News
Amtrust provides Composite with new binding authority arrangement
Composite Legal Expenses is to combine elements of its before-the-event, after-the-event and assistance capacity requirements and consolidate them with Amtrust Europe.
Aon Benfield enters partnership to boost typhoon research
Aon Benfield has entered into a strategic partnership with Shanghai Typhoon Institute of China Meteorological Administration to boost typhoon research in China and deliver relevant research to the insurance industry.
Ferma raises concerns over capacity for 2014 World Cup
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations has welcomed as "a good first step" the response of the Brazilian government to complaints and concerns from corporate insurance buyers and national and international reinsurance markets about…
S&P: Provident rating may improve by two notches after Covea deal
Standard & Poor's has placed its 'BB+' long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Provident Insurance on CreditWatch with positive implications.
Editor's comment: The only way is up
Amanda Blanc's radical restructure of Axa's commercial lines business is undoubtedly a bold one. Not only does it leave more than 100 head office staff staring down the barrel of redundancy but her self-imposed deadline to devolve power to regional pens…
Insurers need to hit the street to fight fraud
Insurance companies are not carrying out enough street-level enquiries during their investigations into fraud, Brownsword Group director Roger Bescoby has claimed.
Arista bid to double GWP
Arista Insurance is to target cross-selling opportunities in a bid to double its gross written premium to between £120m and £150m by 2014.
CSR & career development: Barbon offers manager training in devolution bid
Barbon Insurance Group has launched a training programme for its heads of business, in a bid to boost its strategy of encouraging its eight divisions to run independently.
Cotswold buy opens doors for G4S in UK fraud market
International security firm G4S Secure Solutions has branched into insurance fraud surveillance and investigation for the first time in the UK, with the acquisition of The Cotswold Group.
OFT investigates Google's acquisition of Beat That Quote
An Office of Fair Trading inquiry into Google's acquisition of aggregator Beat That Quote will provide the firm's competitors with a chance to respond to market fears over the deal.
Greenwoods targets £20m turnover in 2011
Insurance law firm Greenwoods Solicitors has targeted £20m turnover during 2011 and a "steady expansion" of its client base.
500 to join Ageas in dedicated Tesco centre
Ageas is set to employ 500 staff in its dedicated claims handling office in Newcastle for its Tesco Underwriting venture within the next five years.
Solvency II drives Aviva restructure
Aviva is set to merge its 12 UK general insurance companies into one main UKGI insurance operation to comply with Solvency II.
CSR & career development: Mutual National Friendly named 'one to watch'
National Friendly has been listed as 'one to watch' in the Best Companies accreditation.
Travelers targets UK PL market for expansion
Travelers is eyeing expansion opportunities in the UK personal lines market, according to the newly appointed chief executive of its European operation.
Axa pledges autonomy in mass branch overhaul
Regional brokers have welcomed an overhaul of Axa's "overly bureaucratic" regional strategy, after commercial chief executive Amanda Blanc outlined plans to devolve decision-making power from the insurer's head office.
Hastings and Admiral weigh up fraud tool
The Surveillance Group is set to launch a new smart key forensic service aimed at helping motor insurers detect fraudulent theft claims by providing "incontestable" evidence in court.
Identify theft boom for insurance policies
Identity fraudsters are increasingly targeting insurance policies stolen from consumers according to new research.
Biba to continue petition despite FSCS fee reductions
The British Insurance Brokers' Association is to petition the House of Commons, raising its concerns about the funding model of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Pleural plaques fight set to continue vow insurers
The insurance industry has vowed to continue battling the Scottish government's decision to compensate pleural plaques, despite losing a judicial review in Edinburgh.
Broker wins business from adjuster surgery scheme
A broker claims to have won business off the back of a service arrangement it was piloting with Claim Experts.
Iprism cuts losses and eyes 2011 profit
Online commercial underwriting agency Iprism has seen its losses reduce by £4.5m during 2010, according to its latest filings at Companies House.
News analysis - Provident Insurance: signed, sealed, delivered
The ink has just dried on the deal that sees ownership of Provident move from troubled US firm Ally Financial to French company Covea. Daniel Dunkley reports on what the future holds for the motor insurer.
Apil chairman blasts MoJ proposals in inaugural speech
Incoming president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers David Bott was set to slam Ministry of Justice proposals to make personal injury victims meet legal costs from their compensation payouts in his inaugural speech today (14 April).