Aggregators
Ex-Direct Line boss to chair A&A group after PE-backed MBO
Darwin Private Equity has entered into an agreement to acquire The A&A Group and Hyperformance Limited in a management buyout.
Chinese aggregator poll
Will aggregators take off in China?
Chartis and Generali back launch of Chinese aggregator site
CNinsure, an independent insurance intermediary company operating in China, has launched a comparison website under the name of Baowang (www.baoxian.com).
View from the top: 2012 — the start of the future?
Plans for the year ahead need to address the fundamentals of the industry, says Stephen Lewis.
Website review – Sheilas’ Wheels: Have the wheels fallen off?
Web performance specialist Gomez tests out the Sheilas’ Wheels website.
Post Blog: Is brand the new price?
It's recently been found that brand recognition trumps price when consumers purchase via price comparison sites. What does this mean for the future of aggregators and how can insurers and brokers best build their brand among customers?
Zurich puts low cost motor cover online
Zurich has launched a branded online motor insurance product to be sold direct and through price comparison website Confused.
News analysis: Application fraud to top the agenda for motor insurers in 2012
The New Year’s resolution for many motor insurers is to tackle application fraud with the same force they have brought to bear on crash-for-cash fraudsters. “Staged motor accidents remain the top priority, but application fraud comes second,” according…
Interview - Edward Fitzmaurice: Broking promises
With Hastings Direct on the cusp of becoming a top five broker and securing its one millionth customer, 2012 could be a landmark year for chief executive Edward Fitzmaurice
Quote Me Happy extends aggregator distribution
Quote Me Happy is extending its distribution across two more price comparison sites following its exclusive launch on Go Compare earlier this year.
As Brit looks to sell UK arm, Simply Business attracts PE interest
Online broker Simply Business is expected to be targeted by a number of private equity houses and insurance firms, following the news that significant shareholder Brit Holdings is looking to sell its UK arm for £150m.
Igo4 and Markerstudy to deliver direct brands
Igo4 has secured a partnership deal with Markerstudy to deliver direct brands Zenith Insurance and Zenith Insurance Plus, set to go live today (24 November).
News analysis - Smartphone apps: has the prime time arrived to invest in mobile?
The long-held hunch by savvy industry operators that the rapid emergence of smartphone technology presents a potentially lucrative revenue stream was this week underlined by Money Supermarket’s claim to have launched the UK’s first front-end motor…
Legal expenses: Survival of the fittest
Legal expenses insurers must adapt their models quickly to survive the government’s reforms — or risk extinction.
Covea clarifies launch delay speculation
In response to speculation regarding the launch of its new price comparison site, a spokesman told Post, Covea has reviewed its launch schedule following “valuable discussions” with consumers and its insurance partners.
News analysis: Is data mining a major factor in the PI claims spike?
The debate over referral fees has had more press time recently than whether The X Factor is on the wane or not. And just like the blow-by-blow tabloid accounts of the TV show, its judges and its contestants, the insurance industry is starting to get…
Marketing: The power of advertising
Effective marketing can be a tough challenge for financial services providers and having a strong presence is not enough, it must also resonate with customers.
Broking supplement - Price promises: Love it or hate it
While the price promise bandwagon is seen by some as a valuable marketing tool, to others it is merely ‘dumbing down’ the industry
Penny Black’s insurance week
Penny’s long-awaited trip to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts with Brit Insurance finally took place this week but the people at Bafta in Piccadilly must have missed the memo.
Technology: Time for an upgrade
The insurance industry has been out of step with technological advancement in the past, but can it break that trend in the future?
Fraud event: Disagreement over point to target fraudsters
Application fraudsters are ‘hiding behind the web’ but disagreement reigns over whether to target scammers at the point of quote or sale. Panellist Steve Sweeney, head of motor insurance at Money Supermarket, said his firm is working towards stamping out…
Money Supermarket tops list of most 'visible' websites
Money Supermarket has been found to be the most visible online insurer in terms of top search engine positioning, according to the latest industry study carried out by Greenlight.
ABI helps tackle insurance application form fraud
On 27 October the Association of British Insurers will publish industry guidance to help insurers, brokers and comparison websites better identify insurance application form fraud.
85% of consumers happy to buy home insurance online
According to a survey by independent financial research company Defaqto, 85% of consumers are comfortable with researching and buying home insurance online without professional advice.