Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC)
Broker focus - Personal lines: Survival tactics
Embattled personal lines brokers are facing a tough climate with falling incomes and business volumes, but those willing to adapt to the new environment can survive and prosper.
Reinsurance - January renewals: Toughen up
Despite the catastrophes of 2011, the predicted — and much needed — January renewal rate hardening has failed to materialise.
Spotlight on environment: Providing protection
With climate change increasing the likelihood of natural disasters, insurers must influence the debate on how businesses and governments manage risks such as supply chain failure.
Reinsurers reluctant to cover Thai cat fund
Global reinsurers may be reluctant to cover the recently announced Thai catastrophe fund if asked to by the nation’s government, according to market analysts.
Thai cat fund could prove too costly for reinsurers
International reinsurers will have to be “seriously convinced” the Thailand government’s catastrophe fund is profitable if they are to insure it.
Broking - Mergers & acquisitions: Do not disturb
2011 was a relatively sleepy year for merger & acquisition activity in the broker sector. Could 2012 be a wake-up call or will the market stay snoozing?
Employment: Hiring and firing
There are two sides to the recruitment story in the insurance industry — while some are reducing their headcount, others are looking to bring in fresh faces.
Solvency II vote pushed back to spring
The European Parliamentary vote on Omnibus II has been delayed until the spring, Post understands.
Ex-Garwyn, Crawford and Cunningham staff launch new claims firm
A six-strong team of casualty claims experts has founded a new London Market-based consultancy called Applied Claims Consultancy.
Brokers hit harder than insurers, says CBI/PwC survey
Insurance brokers’ profitability dropped back after an unexpectedly strong fall in the volume of business and value of premium income, according to the latest PwC survey for the Confederation of British Industry.
A windstorm for the insurance market
As the market gradually starts to digest the recent European renewals, Francesca Nyman considers the increasing challenge that European windstorms pose and whether insurers are adequately protected against this risk.
Stormy weather creates conditions for household rate rise
The recent winter storms in England and Scotland could lead to further rises in household premiums, according to PwC.
Hastings stands by Utley as he prepares to face disciplinary board
Hastings Direct has vowed to stand by chairman Neil Utley, pictured, as he prepares to face the Lloyd’s disciplinary board later this month, as part of an investigation into Equity Red Star.
Review of the year - General insurance: Regulatory dramas
2011, a year dominated by regulatory and legislative change, could yet prove to be a landmark 12 months for the insurance industry.
Overseas focus - China: a market of opportunity?
With an enormous population and low insurance penetration, China should be a market ripe for entering. Jakki May finds out it isn't as simple as it sounds but reveals an appetite for change and growth.
Scottish storm: Domestic insurers to bear brunt of losses
Domestic household insurers are set to take the brunt of insured losses from the Scottish storm as PwC estimates it could plunge the country’s economy £100m into the red.
European financial services M&A activity down by 25%
There has been a significant slowdown in European financial services M&A activity during the Q3 of 2011.
Regulation still thwarts China expansion
Property and casualty insurers still consider China’s tight regulatory environment as the top concern, a report from PWC has found.
Regulation still thwarts China expansion
Property and casualty insurers still consider China’s tight regulatory environment as the top concern, a report from PWC has found.
News analysis: Escalating loss estimates in Thailand begin to trigger market fallout
It was the worst flooding Thailand had seen for 50 years and, during its four-month spell, more than 600 people died and 77 provinces were submerged in water.
Review of the year - Lloyd's & London Market: The costliest year ever?
The first half of 2011 saw an unprecedented number of catastrophic events, so how has Lloyd’s and the London market coped?
Motor insurers set to share application data in suspected frauds – Insurance News Now
Post reporter Callum Brodie outlines this week's major general insurance stories including how motor insurers plan to share suspected application fraud data as criminals try multiple applications to get cars on the Motor Insurance Database as cheaply as…
PwC research points to dip in M&A activity
Financial services M&A activity underwent a “significant slowdown” in the third quarter of the year but is expected to pick up in the early part of 2012, according to research carried out by PwC.
ULR Additions shuffles jobs as accounts remain unfiled
Legal expenses provider ULR Additions has failed to file its accounts at Companies House, almost four months after Post revealed that two long-standing senior figures had departed the firm.