Comparison sites
Marsh/Volante launch shareholder activism product; insurance sector launches flood directory; GRP buys Hamilton Fraser; Liberty rolls out real-time flood warning solution
For the record: Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
BGL’s Peter Thompson on the blended experience the customer of 2022 wants
Intuitive, market-leading tech, coupled with a customer services team who understand the products inside out and have the right listening and empathy skills are key to providing the best customer experience this year and beyond, says Peter Thompson, CEO…
Climate Wise outlines priorities; WTW claims Lloyd's digital first with Ki; AIG publishes ESG report; Freedom secures funding
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Abacai has an 'opportunity to drive' insurtech consolidation but will not pay over the odds, says co-founder Hay
Private equity-backed digital insurance venture Abacai will not be a “consolidator for consolidation’s sake”, although it is inevitable that there will be activity in the insurtech space, one of its co-founders has told Insurance Post TV.
Insurers have ability to 'see off insurtech challenge': Admiral co-founder David Stevens
Admiral co-founder and former CEO David Stevens has said he believes insurance companies have the ability to be the key industry drivers in 10 years.
Comparison sites’ growth fortunes mixed in pandemic year
Comparison sites had mixed fortunes in terms of growth in 2020, as a third-quarter bounce-back in car insurance sales offset some, but not all, of the initial impact of Covid-19.
Covid curbs drive Admiral to record profits
Admiral has posted record pre-tax profits of £638m for 2020, reaping the benefit of fewer claims as a result of quieter roads during lockdown.
For the Record: Aviva rationalises office space, RSA deal gets greenlight, Miller enters HNW and Corant Global is born
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Briefing: Media owner could signal bright Future for Go Compare
This week media group Future had offer terms accepted to buy Go Compare parent Goco. Post content director Jonathan Swift looks at how the deal could help reposition the aggregator away from expensive advertising, to a more customer-centric approach…
Go Compare parent share price jumps 18% as group agrees Future sale terms
Shares at Goco, parent company of Go Compare, were almost 18% up this morning as the company agreed terms of an acquisition offer from British publisher Future, in a deal valuing the group at £594m.
I-Wonder rolls out cycle comparison with motorbike to follow
I-Wonder has launched a bicycle insurance comparison site and is planning to enter the motorcycle market at the start of 2021, Post can reveal.
Analysis: FCA takes the ‘nuclear option’ on dual pricing
In September, the Financial Conduct Authority published its long-awaited final report on pricing practices in the home and motor insurance markets, putting forward a package of measures that its interim CEO described as “probably the most radical shake…
Interview: Penny James, Direct Line Group
Direct Line Group CEO Penny James spoke to Jen Frost about overseeing the business’s transformation programme under coronavirus, the group’s acquisitive appetite and having a healthy curiosity
Analysis: Changing tactics - The strategy behind Aviva's aggregator push
In August, Aviva announced that it was aiming to roll out a motor insurance product under its main brand on price comparison websites this autumn.
I-Wonder stakes claim for industry first with Sorn site
I-Wonder has partnered with Go Compare for the launch of a Sorn insurance comparison service.
Briefing: The FCA is sending the wrong message on dual pricing
June 2020 was to be the month insurers got their comeuppance on the saga that is dual pricing, but the Financial Conduct Authority has once again dropped the ball.
Insurtech Honcho targets van and learner driver markets after further £1.2m fund raise
Insurtech start-up Honcho has raised another £1.2m with participation from over 6000 crowd investors on Crowdcube, Insurtech Gateway and existing investors Finance Durham.
Pukka owner Freedom Services Group buys Homelyfe
Exclusive: Freedom Services Group has bought insurtech business Homelyfe from Aventus for an undisclosed sum in a deal that closed last week.
Analysis: Rise of the clones
Insurance clone warnings doubled last year, as fraudsters got creative in their attempts to scam the public. Post investigates the rise of the clones and asks why it is so tough to police these fraudulent firms
Aviva’s revival of Norwich Union a one-off
Aviva’s decision to bring the Norwich Union brand back into the public sphere is a one-off with no plans to use it on more “propositions or policies”, the insurer has confirmed.
Staysure buys majority stake in aggregator owner
UK insurance and travel provider Staysure has acquired a controlling stake in Eclipse Financial Holdings, the owners of payingtoomuch.com.
Zego to offer ‘flexible’ business insurance through challenger bank Starling
Zego’s partnership with Starling Bank will see it offer public liability insurance for small enterprises through the mobile-only bank’s marketplace, with a view to making other lines available in the future.
Competition watchdog urged to take further action on MFN clauses
Insurers, brokers and price comparison sites have welcomed a Competition and Markets Authority investigation into Compare the Market’s use of a controversial clause that prevents home insurers from offering cheaper prices elsewhere, but brokers argue…
Compare the Market accused of breaking law over ‘most favoured nation’ clause
Compare the Market may have broken the law by preventing home insurers from offering lower prices elsewhere, the competition watchdog has warned.