Post - 2010-08-05
Articles in this issue
Post Magazine - 5 August 2010
The August 5 edition of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital interactive e-book.
Fire claims costs reduced
Insurers have paid out £566m for damage caused by fire in the second half of 2009, statistics from the Association of British Insurers have revealed.
Mitie targets top spot in property claims sector
Strategic outsourcing specialist Mitie has unveiled ambitious plans to become the leading property claims company within five years, after announcing its entry into the market this week.
Nationwide to review household
High street building society Nationwide is undergoing a review of the household insurance market in a move that might unseat its long-term affinity partner Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance.
AA falls foul of premium rate telephone scammers
AA Insurance has warned other firms to check their telephone records after falling foul of a premium rate call scam.
PL brokers defiant over demise of NIG motor
Brokers have responded defiantly to any demise of NIG's personal lines motor book, insisting there is sufficient appetite to fill the void left by the insurer.
Insurers signal motor rate rises are coming
More insurers are expected to take a close look at their personal lines motor book, following the news that loss-making NIG has drawn up a proposal to exit the business.
Aggregator spend to shift to emerging markets
The success of price comparison sites in the motor insurance market will be replicated in other personal lines, key aggregators have claimed.
Allianz claims industry first with dedicated liability fraud team
Allianz Insurance is on course to make casualty insurance fraud savings of more than £10m, after setting up a specialist fraud team.
Towergate: bond issue is still on 'to do' list
Towergate is keeping the brakes on its £665m bond issue in response to little improvement in the financial markets.
Autofocus seeks bidders
The administrators of credit hire reporting firm Autofocus have published a marketing document to attract buyers to the company.
Insurers urged to join IASB debate
European insurers have been urged to keep down their own costs by implementing the long-awaited International Accounting Standards Board's common reporting framework into their Solvency II plans.
Editor's comment: Can NIG win back trust?
The news of NIG's proposed withdrawal from the personal lines market has caused considerable discussion this week both on the Post website and in the magazine.
RSA on track to double book
Mark Christer, managing director of More Than, has taken over RSA's global renewable energy book.
Brit CEO: shareholders are key, not my own future
Brit Insurance has boosted profits and reduced its overall book, in what is expected to be its last set of results before its sale to Apollo Management.
JLT CEO: 'we will be doing the acquiring'
Jardine Lloyd Thompson has pledged to invest in its Asian operations after posting strong international growth in its half-year financials.
Aon UK reports an 8% decrease in commission and fees
Aon has reported an 8% decline in commission and fees for its UK arm in the second quarter of 2010 to $167m (£106.9m) (Q2 2009: $181m).
News analysis - NIG withdrawal: NIG: a very personal exit
The announcement of the proposed closure of NIG's personal lines business last week has raised a host of questions.
BIS Countdown - innovation: Listening to customers
The relationship between the customer and the market is constantly on the move, says Amanda Blanc, who stresses firms must innovate and evolve or face severe consequences.
View from the top: Looking for opportunities
In my regular discussions with clients, I am constantly impressed by the innovative ways in which they are meeting the challenge of growing their business, not just in the current financial climate, but in facing the radical economic shift that lies…
Postbox: Nick and Tom in agreement?
It is a pleasure to be able to write 'I agree with Tom [Jones, Thompsons partner]'
Broker focus - exit options: Feathering the nest
Finding a favourable exit during the economic downturn has proved tricky for broker owners. Leigh Jackson reports on how the tide may be turning for those looking to sell.
Engineering - air conditioning: Keeping it cool
With air conditioning no longer a novelty in the UK, Thomas Howe argues more care needs to be taken over refrigeration issues.
Rome II: Together in harmony?
Rome II aimed to simplify the way cross-border claims were dealt with. Paula Jefferson and Catherine Fox examine why it hasn't quite had the effect intended, with even the timing of the legislation being questioned.
Career development & CSR news: Profit through innovation
Recently released official figures, which revealed our economy grew by 1.1% in the second quarter of this year, left economists and business leaders both surprised and relieved. While this is a welcome development, no one should breathe a sigh of relief…
Career development & CSR news - CII: complete overhaul of skills landscape needed
The Chartered Insurance Institute has claimed that the UK's "entire skills landscape" must be overhauled if the country is to compete with other global economies.
Career development & CSR news: £5000 raised by runners
David Fowkes put on his running shoes to take part in the Birmingham Insurance Institute annual run for charity, and raised the highest amount of any individual.
Postscript - 30 years ago: P&I club braced for record loss
Looking through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 30 years ago reveals.
Postscript - 10 years ago: Aggressive start to new solicitors' PI
Looking through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 10 years ago reveals.
Postscript - five years ago: Towergate in VC launch for insurance
Looking through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from five years ago reveals.
Penny Black's insurance week
Last week you couldn't move for publicity about Boris Johnson's Barclays Cycle Hire project in London. What a shame, then, that the London mayor and his regional transport team's goodwill towards the oxygen of publicity did not extend to the North-west…