News
Mapfre and CEA join forces to target French travel market
Mapfre Asistencia has signed a strategic agreement with French firm Compagnie Européenne d'Assurances for joint operations in the French travel insurance sector.
S&P warns on RBS sale of UK Insurance
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has assigned its 'A' long-term counterparty credit ratings and insurer financial strength ratings to Direct Line Group subsidiary UK Insurance, saying the outlook is stable but warning that the sell-off could change…
JLT Re nabs Lawrence from Aon Benfield
JLT Reinsurance Brokers has appointed Mark Lawrence from Aon Benfield as head of client and market development.
Japan's P&I club cuts cover for ships in Iran
Japan's P&I Club has confirmed it will only be able to provide a fraction of insurance coverage to tankers that transport Iranian oil under the new European Union sanctions.
LV doubles profits in 2011
LV has improved its combined operating ratio by 6.5% to 97.7% for its full year results for 2011 from 104.2% in 2010.
Home of Hampshire cricket rebranded as 'The Ageas Bowl'
The Rose Bowl, the home of Hampshire cricket, will now be known as 'The Ageas Bowl' following a six-year partnership deal.
Allianz admits to Accident Exchange settlement
Allianz has confirmed it has paid a "six figure" out of court settlement to credit hirer Accident Exchange for using the now defunct rate surveyor Autofocus.
Thai regulator raises foreign share cap to 49%
Thailand's insurance regulator, The Office of the Insurance Commission, has agreed to raise the foreign shareholding limit in the country's insurance companies from 25% to 49% in a bid to liberalise the market.
Hiscox says 92% fall in profit a 'good result'
Hiscox claimed that reporting a pre-tax profit down 92% to £17.3m (2010: £211.4m) was "a good result in the circumstances", as chairman Robert Hiscox announced he would complete one more year at the helm.
Councils put flood risk burden on insurers
Council leaders have attacked "unfair and unaffordable insurance premiums" for residents and local authorities close to water, claiming they face an £11bn liability.
Experian reports fall in insolvencies
Credit watcher Experian has said that the rate of insolvencies fell from 0.11% in December 2012 to 0.07% in January this year – the same rate as in January 2011.
Generali reports 5.5% fall in premiums
Italy-based insurer Generali reported a 5.5% reduction in premiums for the full year 2011, despite the solid performance of the non-life segment.
Chartis cuts underwriting losses
AIG’s insurance operation Chartis has chipped away it its underwriting losses cutting its combined ratio to 109% from 116.8% and turned in operating and pre-tax profits compared with losses in 2010.
Market outlook poll results
Is 2012 looking better than 2012?
Swiss Re reports $2.6bn profit despite nat cats hitting P&C combined ratio
Global reinsurer Swiss Re exceeded analyst expectations to report net income of $2.6bn for the full year 2011.
Kiln claims results show resilience
Tokio Marine's Kiln syndicates at Lloyd's has released the final results for its four non-aligned syndicates for the 2009 year of account, updated forecasts for the 2010 year of account and initial forecasts for the 2011 year of account.
Life insurers need derivatives to hedge risks, says IRDA chairman
The chairman of India's insurance regulator has indicated that it may relax the ban on life insurance companies investing in derivatives, in a speech at the 14th Global Conference of Actuaries in Mumbai.
AIA Group sees 13% increase in profit
AIA Group has reported a 13% rise in operating profit after tax for the year ended 30 November 2011 to $1922m.
More Than says 'deal' to first ever TV show sponsorship
More Than has today announced the first TV sponsorship deal in its 10-year history with the news that it will back hit Channel 4 game show Deal or No Deal.
CCV hires new operations director
CCV has appointed of David Bruce as operations director starting in April.
Questgates predicts influx of subsidence claims
Questgates has warned the insurance industry could be inundated with subsidence claims this year.
AM Best confirms RSA's A rating
AM Best has affirmed the A (Excellent) financial strength rating and 'a' issuer credit ratings of the main UK operating subsidiaries of RSA Insurance Group.
Lloyds bank puts £3.2bn price tag on PPI
Lloyds Banking Group has reported insurance premium income of £8170m (2010: £8148m) with claims of £6041m (2010: £19 088m) but said payment protection insurance provision had cost it £3.2bn.
Invicta buys home insurance book from IFA
Invicta Insurance Services is to buy the general insurance portfolio of Surrey-based financial adviser Financial Profiles.