News
Austrian lawyer annointed as Van Hulle successor
The European Commission has appointed Klaus Wiedner to replace Karel Van Hulle as head of unit dealing with pensions and insurance in the Internal Market Directorate General.
Insurance sector responds to Budget
Members of the insurance industry have responded to today's Budget.
Budget offers tax relief to SMEs as growth forecast halved
The Chancellor has announced that employers will have the first £2000 cut from their national insurance bill.
Mapfre subsidiary to insure Maltese trade union
Mapfre subsidiary, Middlesea Assist, is to provide home assistance services to the members of the Union Haddiema Maghqudin, a major worker's organisation in Malta.
DCS Global swoops for CL trio and Berrymans pair
Claims management firm DCS Global has made a raft of senior appointments as it commences operations in Bristol and Manchester.
Legal firms call for Law Society executives' resignation following civil justice reforms
A group of law firms, headed by Martin Coyne, managing partner of law firm Ralli, has called for the resignation of the Law Society executive as part of its Save The Legal Industry Campaign.
RSA and NFU Mutual ink bilateral claims deal
RSA has completed the signing of its fifth bilateral agreement on personal injury claims, signing a deal with NFU Mutual.
LMA completes marine claims standardisation project
The Lloyd’s market association has completed a year-long project to standardise engagement terms for marine surveyors and loss adjusters working in the London market.
Lower claims frequency hits Charles Taylor adjusting profit
Growth in Charles Taylor's management services and Isle of Man-based run-off insurance business in 2012 have offset reduced earnings in its adjusting services business, which was hit by a lower number of complex claims than the previous year.
Major cyber attack suspected in South Korea
Computers at three South Korean national broadcasters and two banks were affected this afternoon as some accuse North Korea of dirty tricks.
Asia-Pacific premiums to double by 2020, says Munich Re
Munich Re's Economic Research Department estimates that nearly half of the $2.8trn of additional premiums to be generated by 2020 across the world will be from the Asia-Pacific region.
FM Global shrugs off Sandy
Property and casualty insurer FM Global secured a profit of $774m in 2012 and a COR of 85.7% despite 2 200 claims from superstorm Sandy.
Career development: Apprenticeships to boost economy
Apprenticeship completions over the next decade are forecast to contribute £3.4bn a year to the economy through productivity gains by 2022, according to a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research.
Ecclesiastical calls for double-digit rate rises
Ecclesiastical’s UK managing director Steve Wood has admitted parts of its liability book could see rate increases in excess of 50% in 2013.
Indonesia "most exciting market" in South East Asia
Indonesia is the most exciting growth market for insurance in South East Asia, although Vietnam also has significant potential, market insiders said today.
Hannover Re completes its conversion to an SE
Hannover Re has completed its conversion to a European Company,Societas Europaea, following its entry in the commercial register of Hannover County Court.
A&A director steps down after 28 years at intermediary
The A&A Group sales and marketing director Steve McPherson will leave the company this week following a 28 year stint at the firm.
Ecclesiastical COR deteriorates while profits grow
Ecclesiastical’s combined operating ratio deteriorated by three percentage points year-on-year to 108.5% in 2012 against an underwriting loss of £24.6m (2011: £18.7m) and challenges arising from non-core business lines.
Trio handed panel roles to provide challenge to FCA policy
Three new chairmen have been appointed to the independent panels representing regulated firms which lead the process for constructive challenge of the Financial Conduct Authority’s policies and practices.
Warranty gap insurance catching on in Continental Europe
Increased awareness of warranty and indemnity insurance is spurring the growth of the market in European territories, according to CMS Cameron McKenna.
Biba and Marsh to join the flood debate at Efra evidence session
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and Marsh have been invited to give evidence at tomorrow’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee meeting on flood insurance provision, after a previous evidence session was adjourned.
Regulatory convergence not necessarily 'better' for insurance industry
Attempts to harmonise global insurance regulations are “more aspirational than realistic”, according to DLA Piper’s Bill Marcoux.
Ferma urges Europe to provide legal basis for commission disclosure for all in IMD2
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations is calling on the European Parliament to ensure that all insurance buyers are entitled to a minimum European standard of disclosure in the revised Insurance Mediation Directive II
Consolidation "inevitable" in Saudi insurance market according to S&P report
Prospects appear to be improving for Saudi Arabia's insurance industry, according to a new report from Standard & Poor's.