Company results
Saga reports surge in fixed priced policies as insurance margins shrink
Saga has warned of lower margins in insurance even as it saw a surge in its fixed price policy product, which was launched in the wake of backlash against industry dual pricing practices.
Lloyd's execs encouraged by more disciplined underwriting
Lloyd’s is beginning to see the green shoots of improved underwriting thanks to stringent business planning measures, executives have said following the market’s interim results.
Lloyd's posts £2.3bn first-half profit driven by investment income
Lloyd’s recorded pre-tax profits of £2.3bn in the first six months of 2019, with strong investment returns offsetting a year-on-year deterioration in underwriting profitability.
RSA merges commercial businesses
RSA UK & International has merged its Commercial Risk Solutions and Global Risk Solutions businesses to create a single business unit focused on commercial lines, as it seeks to regain profitability.
Charles Taylor to sell managing agency as it posts £2.1m loss
Charles Taylor saw a pre-tax loss of £2.1m as the group announced the sale of its managing agency to Premia Holdings.
Top 30 European Insurers 2019: Insurers see 4.4% growth
Gross written premium reported by the 30 largest European insurers in 2018 was 4.4% higher than the aggregated figure for the previous year but those writing significant business outside of the eurozone have seen foreign exchange rate movements having an…
Brightside vows further investment into MGA Kitsune
Brightside will further invest to grow its managing general agent Kitsune this year, as the number of wholesale brokers with agencies reached 13.
Das UK returns to profitability
Legal expenses insurer Das UK returned to profitability last year, recording a combined ratio below 100% for the first time since 2014.
Ardonagh reveals future plan for Swinton as all branches close
Ardonagh group has confirmed the closure of all Swinton branches as the integration of the business is almost complete.
Ardonagh posts loss of £44.5m for the first half of the year
Ardonagh Group has posted a loss of £44.5m for the first six months of 2019, an increase of £11.7m on the £32.8m loss reported for the same period last year.
This week: Think! tech drive
With 50 years of drink driving campaigns drunk driving is shunned by society, but with technology taking over our lives it might be time for a distracted driving campaign to make using hands-free mobile devices on the move as frowned upon.
QBE International posts loss following £51m Ogden hit
QBE has reported a one-off hit of $62m (£51m) as a result of the change in the Ogden rate in its first half results, without which it would have broken even.
Admiral sees £33m Ogden blow in first half
Admiral has reported a hit of £33m from Ogden in the first half of 2019, with a total estimated hit of between £50m and £60m.
The NED Blog: The importance of the audit committee
Challenging the executive management team in terms of the decisions they make is a key responsibility of being a non-executive director. Michael Gaughan explains that one of the aspects of the role is to sit on various Board Committees to look at…
This month in Post: Insurtechs, results and discount rate
London seems strangely quiet in the summer, most people are away on holiday, and out of office replies are basically a given.
Aviva UK profit dips as result of restructuring but excludes £45m Ogden hit
Aviva’s UK general insurance business delivered an operating profit of £172m for the first half of 2019, though the result excludes the £45m expense of strengthening reserves following last month’s discount rate decision.
Zurich posts a 144% profit increase in H1
Zurich UK GI has seen an increase of 144% in operating profits for the first half of 2019.
Ageas UK CEO slams government over discount rate review
Ageas UK CEO Andy Watson has criticised the government’s handling of the recent discount rate review, saying decisions made by some insurers to release reserves in anticipation of a higher rate were “a reasonable thing to do.”
Ageas sees payout for refusing to gamble on Ogden
Ageas UK saw a £27.6m bounce as a result of the discount rate change, offsetting large motor losses for the half.
ERS reports a decrease in COR following discount rate change
Specialist motor insurer ERS has reported a profit of £3.1m, a decrease on £5.6m for the same period last year.
Allianz commercial COR slips
Allianz UK has seen commercial lines underwriting profit slip in the first half.
RSA to ‘remain vigilant’ on London Market business
RSA UK & International CEO Scott Egan hailed progress in the first half of 2019, but said the insurer will remain “vigilant” where it comes to its London Market business.
Direct Line profit slips 10% in H1
Direct Line saw profit slide 10.2% for H1 compared to the first half of 2018.
Sabre GWP drops in H1 from ‘intense competitive pressure’
Sabre’s combined operating ratio remained in its target of within the mid-70s range, while premiums shrank 7% in the first half of 2019.