United Kingdom (UK)
Intelligence: Operational resilience - Regulators raise the bar for crisis response
After drawn-out consultations financial regulators will soon lay out what they expect from firms in terms of operational resilience. Harry Curtis investigates.
Allianz BI claims came from broker wordings says CEO Jon Dye as insurer reveals 2020 results
Allianz was hit by £175m of UK Covid-19 business interruption claims in 2020, net of reinsurance, the insurer has said, as LV confirmed 300 redundancies from its Legal & General integration.
Record £10.5bn of M&A in 2020 and smaller deals on the up, says Imas
There was a record £10.5bn of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions in 2020, according to research by Imas, Post can reveal.
Briefing: BI claims portals a savvy loss adjuster initiative – but policyholders feel they are stuck ironing out kinks
Loss adjusters have created portals to deal with a deluge of business interruption claims, but some under pressure policyholders are struggling to get to grips with their requirements – can the industry do more to help?
Blog: Underinsurance in a hardening market
Alistair Steward, Questgates director, mulls the problem of underinsurance for businesses facing a hardening market.
GRP strikes biggest deal since Searchlight investment with Marsh Networks buy
Global Risk Partners has agreed to buy Marsh’s UK networks for an undisclosed sum in a deal expected to close next quarter.
Hiscox Action Group warns insurers may seek to ‘read down’ BI ruling
Insurers have responded to draft declarations regarding the Supreme Court’s January business interruption ruling, with the Hiscox Action Group flagging concerns that they may seek to “read down” the judgment.
Carrot’s Norrie Erwin on the opportunity for telematics in claims
Telematics-based insurance has been a great British success story for young drivers, but it has failed to enthuse the mass market, says Norrie Erwin managing director of Carrot.
Advertising feature: Transforming the way customers buy insurance over the phone
Leveraging value from InsureTech to drive innovation into transformation and ultimately competitive advantage in the current climate is a theme across the insurance industry akin to the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889, writes Rob Saunders CEO of ActiveQuote.
Kingfisher refutes 'bad faith' dismissals accusation in High Court case
Kingfisher has responded to claims by the sellers of Fresh Insurance that it exited key directors in “bad faith” in a further filing at the High Court.
Intelligence: Performance reviews
A few years ago Net Promoter Scores were a buzzword in insurance feedback. However, after a year where the sector has suffered repeatedly from bad headlines over business interruption and Covid-19 payouts, Post asks if firms still want to hear about how…
Ex-FCA boss Chris Woolard joins EY
Former interim CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority Chris Woolard will join EY this April to lead its Europe, Middle East, India and Africa financial services regulatory capabilities and chair the EY global financial services regulatory network, the…
Ratings agencies see ‘meaningful debate’ between insurers and reinsurers over Covid-19 recoveries
Experts have reiterated that insurer ratings are unlikely to be hit by the outcome of the Supreme Court’s Covid-19 business interruption claims ruling but noted that there will “meaningful debate” over how much insurers can claim from their reinsurers.
Blog: Defining property flood risk protection can help build flood resilience
Reparation and protection, not just post-event payouts, are key to how the insurance industry must look at flood risk, says Richard Toomey, senior manager for commercial insurance, Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions.
Be Wiser consults with 280 staff over restructure
Broker Be Wiser is consulting with its 280 staff on a business reorganisation programme, with some job losses expected.
Eldon and Leave EU appeals in ICO case dismissed by Upper Tribunal
Three judges in the Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber have dismissed all five appeals made by Leave EU and Arron Banks’ Eldon Insurance Services (now known as Somerset Bridge) in a case with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Engineers carrying out cladding assessments will be able to avail of state-backed PI cover
The government has committed to a state-backed indemnity scheme for fire safety engineers who are unable to obtain professional indemnity insurance, as it announced an additional £3.5bn in funding for the removal of cladding from buildings 18m in height…
Canopius names Neil Robertson deputy CEO
Neil Robertson, formerly Axa XL CEO, global specialty, is to join Canopius as deputy CEO ahead of becoming CEO in due course.
Analysis: Calmer waters in yacht market
Post investigates how the yacht market has reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, and asks what comes next after years of market hardening and consolidation.
Whiplash pre-action protocol progressing through CPRC
Some progress is being made on getting whiplash portal rules in front of the Lord Chancellor for approval, Civil Procedure Rule Committee meeting minutes suggest.
Blog: The business interruption imbalance – and the role of advice
Bruce Hepburn, CEO of Mactavish, argues that the business interruption fallout stems from an imbalance, and questions broker accountability over advice.
Interview: Christian Formby, Assurant
Assurant’s Europe boss Christian Formby tells Post how he came into the role, explains the growth opportunities for its B2B2C connected home, lifestyle and car offering and discusses how it faces competition from all angles, despite having no similar…
PI firms and insurers clash on direct pre-medical offers
Solicitors have called for more regulation around insurers contacting claimants that have legal representation with pre-medical offers, as law firms allege that claimants may be missing out on higher compensation awards.
Disputes over furlough deductions from BI claims continue as adjusters and assessors call for clear guidance
Loss adjusters and assessors have called on the government and regulators to publish clear guidance on how government support received by businesses is to be treated in respect of lockdown-related interruption claims.