UK
Government delay to claims portal expected within days
Industry experts have predicted that the government is ready to delay the upcoming launch of the claims portal with an announcement expected “very soon”.
Call Connection creditors set to share £246,000 as claims hit £4.7m
Call Connection creditors will share a payout of around £246,000 as claims from secured and unsecured creditors total £4.7m, administrators BDO have estimated.
Post Office switches from BGL panel to Ageas home insurance partnership
Post Office Insurance has teamed up with Ageas on an exclusive five-year deal for home insurance.
Bollington still offering all lines after Gefion suspension, Patterson confirms
Bollington’s decision to stop trading with unrated Danish insurer Gefion has not changed the firm’s insurance footprint, group managing director Chris Patterson told Post.
Ardonagh buys Bennetts for £26m
Ardonagh Group has agreed to pay Saga £26m for Bennetts Motorcycling Services.
UK commercial insurance pricing leaps 14% in Q4
Composite insurance pricing in the UK rose by 13.7% in the fourth quarter of last year according to research by Marsh.
Interview: Amanda Blanc on life in the NED seat
The former Zurich, Axa and Towergate leader discusses her portfolio of NED positions, challenges for insurers in the current market, the partnership opportunities for insurtech businesses as well as rugby and schools.
Covid-19: Travel insurers at odds on coronavirus approach
Travel insurers are keeping a close eye Foreign Office travel advice and have taken differing positions on whether travelling to China amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak would invalidate policyholders' coverage.
Q&A: Gary Humphreys, Markerstudy
Markerstudy’s group underwriting director, Gary Humphreys, discusses taking a pause on commercial business, progress on the Co-op Insurance buy, debt, making further acquisitions and the rated versus unrated debate as well as backing MGAs and the future…
Markerstudy not 'exercised' by May debt deadline
Markerstudy is in discussions with Qatar Re over the repayment of its $316m (£244m) loan ahead of the next deadline of May this year, group underwriting director Gary Humphreys told Post.
This Month: Looking forwards, listening back
Post’s new Motor Mouth Podcast series is proving quite the hit with listeners.
Failed Staveley Head and its AR Policyplan paid £10m to parent company last year
The directors of Policyplan and in-administration Staveley Head paid £10m in total dividends to new parent company Gelert Group in 2019.
PE driving market consolidation but private ownership still dominates
Exclusive: Private equity houses and PE backed firms were behind more than 50% of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions activity last year in the £5m plus category, Imas Corporate Finance has calculated.
Andy Fairchild to lead Applied in UK
Former Broker Network CEO Andy Fairchild has been appointed to the newly created role of CEO of Applied Systems Europe.
Analysis: Reinsurance hikes add to motor pricing pressure
The UK motor market had the unwanted title of the biggest riser in the annual global reinsurance renewal season this January, adding another reason for intense scrutiny on insurance pricing in the loss-making sector
Crawford appoints Caroline Poppleton as D&I inclusion leader in UK
Caroline Poppleton has been appointed diversity and inclusion leader for Crawford’s UK operation alongside her current role as head of business development.
Former Skyscanner chief Rice-Jones to chair Admiral’s aggregator network
Admiral-owned Penguin Portals Limited has picked up ex-Skyscanner chair Margaret Rice-Jones as board leader of the aggregator network.
Ex UK General boss Karen Beales made MD at Financial & Legal
Former UK General CEO Karen Beales has been appointed managing director of Financial & Legal Insurance, replacing Mike Timmons who has stepped down.
M&A volume grows in 2019 but mid-sized targets scarce
Exclusive: The number of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions rose from 82 in 2018 to 93 last year, driven by a surge in deals valued under £5m, industry specialists Imas Corporate Finance has revealed.
'Massive opportunity' for more acquisitions, says incoming GRP CEO Bruce
Global Risk Partners will continue with its focus on regional broker acquisitions, buying niche managing general agents and developing its wholesale business, incoming group CEO Mike Bruce told Post as New York-headquartered PE firm Searchlight Capital…
Aon 'in position of strength' as reaches $11bn of revenue with 6% organic growth in 2019
Aon has posted a 35% leap in profit from $1.13bn (£857m) in 2018 to $1.53bn last year.
Integration headwinds hit UK growth in 2019, says Marsh
Marsh & McLennan Companies has reported revenue of $16.65bn (£12.66bn) and profits of $1.74bn for 2019.
Gallagher posts 5.6% group broking and risk management organic growth in 2019
Gallagher delivered revenue and margin growth across all four UK trading units of retail broking, specialty broking, Pen Underwriting and Capsicum Re last year, Simon Matson has stated.
This week: The wait is over
The wait began in 2017, and many of us felt that the agonising limbo might never end. But after two and a half years, the wait is finally over. That’s right: Kesha’s new album is out today.