News
Ecclesiastical achieves biggest underwriting profit in six years
Ecclesiastical CEO Mark Hews has heralded “a set of extremely positive results” after the insurer recorded an 11% rise in pre-tax profits to £53.6m in 2015 (FY 2014: £48.2m) alongside its biggest underwriting profit since 2009.
Budget 2016: UK to be driverless cars ‘centre for excellence’
A £15m "connected corridor" from Dover to London and further driverless car and truck trials were all announced in today's (16 March) Budget.
Budget 2016: FCA to regulate claims management companies
The government has transferred responsibility for regulating claims management companies to the Financial Conduct Authority after accepting the recommendations of the independent review into the regulation of CMCs.
Budget 2016: Osborne increases IPT 0.5% with funds raised to be spent on flood defences
Insurance premium tax will rise again with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today (16 March) announcing in his Budget speech a 0.5% increase effective from 1 October.
Forces Financial offers free telematics with car insurance
Forces Financial, the financial services firm for the UK military, is offering a free telematics device with all new car insurance policies from 21 March.
BGL's Minster Law reports £35m loss as IPO talks ongoing
BGL Group's legal services business recorded a £35m loss in the financial year ended 30 June 2015 as group profit before tax fell to £70.4m (2014: £82.7m).
Friendsurance remains unprofitable as CEO outlines growth plans
After six years of operation German start-up broker Friendsurance has failed to make a profit but this is part of the company's growth plan, according to its CEO.
CII's Fisher proposes insurance apprentice 'buddy scheme' to government
Sian Fisher, CEO of the Chartered Insurance Institute, has written to the government to propose an insurance buddy scheme for apprenticeships, which would take advantage of the ability to use levy contributions outside of firms.
Bilney leaves FP Marine after 20 years
Philip Bilney, group CEO of Hong Kong-headquartered FP Marine Risks, has decided to leave the company.
London is 'open for business' to Brazil says IUA's Matcham
International Underwriting Association CEO Dave Matcham has encouraged Brazilian customers to do business with London after changes to reinsurance regulation in the country have made it easier for clients there to access the London Market.
Tokio Marine Kiln appoints Paul Culham as group CUO
Tokio Marine Kiln has appointed Paul Culham as group chief underwriting officer with effect from 1 April 2016, subject to regulatory approval.
James Gerry appointed as MGAA chair
The Managing General Agents’ Association has elected James Gerry as chairman following the first meeting of its new board on Monday.
Dale Underwriting takes Marketform's medical malpractice business
Lloyd's underwriter Marketform has stopped writing international medical malpractice business and transferred its book of business to Dale Underwriting Partners.
Zurich's Spencer links climate risks with economic growth in Asia-Pacific
Stuart Spencer, general insurance Asia-Pacific CEO at Zurich, warns the Asia-Pacific region could face a "perfect storm" if it fails to understand the full impacts of climate change.
Ping An's profits climbed 38% in 2015
Chinese financial services giant Ping An has reported a 38% rise in profits in 2015 to 54.2bn yuan (£5.88bn) compared with 39.3bn yuan in 2014.
Two 'manageable' issues holding up Flood Re PRA authorisation three weeks from launch, CEO McCafferty admits
Flood Re still has two obstacles to overcome before it is granted authorisation by the Prudential Regulation Authority - despite only being three weeks away from its proposed launch date (4 April).
Continuity for Aviva and brokers key as CFO Holmes takes on UKGI top job
The internal appointment of Colm Holmes to take over the Aviva UK general insurance reins from Maurice Tulloch has been billed as good news for brokers by commentators both insider and outside the insurer.
IPT rise would not have ‘significant impact’ on Hastings
A speculated insurance premium tax hike in the 16 March Budget would not disadvantage Hastings Insurance Group due to the company’s high market share from comparison websites, according to its chief financial officer, but customers would be worse off.
Helvetia COR improves but IFRS profit down 21% due to “accounting effects”
Swiss-based Helvetia Group saw its IFRS after tax result fall to SFr309m (£220m) (2014: SFr393m) but there was an improvement in its combined operating ratio to 92.1% (2014: 93.5%) and other profit metrics.
Admin fee transparency in the spotlight as insurers report 2015 results
Insurers' reporting of administration fees and non-risk income came under scrutiny in the 2015 full-year results reporting period as firms' balance sheets were dominated by commercial flood losses.
Munich Re CEO to step down
Nikolaus von Bomhard will depart as CEO of reinsurer Munich Re in April 2017, with his role to be filled by Joachim Wenning.
Cyber criminals increasingly moving from privacy breaches to extortion
Increasingly sophisticated malware and ransomware attacks are rising to the top of the cyber threat list, with industry cyber experts predicting a surge in ransomware incidents in 2016.
#Postpeople 15 -21 March
All the latest insurance industry market moves between 15 and 21 March 2016 in full and in one place.
Concern expressed as 'rigorous' SIMR adds pressure on senior roles
Insurers have welcomed the launch of the Senior Insurance Managers Regime, however, there remains uncertainty as to what extent top ranking employees will be impacted.