News
Mitsui steps up mid-market regional push
Mitsui Sumitomo is poised to open its doors in Birmingham as part of its regional mid-market push, ahead of the unveiling of its new property-led product for this target segment in quarter four. The news follows last month's four-strong recruitment in…
Zurich sees engineering business grow by 50%
Zurich's engineering insurance business has grown by 50% to £15m gross written premium in the past two years, with the ambition to take it to £25m over the next three to five years.
Biba 2011: Restructure ends as 114 Axa jobs go
Axa Commercial chief executive Amanda Blanc has revealed the restructure of the firm is "complete", including the identification of 114 senior management staff who will leave the business. As a result of the swift changes, Axa branches across the UK are…
Law report: Provoking an assault not contributory negligence
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Perseverance prepares to exit UK insurance market
Perseverance, the Gibraltar-based former owner of KGM, is set to dispose of one of its remaining assets in the UK insurance market, Post understands, following negotiations to sell its stake in One Answer Network.
Allianz front-end fraud focus helps save £50m
Allianz Insurance is on track to identify £50m of insurance fraud in 2011, according to UK chief executive Andrew Torrance — boosted by work undertaken by the insurer in private car application fraud.
Biba 2011: Brokers back Biba and IIB as merger revealed
Moves by the British Insurance Brokers' Association and the Institute of Insurance Brokers to merge have been overwhelmingly backed by brokers.
Law report: An inflammatory judgment on findings of fire fraud
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Consumer insurance reforms will make it harder to turn down claims
The first changes to consumer insurance legislation in more than a century will prevent insurers from "hiding behind" unrelated errors to avoid paying claims.
Law report: Defendants alerted to ongoing liability
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Aviva to attack motor with online-only brand
Aviva is gearing up to challenge multi-brand motor insurance giants Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance and Admiral on the aggregators with the launch of a new internet-only brand.
Barbon trading platform on track for a summer launch
Barbon Insurance Group is now "weeks away" from launching its wholesale broker online trading platform via property business Keelan Westall.
Editor's comment: All action, no talk
Mergers & acquisitions have definitely dominated the insurance headlines this week. Nothing unusual in that — except, for once, it's been more a case of all action and little talk, rather than the reverse, as is so typically the case. But it also remains…
Career development & CSR: Barbon tackles homelessness with 1% of profit ambition
Barbon Insurance Group aims to raise the equivalent of 1% of its profits over three years in support of UK homeless charities, as part of a new corporate social responsibility strategy.
Go Compare slips down the rankings
Go Compare has fallen to 11th place in a study of the most visible insurance websites, published by search engine research firm Greenlight.
Aviva's BIG hits 2000 members in two years
Aviva's Broker Independence Group has grown its membership base by 24% over the past 12 months and expects take up to continue.
Crisis Survivor buyers undeterred by debts
A broker has shown interest in failed risk management specialist, Crisis Survivor, as creditors reveal the business owes £300 000.
News analysis - AJG acquisition: Deal or no deal
After a number of stalled bids from a variety of firms, Heath Lambert has been bought by international giant Arthur J Gallagher. Mairi MacDonald follows the timeline of the deal and looks at what the consequences may be.
Career development & CSR: Ask the expert
What would be the essential pieces of advice you would offer a job seeker at the moment?
Giles rebuffs claim that growth dependent on acquisitions
Giles Insurance Brokers has stated its growth "does not depend on acquisitions" as it recorded an operating loss of £6.5m (2009: £8.4m profit) for the year ended August 2010.
Career development & CSR: First six BGL apprentices win full-time jobs at Fusion's contact centre
The first six young people to win places on an apprenticeship scheme launched last year by BGL have secured full-time jobs at its Sunderland-based Fusion contact centre.
Validus investigation unit spots £1m of fraud in first two months
A new claims investigation unit set up by Validus has found nearly £1m of suspicious motor claims for insurance clients in its first two months of operation.
RSA plans to 'dominate' marine after niche buy
RSA's acquisition of niche marine broker Noble Marine is part of a plan to dominate the UK marine market, according to marine director Richard Turner.
Biba 2011: Biba renews professional indemnity accredited broker panel
The British Insurance Brokers' Association has renewed its professional indemnity accredited broker panel. Biba's three accredited brokers — Lockton Companies, Howden Insurance Brokers and Towergate Professional Indemnity — will continue to provide cover…