Regulation
GRP deal for WTW NI business still on after mega-merger collapse
Global Risk Partners has confirmed to Post that its agreement with Willis Towers Watson to buy WTW’s commercial risk and broking business in Northern Ireland will still go ahead despite the cancellation of the WTW-Aon merger.
Gallagher to cancel debt and investigate share buyback as Willis Re deal thwarted
Arthur J Gallagher has confirmed the termination of its deal to buy certain assets from Willis Towers Watson including Willis Re for $3.57bn (£2.52bn) and laid out plans for the funds as the Aon-WTW merger collapsed.
Aon share price soars as WTW and Gallagher’s dip after mega-deal termination
Aon’s share price rose as its mega-merger with Willis Towers Watson was terminated, while its deal partner and rival Gallagher’s fell.
View from the Top video: Driving capital optimisation
In this exclusive interview recorded as part of the Insurance Post Live Annual Conference 2021 Eric Paire, head of capital advisory, Aon, discussed why insurers might be struggling to create a positive spread above their cost of capital.
AR consultation prompts stifling innovation concerns
A Financial Conduct Authority consultation on appointed representatives will tackle firms "circumventing" requirements, compliance consultants told Post, though concerns have been raised around barriers to entry and innovation.
Blog: You can’t make me - the challenges of returning to office-based working
As the government's advice to work from home comes to an end, Michael Jenkins, head of legal advice at Arc Legal Assistance, explains what employees and employers can do.
Blog: A time for the insurance sector to aim higher
With the end of the Covid pandemic edging closer, now is the time for the insurance industry to put its weight behind societal and environmental change, argues Peter Mansfield, RPC partner.
FCA pledges more accountability after recent parliamentary criticism
The Financial Conduct Authority committed to becoming a more ‘innovative, adaptive and assertive regulator’ as it published its annual business plan.
Insurers commit to tackling climate change with launch of net zero alliance
Eight insurers and reinsurers have established a United Nations-convened Net Zero Insurance Alliance as founding members, committing to transition their insurance and reinsurance underwriting portfolios to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
European Commission approves Aon/WTW merger on condition of divestitures
The European Commission has approved Aon’s $30m (£22m) takeover of Willis Towers Watson, on the condition that parts of WTW’s business are divested.
Intelligence: No time to hide on Scottish independence
A second independence referendum raised its head again in the recent elections for the Scottish Parliament, Post investigates what this would mean for the UK insurance sector
Regulators mull targets, disclosures and individual accountability to spur on D&I at financial services firms
Regulators are considering a range of policy options to boost diversity and inclusion in the financial services sector, including the use of representation targets and making senior managers directly responsible for D&I within their firms.
Lloyds Bank fined £90.7m for misleading customers in home insurance renewal letters
Lloyds Bank has been fined £90.7m by the Financial Conduct Authority for failures in home insurance renewal letters between 2009 and 2017.
Stuart Forsyth describes 'hellish experience' as Upper Tribunal overturns fine and ban by ruling against FCA and PRA
Stuart Forsyth, the former CEO of Scottish Boatowners Mutual Insurance, has called on regulators to “learn from the errors they made in my case and work to restore the faith of regulated professionals” as the Upper Tribunal overturned his fine and ban.
FCA delays to approving c-suite broker roles slammed as outrageous
Compliance experts have advised brokers to add time into their recruitment plans for c-suite positions to account for “backlogs” in the Financial Conduct Authority’s approval process as one leading broker hit out at the “ridiculous” delays.
Blog: When climate and credit meet
Sebastien Proffit, Axa Investment Managers' head of portfolio solutions, fixed income, considers approaches for insurers looking to green up their investment strategies.
Aon and Willis Towers Watson antitrust court date set for November
Aon and Willis Towers Watson have been given a November date for the start of their antitrust trial against the US Department of Justice, which has objected to the proposed merger.
Insurers urge government to revise height-based remit of proposed building safety regulator
Insurers have repeated their calls for the scope of the proposed building safety regulator to be broadened after the government pushed ahead with proposals that met with criticism last year.
Treasury confirms 'strong case' for Solvency II reforms to free up resource and allow UK insurers more flexibility
The government is planning to bring forward reforms to free up resource on insurers’ balance sheets and allow insurers more flexibility around investments as it rewrites the UK’s Solvency II regime.
FCA broker c-suite approval times soar with CEOs waiting 151 days for sign-off
The average time taken for the Financial Conduct Authority to approve CEO applications from brokers has nearly tripled from 57 days in 2019 to 151 days this year, a Freedom of Information request by Post has revealed.
Partners&’s Stuart Reid on what the rapid pace of broker consolidation means for insurers
Stuart Reid, chair of Partners&, urges insurers to look for brokers that espouse the right values in their service to clients when considering which firms to support rather than being addicted to market share.
FCA ‘Dear CEO letter’ warns brokers about client money amid concern of widespread non-compliance
The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a stark warning to brokers about client money shortcomings it has seen in the market stressing that it will take action.
Intelligence: CSR is dead, long live ESG
Although environmental, social, and governance issues have been mentioned as far back as 2006 by the United Nations with other sectors seeing it incorporated into their financial evaluations, insurance is only recently picking up the buzzword. Post…
Google reveals FCA authorisation ad rule to target scammers
Google’s decision to only allow regulated firms to place financial services adverts targeting UK consumers has received a measured response from the Financial Conduct Authority, while a law firm has warned the devil will be in the detail.