News
Canopius targets casualty in South Asia with Ace hire
Specialist (re)insurer Canopius has appointed Alan Law as regional casualty underwriter for its Singapore platform.
DLG names Dixons Carphone boss as non-exec
Direct Line Group has recruited the group chief executive of Dixons Carphone to serve as a non-executive director.
CEO Jansen and CFO Boland to leave the AA
The AA chief executive Chris Jansen has resigned from the board of the roadside assistance company “by mutual agreement”.
Aon and Amlin launch new product for estate owners
Aon Estates Practice, part of the broker's private client business, has launched an insurance solution for estate owners, in conjunction with Lloyd’s insurer Amlin.
Hastings sees 90% increase in Q2 pre-tax profit
UK motor specialist Hastings posted profit before tax of £17.1m for the second quarter of 2014, a 90% increase on the same period in 2013.
Reinsurers urged to work with governments to improve disaster resilience
Rising losses in the wake of natural catastrophes is increasing economic instability in many developing and emerging economies, according to a report by Standard & Poor’s.
Insured disaster losses fall by $4bn in first six months of 2014
Total economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters reached $44bn (£26.5bn) in the first half of 2014, according to preliminary estimates from Swiss Re’s Sigma database.
ABI defers decision on Flood Re participation for independent Scotland
The Association of British Insurers has refused to rule out the possibility of an independent Scotland being excluded from the insurance industry backed Flood Re scheme.
Ageas Law awarded Lexcel accreditation
Ageas Law, the alternative business structure established by Ageas in April 2013, has been awarded Lexcel status by the Law Society.
Allianz promotes Lewis to Maidstone branch boss
Allianz Commercial has handed the reins of its Maidstone office to strategic account manager Jamie Lewis.
Ryanair to remove ‘hidden’ opt out from travel insurance menu
No-frills airliner Ryanair will replace the ‘confusing’ travel insurance menu of its website by the end of the year, following pressure from consumer champion Which?
BLM appoints new PI partner
BLM has added, commercial lawyer Jagdeep Singh Hayre, formerly of Birmingham City Council, to its public sector team.
Great Lakes Australia helps Steadfast buy Calliden
Australia's largest broker network Steadfast is buying Australian managing general agent the Calliden Group for A$105m (£59.1m).
Fosun's insurance assets make modest profits in first half
Chinese conglomerate Fosun's insurance revenues climbed 8,294% over the last year in the first six months of 2014.
Allied World to double Asia book
Allied World's premiums in Asia will more than double when the RSA's Hong Kong and Singapore books are integrated.
R&Q faces large legal expenses from syndicate 102 dispute
The ongoing cost of a "significant" legal dispute on old syndicate 102 and several accounting technicalities were to blame for Randall & Quilter positing a loss in the first half of 2014, according to chairman and chief executive Ken Randall.
Flood Re exclusion a possibility for independent Scotland
An independent Scotland could be faced with the prospect of identifying an alternative to the Flood Re scheme established between the UK government and the Association of British Insurers, according to research carried out by Standard & Poor’s.
Lord Chancellor seeking expert panel for discount rate review
The Lord Chancellor is sourcing a panel of three experts to provide testimony on potential changes to the discount rate on personal injury damages.
Brightside co-founder Chase-Gardener handed commercial director role
Brightside founder Paul Chase-Gardener has been given a new role as the broker’s commercial director, with former Barbon chief executive Ian Sutherland also joining the business.
AGCS Re Brazil opens for business in Peru
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty Resseguros Brazil is expanding its South American business by providing reinsurance solutions in Peru.
Price Forbes recruits four Gallagher financial lines leaders
Lloyd’s broker Price Forbes has recruited four new staff from A J Gallagher, including Adrian Fox, the head of the financial lines international broking and wholesale division.
Austbrokers swoops for 50% share in risk management consultancy
Sydney-based broking business Austbrokers Holdings has sealed its third acquisition in as many weeks with the purchase of equity in specialist risk management consultancy Risk Strategies.
DLG likely to win promotion to FTSE 100
Direct Line Group could win promotion to the FTSE 100 in the next quarterly reshuffle with drink can maker Rexam and construction firm Barratt Developments at risk of dropping out of the London Stock Exchange’s top tier.
R&Q posts pre-tax loss of £600 000 for H1
Insurance investor and underwriting manager Randall & Quilter posted a pre-tax loss of £600 000 for the first six months of 2014 (H1 2013: £3m profit) following an increase in legal expense reserves.