News
Columbus Direct targets Millennials with self-service travel insurance kiosks in airports
Columbus Direct has launched a series of self-service kiosks in UK airports that will allow flyers to buy travel insurance on the day of departure.
Allianz UK improves COR as GWP drops 3.6% in H1 2016
Allianz UK has improved its combined operating ratio to 96.3% (2015: 98%) as well as seeing a decrease in gross written premium for the first half of 2016.
Disciplined approach to underwriting will drive growth, says Esure’s Vann
CEO of Esure Group Stuart Vann is targeting growth in the insurer’s portfolio, claiming that "now is the time to grow".
Fraudster shown up by damning CCTV footage
A fraudulent carer has been caught out by CCTV footage after he falsely claimed to be in a car accident.
Esure's home COR hits 105% as adverse weather affects book
Esure profit before tax dropped 1.9% to £45.6m (2015: £46.5m) and its overall combined operating ratio worsened 3.4 percentage points to 99.2% for the six months ended 30 June 2016 as adverse weather events impacted the insurer's home book.
Weather events reduce Allianz's Q2 P&C global profits by 37%
German giant Allianz's second quarter 2016 global property and casualty operating profits declined 37% to €1.1bn (£933m) compared with €1.75bn in Q2 2015.
Swiss Re agrees parametric pilot with China to protect farmers
Swiss Re has entered a pilot reinsurance protection scheme with the government of Heilongjiang province to help protect farmers from natural catastrophes.
China counts $33bn costs from major flooding
According to Aon Benfield's catastrophe modeling team Impact Forecasting the recent flooding in China could cost the country as much as $33bn (£25bn) in economic losses.
Improving operating structure and delivery key to RSA group's financial success says Lewis
Steve Lewis, CEO for UK & Western Europe, RSA, believes improving operational structure and delivery has been key to RSA's strong financial results for the first half of 2016.
Abbey Insurance Brokers appoints Hanna and McKelvey to its board
Abbey Insurance Brokers has made two new appointments to its board. Paul Hanna has been appointed managing director, while Jeni McKelvey has been promoted to personal lines director.
Asbestos victims face difficulty tracing employers as Companies House seeks to delete records
Thousands of seriously ill workers and bereaved families could have their efforts to seek redress against negligent employers severely hampered under new plans to delete Companies House records according to the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.
Esure travel insurance to cover Zika cancellations
Esure travel insurance will be covering holiday cancellations for pregnant women who no longer want to travel to countries where the Zika virus has been detected.
Homeserve ‘good bad’ deal says Aviva’s UK GI CEO Holmes
Aviva’s Homeserve deal has been labelled a ‘good bad deal’ by UK General Insurance CEO after the partnership negatively affected the insurer's combined operating ratio by 1% in its interim results.
Aviva 'worst performing' UK insurer, says Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bank of America Merrill Lynch has labelled Aviva's shares the "worst performing" among the UK insurer peer group as the firm released its first half results.
IUA at highest membership level for over a decade as two new members join from Norway and India
The International Underwriting Association has added two new members to its ranks, increasing its membership level to its highest in more than a decade.
Vienna Insurance Group aims for €400m profit in 2016 as it posts H1 results
Vienna Insurance Group has revealed consolidated profit before taxes of €200m (£168m) for the first half-year 2016.
Bupa sees profits fall despite revenue climb
Bupa saw revenue climb 7% at constant exchange rates in H1 2016, earning £5.3bn compared to £5bn for the same period last year.
So Sure to launch 'revolutionary' social peer-to-peer mobile insurance app
Managing general agent So Sure, which specialises in insuring mobile phones, is about to launch a new model of “social insurance” via an app-based peer-to-peer product.
Aviva's UK GI premiums rise 8% in first half
Aviva's UK general insurance business had a stable first half to the year despite the combined operating ratio climbing to 95.9% from 93.2% in H1 2015.
Aviva's global profits jump 13%; GI COR rises
Aviva had a mixed first half to the year as its life insurance division performed well and its general insurance profits fell.
RSA posts strong global first half results as pre-tax profit grows 20%
RSA's turnaround under CEO Stephen Hester has continued in the first half of 2016.
Suncorp's insurance profits fall 17.5% for full year
Adverse weather events meant Australian insurance giant Suncorp missed its full year catastrophe allowance by A$60m (£34m).
Compensation culture remains a challenge for insurers, says Axa UK’s Blanc
The compensation culture is still dogging the UK insurance industry and so the market must continue to price for it, according to Axa UK CEO Amanda Blanc.
Be Wiser launches low cost degree to bring young people to the industry
A bespoke, low cost degree launched by Be Wiser Insurance has welcomed its first entries.