Personal
L&G records general insurance COR of 88% as new business jumps 38%
Legal & General reported this morning that its general insurance business recorded £304m of gross written premium in 2011.
Former Axa PL boss Keating returns at non-standard MGA Midas
The former managing director of Axa Personal Lines intermediary Mike Keating has returned to the market at a specialist non-standard property underwriting agency, Postonline has learnt.
Green Insurance pet cover sales grow 166%
The Green Insurance Company's pet cover sales grew by 166% last year, and the company also topped £100 000 in donations to animal charities for the first time.
Study in Jordan may liberalise compulsory TPL insurance
The Jordanian government is considering liberalising prices of compulsory third-party liability insurance services this year, according to media reports.
LAS completes first acquisition since Gresham-backed MBO
LAS Claims Management has completed its first acquisition since its private equity-backed management buyout from Lanes Group Plc in 2010.
Mapfre expects 6% revenue increase in 2012, as 2011 rises 3.2%
In 2011, Mapfre achieved a net result of €963m, a 3.2% rise on the 2010 full year results.
Policyholders struggle to pay soaring voluntary excesses
Axa has warned drivers against pushing up excess levels in order to reduce premiums as growing numbers struggle to meet payments.
Insurers face £72m Australian flood losses
Insurers are anticipating losses of £72m and at least 5000 claims from the Australian floods, according to Risk Management Solutions.
Talent poll
How is the industry finding talent?
Direct Line Group reviews loss adjuster panels
Direct Line Group has asked loss adjusters on its current panels to submit new prices for work ahead of the existing contracts expiring in July.
In Series: Emerging Markets - MENA means business
Despite growing competition in the Middle East and North Africa from local providers, there are still opportunities for foreign insurers in the market
Repair costs for imported cars to drop in South Korea
Repair charges for imported cars are expected to come down as South Korean non-life insurers make a deal with foreign carmakers after their decision to reduce insurance premiums for drivers by 2%.
Asia-Pacific reaches 3.3 million HNW overtaking Europe
Asia is now second only to North America in the number of high net worth individuals, and this continues to rise by 10% year on year, according to a new report.
County Insurance boss lines up early acquisition delivery
Ambitious north west broker County Insurance could be in line to deliver on its five-year plan of landing ten acquisition targets ahead of schedule, with two early purchases expected to be tied up within two months.
Aviva eyes commercial improvements by dropping underperforming lines of business
David McMillan, Aviva UK general insurance chief executive, remains confident his firm can recover from a "challenging" year in terms of commercial business, following the decision to drop a number of underperforming lines of motor business.
Your Say: Taking on Tesco
Since Axa and Zurich reported improved UK earnings in mid-February, a number of other insurers have impressed with upbeat personal lines results. After a dismal 2011, these performances should be applauded, and demonstrate that, unlike the banks, which…
'Sticking plaster' Statement of Principles distorts flood insurance market
The Statement of Principles was never designed to be anything more than a "sticking plaster", according to James Dalton, head of property insurance at the Association of British Insurers.
Government warned it cannot 'duck' issue of poor being priced out of flood insurance
People on lower incomes could be priced out of flood insurance following the end of the Statement of Principles.
Renewing Statement of Principles will not solve flood cover issue, says Defra
The issue that confronts the insurance sector and government today is not the ending of the Statement of Principles, as renewing it would not solve the problem, but that underwriters are changing their approach to pricing flood risk.
Aviva bemoans 'challenging' UK commercial sector as CEO Moss heralds 2011 progress
Aviva's UK general insurance continuing operations saw a decrease in operating profit and underwriting result in 2011 to £540m (2010: £567m) and £129m (2010: £184m) respectively. This was mostly as a result of the reduced contribution from Aviva Re.
Popularity of price comparison sites paves way for master aggregator
The long-tipped 'aggregator of aggregators' is closer to happening than ever, with the proliferation of price comparison brands and online insurance offerings that shun these sites.
Social media-based broker heralded as five years ahead of the game
While the UK insurance industry is still trying to understand the financial merits of social media, one German online-based broker has already started using Facebook to encourage its users and their friends to sign up for cover.
At-fault payout product could fill 'deliberate' hole in motor market
Concerns have been raised that a new product that "fills a genuine gap" in the motor market could be plugging a hole that has been left deliberately.
Editor's comment: Insurers must be socially mobile
Joining a party too late can be disastrous. Not least because the early attendees may have drunk the place dry.