.
Hiscox unveils travel policy for extreme locations and activities
Specialist insurer Hiscox has launched a new gap year travel policy in response to growing demand.
Rouse joins Lloyd's broker
Stuart Rouse, the former chief financial officer of Towergate Underwriting and Fusion Insurance, has joined Lloyd's broker HW Wood.
Elite eyes up Irish market with two senior hires
Legal expenses insurance provider and niche general insurer Elite Insurance had made two senior hires in an attempt to branch out into the Irish market.
Ex-firefighter pockets insurance payout after being crushed by runaway Mini
A former firefighter who was forced to take early retirement after being crushed by a runaway Mini as he slept in a tent has agreed an out of court settlement with the vehicle owner's insurance company.
Vauxhall, Ageas and Ingenie enter into telematics insurance deal
Vauxhall Motors has signed a telematics car insurance deal with Ageas and Ingenie, offering cover for 17 to 25 year-olds when they purchase a car from a Vauxhall dealership.
Transactor names new finance director
Transactor Global Solutions has appointed Mark Ryder, pictured, as finance director with effect from 1 January 2013.
Magnitude 7.3 quake hits coast of Japan
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the north-east coast of Japan on Friday, triggering a 1m tsunami.
Colosso to return to the market at Howden
Former Heath Lambert chief executive Adrian Colosso is returning to the insurance market as non-executive chairman of Howden Broking Group.
Utley triples the value of ivy-ridden house
Hastings Insurance Group chairman Neil Utley, pictured, bought and tripled the value of a neglected property that was entirely covered in ivy.
IRM chairman secures second term
Richard Anderson has been re-elected as chairman of the Institute of Risk Management's board of directors for a second one-year term.
Magnitude 7.3 quake felt in Tokyo
An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale has struck off the north-east coast of Japan.
Deutsche Bank director joins XL
Former Deutsche Bank director Craig Wenzel has joined XL's reinsurance operations as senior vice president of capital markets.
R&Q launches first-party Lloyd's syndicate
Scor and XL have backed new £77m capacity Lloyd's syndicate launched by Randall & Quilter that will begin underwriting on 1 January.
Chinese D&O policies set for second round of US claims
'Bump up' claims in the US are threatening Chinese directors' and officers' policies and look set to impact the exclusions within policies in the future.
China's non-life sector stable
China's non-life insurers could see operating margin constrained by capital market volatility and higher acquisition expenses, but declines in operating margins are unlikely to be substantial, Fitch said today.
S&P predicts Solvency II will be delayed until 2016
Standard & Poor's has warned that Solvency II could be delayed for a further two years as the relevant parties have failed to agree on the European directive.
Broker acquisition to raise Markerstudy retail GWP by £35m
A completed deal for Markerstudy to acquire Insurance Choice will raise the former's retail gross written premiums by almost half.
Corporation tax cuts are 'encouraging', says RSA SME boss
RSA has applauded government plans to cut corporation tax to help struggling small and medium-sized businesses.