Company news
Ardonagh buys £20m GWP Thames Underwriting
Ardonagh has bought managing general agent Thames Underwriting for an undisclosed sum adding £20m in gross written premium to the business.
Watchstone launches £63m claim against PWC following S&G settlement
Watchstone, formerly Quindell, has filed a £63m damages claims against PWC, alleging the firm breached contract and opened an “unauthorised and illicit” channel of communication with a corporate finance adviser to Slater & Gordon in relation to the 2015…
Second quarter performance pushes Ageas UK COR below 100%
Ageas UK has reported a post-tax profit of £22.8m for the first half of 2020 reversing a loss of £2.7m in the first quarter.
Aviva planning aggregator motor roll out after Confused pilot
Aviva is targeting this autumn for the next stage of its move onto aggregators after a trial with Confused, Colm Holmes, Aviva CEO of general insurance, told Post.
Editor's comment: End of the road or new opportunity for insurtechs?
The rumours and water cooler conversations began in July 2019 as soon as it was confirmed market stalwart Amanda Blanc had left Zurich after only nine months.
Amanda Blanc promises to shake up Aviva
It is abundantly clear that “meaningful change” is needed to unlock Aviva’s potential, according to CEO Amanda Blanc.
RSA cutting 300 roles
RSA has announced a voluntary redundancy programme as part of a process designed to reduce its headcount by the equivalent of 300 full time roles.
Sampo and RMI bid a ‘real vote of confidence’ in UK insurance, says Hastings CFO
The takeover offer from Finnish insurer Sampo and South African financial services firm Rand Merchant Investment holdings is a ‘real vote of confidence’ for UK Insurance, Hastings chief financial officer John Worth told Post as Hastings released its…
Markerstudy 'surprised' by union criticism as it confirms Co-op redundancies
Markerstudy's purchase of Co-op’s underwriting business could lead to up to 300 redundancies, with the group telling Post it has committed to keeping 700 staff and is actively engaging with Unite the union.
Hastings agrees £1.66bn takeover
Finnish insurer Sampo and South African financial services firm Rand Merchant Investment Holdings have agreed a £1.66bn takeover with the directors of Hastings.
Aon and WTW brand five takeover lawsuits as ‘without merit’
Aon and Willis Towers Watson have decried the filing of five legal cases across the US by “purported” shareholders and slammed the complaints for being “without merit”.
Direct Line open to acquisitions and partnerships: CFO Tim Harris
Direct Line Group remains open to inorganic growth from acquisitions and partnerships despite the Covid-19 impact, DLG chief financial officer Tim Harris has confirmed.
AIG adds $458m of Covid-19 losses in Q2
AIG reported an underwriting loss of $343m (£262.8m) for general insurance business in the second quarter of 2020.
Co-op under fire from union over Markerstudy insurance deal
Trade union Unite has accused Co-op of having "forgotten its principles" by selling its Manchester-based insurance business to Markerstudy, alleging the deal will result in 200 job losses.
Lloyd's to impose business class rota on September reopening
Lloyd’s will limit access to its underwriting room when it reopens on 1 September giving underwriters and brokers in different classes of business set days for face-to-face meetings at One Lime Street.
PE firms circle AA for takeover talks
Motoring group The AA has confirmed holding takeover talks with three private equity parties as it discusses “a wide range of potential refinancing options”.
Covea agrees €1.5bn investment with Exor after Partner Re deal collapse
Covéa will invest €1.5bn (£1.35m) with Exor and special purpose reinsurance vehicles managed by Partner Re, after its bid to buy the reinsurer fell apart earlier this year.
Further cost-cutting expected at RSA UK
RSA will look to cut further costs in its UK arm, RSA CEO Stephen Hester confirmed as the insurer released it first half results for 2020.
Hiscox bulks up Covid claims hit estimate as group faces loss
Hiscox swung into a loss for the first half of 2020 as it increased its Covid-19 claims hit estimate.
Aon/Willis combination not ‘good for clients or good for the market’: MMC CEO Dan Glaser
In a half year results call, Marsh and McLennan CEO Dan Glaser aired a “personal” view that the Aon and Willis Towers Watson merger will be negative for clients and the market .
‘Much work to do’ says Neal as Lloyd’s sets female representation target
Lloyd’s today confirmed a re-run of its culture survey, set a gender target for the market and said it would look to set an ethnicity target in 2021.
High Court approval of Lloyd's EEA transfer not a foregone conclusion
High Court approval of Lloyd’s proposed transfer of European policies to its Brussels subsidiary is not assured, according to an expert with experience of portfolio transfers.
Close Brothers reshuffle sees Sharon Bishop step down as premium finance CEO
Sharon Bishop has stepped down as Close Brothers premium finance CEO, as the company announced changes to its leadership team.
Hastings confirms cash offer approach
Hastings has confirmed it has been approached by Sampo and Rand Merchant Investment Holdings with a potential cash bid for the business.