Personal
Worsening outlook for UK non-life insurers, says Fitch
Fitch Ratings has a worsening outlook for the UK non-life company sector, Graham Coutts, senior director, head of EMEA reinsurance has confirmed with market combined ratios for motor and home likely to be above 100% in 2021.
LV tops Aviva, Churchill, Nationwide and Saga to win customer service crown according to ICS
LV has again been ranked the top insurance organisation in the UK by the Institute of Customer Service in its biannual UK Customer Satisfaction Index, although the gap at the top between it and the chasing pack has been reduced.
Markerstudy restructures debts and looks to acquisitions with £200m PE-led investment
Markerstudy has agreed a £200m investment led by private equity firm Pollen Street Capital, which will see its debts to Qatar Re restructured and fund organic and acquisition-led growth.
Howden ready to buy again with £500m of firepower
Howden Group has a £500m warchest for acquisitions and investments, CEO David Howden told Post as the firm reported 6% organic growth in 2020.
Analysis: ERS goes commercial
Broker-only motor insurer ERS has the chance to make its mark in the commercial sector but will need to recruit well and target niche larger risks.
Tesco Bank switching to in-house underwriter for all home and motor insurance
Tesco Bank new and renewing home and motor policies will be underwritten by Tesco Underwriting from August, the business announced on Tuesday.
Zurich offers free counselling to claimants
Zurich is to offer policyholders that make a claim free counselling sessions, following a nine-month pilot last year.
Debenhams and Weddingplan insurer ‘considering’ impact of Supreme Court ruling on wedding claims
The businesses behind Weddingplan and Debenhams wedding insurance are “considering” the impact of the Supreme Court judgment and what it means for policyholders who did not get lockdown payouts for cancelled weddings, Post has learned.
LV’s Heather Smith on crucial brand value
As the industry responds to the Financial Conduct Authority’s pricing shake-up and tackles the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic Heather Smith, managing director of the LV General Insurance retail business, addresses why having a trusted…
Insurer satisfaction unaffected by Covid-19 despite record policyholder problems, says Institute of Customer Service
The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have not had a detrimental impact on the insurance sector’s overall customer satisfaction - despite the number of people experiencing problems hitting an historic high, according to the latest report by the…
For the Record: Aviva rationalises office space, RSA deal gets greenlight, Miller enters HNW and Corant Global is born
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Blog: Whiplash portal may never live up to expectations but still time to prevent government IT disaster
The government needs to use the short delay to the Civil Liability Act wisely, says Matthew Maxwell Scott, executive director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations.
Under the Bonnet, driven by Haynes Pro: What progress is being made in making the UK vehicle pool more environmentally friendly?
In the first of a new quarterly series in association with Post, Haynes Pro crunches the data to look at the take up of electric and hybrid vehicles in the UK over the past 10 years
Policyholders must be helped to understand gaps in cover says CII panel
The industry must communicate to policyholders what their policies do not cover to address reputational issues the industry is facing and help breach the expectation gap, a panel of senior industry professionals speaking at a Chartered Insurance…
Be Wiser’s David Russell on the FCA’s pricing review
David Russell, chief compliance officer at Be Wiser Insurance, was part of the Financial Services Authority team that brought in the Insurance Mediation Directive and statutory regulation of brokers. Here he looks at the implications of the Financial…
For the Record: The week in deals featuring Allianz, Clyde & Co, Convex, Gallagher, Howden, Kennedys, LV, New Dawn Risk and Woodgate & Clark
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Briefing: Trust in travel insurance has fallen, could ‘Covid cancellation’ cover mean another hit this year?
With trust in travel insurance falling, Post news editor Jen Frost considers the impact of so-called Covid cancellation cover in 2021.
Briefing: Seven insurtechs to watch in 2021
For a sixth year running, Post content director Jonathan Swift scans the insurtech space and identifies up-and-coming businesses potentially worth watching over the next 12 months.
Bollington buy a ‘super fit’, says Gallagher boss Michael Rea
Michael Rea, CEO of Gallagher’s UK retail division, has hailed the takeover of Bollington as supercharging the firm’s presence in the North West and adding specialisms to the group.
Loss making SSP reveals financial struggles ahead of sale
SSP made an after tax loss of £115m in the 18 months to 30 September 2019 and breached its banking covenants in March 2020, the business has revealed ahead of its takeover by Canadian firm Constellation Software.
QBE’s Jon Dye on managing emerging risks in 2021
From trade tariffs on parts and whiplash reform, through to fraud, automatic lane keeping technology and connected vehicles, there is plenty for insurers to keep an eye on this year, says Jon Dye, director of motor at QBE.
Briefing: Has the MOJ bitten off more than it can chew with whiplash reforms?
Perhaps the only surprise about today’s delay to part one of the Civil Liability Act (2018) whiplash reforms is that they are only being put back one month.
SSP users hopeful of investment as takeover nears completion
Users have expressed hope that SSP’s expected takeover by Canadian-listed Constellation Software will lead to investment in the technology company as it exits private equity ownership.
Whiplash reforms pushed back to May
Whiplash reforms have been pushed back to May, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland confirmed today.