News
FCA scrutinises insurance value for money during coronavirus crisis
The Financial Conduct Authority has ordered firms to analyse if and how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the value of personal and commercial lines insurance products and take appropriate actions.
Pandemic has ‘reinforced’ value of Aon/WTW merger: Aon CEO Greg Case
The value of the Aon and Willis Towers Watson merger has “ironically” been reinforced by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Aon CEO Greg Case said on Friday.
Aon staff have ‘embraced’ pay cuts, says CEO Greg Case
Making global pay cuts was a “collective” decision that staff have “embraced” since a Monday announcement, according to Aon CEO Greg Case.
Barton plans to more than double Partners& headcount to hit five year £50m revenue target
Phil Barton, CEO of newly formed Partners&, has forecast that the business can grow from 140 staff and £65m in gross written premium to 350 people earning £50m of revenue within five years without further buys.
This week in Post: Aon, dó, trí
Business interruption, the British Insurance Awards shortlist and Q1 results kept us busy this week, but it was a move by biggest-broker-in-waiting Aon that grabbed the most attention.
FCA to put BI wordings before the courts to determine coronavirus cover
The Financial Conduct Authority will ask the courts to rule on whether a “representative sample of the most frequently used” business interruption policy wordings provide cover for Covid-19-related losses.
Double-digit Covid-19 revenue decline ‘pretty extreme’ but possible: WTW CEO John Haley
Willis Towers Watson CEO John Haley said the group could see double-digit revenue decline as a result of the coronavirus impact, as the risk giant yesterday pulled its profit guidance for the year.
Marsh and WTW decline to follow Aon’s pay cuts lead for now
Aon’s announcement that it would reduce 70% of its employees’ salaries led to some speculation that soon-to-be acquired Willis Towers Watson and rival Marsh might swiftly follow, but both brokers have since confirmed they will not follow Aon’s lead.
Broker calls on Chancellor to release Pool Re funds to break insurer BI deadlock
Leisure and hospitality broker NDML and the The Night Time Industries Association have penned an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP calling for the release of insurer funds worth £6.6bn held in the Pool Re terrorism fund.
Insurance Covid-Cast episode seven: Empathetic, sympathetic and offering strategic guidance – how brokers are managing clients in lockdown
In the latest episode of Insurance Post and Insurance Age’s new series of video casts brought to you while our journalists are in isolation lockdown we discuss how brokers maintain their ‘trusted adviser’ status during these difficult times.
Swiss Re predicts further credit and surety losses as events bulk up $476m coronavirus hit
Swiss Re’s first quarter earnings were pushed into the red by a $476m hit from the coronavirus pandemic to its property and casualty businesses, driven by event cancellation and postponement.
FCA digs for details on financial resilience of brokers and MGAs
The Financial Conduct Authority has sent out letters to approximately 300 brokers and managing general agents asking them to provide detailed information regarding their financial resources and client money accounts.
Pay cuts ‘an awfully blunt instrument’: MMC CEO Dan Glaser
Marsh & McLennan CEO Dan Glaser today confirmed that the group has no current plans to cut pay packets or dividends, describing salary slashing as “survival mode stuff”.
Lancashire predicts $35m Q1 pandemic blow as it presses on with dividend payment
Lancashire has predicted it faces $35m in first-quarter losses rated to the pandemic, stemming predominantly from business interruption claims in its property book.
Analysts talk up chances of 'now or never' Beazley equity raise
Jefferies has revised the probability of Beazley raising equity up to 40%, citing feedback from investors that, were the insurer considering the option, it should come “now or never”.
Markel confirms Olympics, Wimbledon, UK BI claims exposure
Markel yesterday confirmed its event cancellation book includes Wimbledon and the Olympics, while it will also pay out on some UK business interruption claims.
Insurance Covid-Cast - episode six: From panic to practicalities, what will BI insurance look like when the Covid-19 recriminations settle down
In the latest episode of Insurance Post and Insurance Age’s new series of video casts brought to you while our journalists are in isolation lockdown we discuss how the insurance industry let the narrative over business interruption become national…
County Group founder Dave Clapp leaves GRP-owned business
Dave Clapp, founder and CEO of The County Group has left the Global Risk Partners-owned business but remains a shareholder.
CII appoints Helen Phillips as first independent board chair
The Chartered Insurance Institute has made Helen Phillips its first independent chair as it splits the role of leading the board from that of the president.
Interview: ABI's Huw Evans on not losing faith in insurance
It clearly is not great for the insurance industry’s reputation “to be in a position where it has so many unhappy customers,” Huw Evans, director general of the Association of British Insurers has admitted.
We will not wait for the ombudsman, says Hiscox BI challenge lawyer
A lawyer advising pubs and clubs mulling legal action against Hiscox over rejected business interruption claims has said the group won’t wait for the Financial Ombudsman Service to process complaints before launching arbitration proceedings.
Analysis: Breaking bust - insolvencies in the age of coronavirus
Insurers are adapting to deal with coronavirus-related insolvencies, as brokers call for compassion and support for businesses at a difficult time.
Expertise in Audio 2: Data and data ethics in insurance – where do we draw the line?
For this episode, Insurance Post director of content Jonathan Swift discusses data as the lifeblood of the insurance industry with Jeff Ward, founder of the Jeff Ward Consultancy, Annarita Roscino, head of predictive analytics at Zurich Insurance, and…
Industry 'did not do enough' to prepare society for pandemic, must not fail on climate: Unfriend Coal
Having previously identified both pandemic risk and climate change as the world's "greatest threat," the insurance industry must champion a green and fair recovery from the Covid-19 crisis to help avert another emergency, NGOs have urged.