Consolidation
US DOJ sues to stop Aon/WTW merger
The US Department of Justice has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block Aon’s proposed $30bn acquisition of Willis Towers Watson, saying the merger threatens to eliminate competition, raise prices, and reduce innovation.
First insurance ESG Framework unveiled; Ardonagh acquires Usay Gp; James Hallam adds trio of buys; and Right Choice completes Bennetts deal
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week not covered elsewhere on www.postonline.co.uk
Biba 2021: The Future of Broking
Partners& CEO Phil Barton attacks scale-led consolidation and warns broking is “in a dangerous place” as an expert panel including Aon’s Julie Page, A-Plan’s Carl Shuker and Atlanta’s Ian Donaldson consider the future in a session chaired by Brokerbility…
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.
Ardonagh targeting eight international hubs by 2025, says O’Connor
Ardonagh Global Partners is aiming to have at least one more international hub by the end of the year, CEO Des O’Connor told Post.
Interview: Rob Gibbs, RSA
Having worked at RSA for more than two decades, commercial managing director Rob Gibbs has certainly seen his fair share of the business, both in the UK and overseas. He speaks to Jonathan Swift about his latest challenge, navigating a newly combined…
Record £10.5bn of M&A in 2020 and smaller deals on the up, says Imas
There was a record £10.5bn of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions in 2020, according to research by Imas, Post can reveal.
Q&A: Max Carter, New Dawn Risk
Formed in 2008, New Dawn Risk grew to handle £81m of premium last year. It started 2021 by looking to target UK regional brokers for the first time. Founder Max Carter reviews the growth of the company and explains why now is the right time for the firm…
We can double again, says PIB boss Brendan McManus after Apax deal
PIB Group can double in size over the next five years, CEO Brendan McManus told Post after private equity firm Apax Partners became the firm’s lead investor taking over from The Carlyle Group which has retained a stake.
For the Record: The week in deals featuring Allianz, Clyde & Co, Convex, Gallagher, Howden, Kennedys, LV, New Dawn Risk and Woodgate & Clark
Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Loss-making Markerstudy sniffing out investors as loan discussions continue post-deadline
Managing general agent Markerstudy made a loss in 2019, with discussions ongoing around its near £200m debt to Qatar Re.
Interview: Patrick Tiernan, International Underwriting Association
Newly appointed chair of the International Underwriting Association Patrick Tiernan sat down for a virtual chat with Pamela Kokoszka to discuss his plans as a chairman of the association, climate change and how the industry can overcome challenges…
Interview: Julian James, Sompo International
Sompo International’s international insurance CEO Julian James sat down for a ‘virtual chinwag’ with Harry Curtis to talk returning from retirement, the business’s Lloyd’s exit and brand ambitions, the hardening market and ‘Armageddon scenarios’.
GRP’s Mike Bruce on broker M&A speeding up in Covid-hit UK
The level of broker consolidation has risen again this year, says GRP’s group CEO Mike Bruce as he predicts more investments to come from long-term investors with vendors keen to sell due to pandemic uncertainty, rumoured tax changes, strong valuations…
180 years of Post: Loss adjusting after the heydays (part two)
As Post celebrates its 180th anniversary content director Jonathan Swift takes a look back at the highs and lows of loss adjusting through the 1980s and 1990s in the second of a two-part series.
Competition watchdog opens inquiry into Bupa’s CS Healthcare takeover
The Competition and Markets Authority has opened an inquiry into Bupa Insurance’s proposed merger with CS Healthcare, a Friendly Society with approximately 18,500 members originally set up in 1929 to provide health insurance cover for members of the UK…
Covid-19 an excuse not a reason for redundancies, say recruiters
Insurance recruiters told Post Covid-19 is being used as an excuse for companies to streamline their businesses.
R&Q reveals record profits as it unveils growth ambitions
Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings has reported a 180% rise in pre-tax profit from continuing operations to £40.1m for the year ended 31 December 2019.
Q&A: Joe Thelwell, Towergate
Joe Thelwell, CEO of Towergate Insurance Brokers, talks about organic growth, acquisitions and responding to the Covid-19 crisis as well as sharing how he started in insurance and what comes next for him and the business.
London Market report shows steady commercial share but reinsurance declines
The London Market was responsible for $110bn (£89.7bn) of premium in 2018 with 8.1% year on year core growth across property, casualty and financial lines, according to the latest research by the London Market Group.
Acturis reports 10% dip in platform use during pandemic as it picks up Partners& business
Activity across Acturis’ software platform has reduced by 10% during the coronavirus pandemic, Acturis co-CEO Theo Duchen told Post as he detailed the company's Partners& technology supplier win.
Insurance Covid-Cast episode 12: Newsmaker special with Partners& CEO Phil Barton and chair Stuart Reid
In the latest Insurance Post and Insurance Age video cast brought to you while our journalists are working from home, we present the latest in a series of newsmaker specials focusing on the people behind the lockdown headlines.
Interview: Partners&'s Barton & Reid
The easy answer to the question “when is a consolidator not a consolidator” is when nobody is being bought. Phil Barton and Stuart Reid spoke to Post senior reporter Emmanuel Kenning about their latest venture Partners&.
Barton plans to more than double Partners& headcount to hit five year £50m revenue target
Phil Barton, CEO of newly formed Partners&, has forecast that the business can grow from 140 staff and £65m in gross written premium to 350 people earning £50m of revenue within five years without further buys.