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Could the Aviva-DLG deal spark a personal lines M&A boom in 2025?
With Aviva and Direct Line Group’s £3.7bn merger looking like a done-deal, Insurance Post ponders what rivals could be thinking. Could 2025 be the year of a personal lines M&A boom?
Why Aviva and Direct Line mega merger is nothing to fear
Editor’s View: Working her way through centuries of issues of Insurance Post just as Direct Line’s shareholders accepted Aviva’s £3.7bn bid for the business proved a timely reminder for Emma Ann Hughes of the pros and cons of mega mergers.
Aviva outlines job cut plans as part of Direct Line takeover
Aviva has laid out plans to cut between 5%-7% of the combined company’s workforce over a three year period following completion of its £3.7bn merger with Direct Line Group.
HF’s investment; Ceta x MoneySuperMarket; Pen Underwriting’s COO
Friday Round-Up: Insurance Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Was 2024 the ‘Year of Reality Check’ for insurtechs?
Content Director's View: With territorial withdrawals and scaling back on products, Jonathan Swift asks whether 2024 represented the year the UK insurtech space got a reality check; and mulls whether a second Summer of Insurtech could soon be around the…
Ageas's Linklater on climate changing the role of insurers
View from the Top: Ageas UK claims director Stephen Linklater says that more frequent extreme weather events is broadening insurers’ responsibilities.
Ex-Criterion loss adjuster used dead in-law’s details in £160k scam
A former senior loss adjuster for Criterion, who submitted a series of fake insurance claims as well as keeping recovered items for himself, has been jailed.
ABI’s Clark says insurers can’t tackle climate change alone
Trade Voice: As the UK's extreme weather problem worsens, Louise Clark, general insurance policy adviser at the Association of British Insurers, calls on the government to take action.
Big Interview: Neil Gibson, Sedgwick
Neil Gibson, CEO of Sedgwick UK, reflects on his first year in the top job and shares his plans to grow Sedgwick in the UK by winning the sector’s war for talent and focussing on customer service outcomes.
Labour’s building ambitions fail to factor in insurance
The government’s overhaul of the planning system to accelerate housebuilding and deliver 1.5 million homes over this parliament has been slated by insurers for failing to consider flood risk.
Why I’m dreaming of subsidence this Christmas
Editor’s View: Rather than our days being merry and bright, this Christmas looks set to be wet and windy rather than white, causing Emma Ann Hughes to dream of subsidence rather than snowman building this December.
Close Brothers updates commission requirements for personal lines
After telling brokers to ask for permission from commercial customers in order for it to pay premium finance commission, Insurance Post can reveal Close Brothers is adopting a similar approach for personal lines.
Big Interview: Steve Hardy, Policy Expert
Steve Hardy, CEO of Policy Expert, talks to Tom Luckham about the firm’s plans for expansion, addresses claims concerns, and reveals what American musician Iggy Pop is really like.
Home insurance premium growth slows year-on-year
Home insurance premiums increased by 21% year-on-year between July and September this year, according to research from Compare the Market.
All Amanda Blanc wants for Christmas is Direct Line
News editor view: Now a deal between Aviva and Direct Line Group has reached "preliminary agreement", Scott McGee looks at what the deal could mean for the future of the businesses and the wider market.
Policy Expert reveals lessons learnt after customer complaints
Steve Hardy, CEO of Policy Expert, outlines the changes it made following issues with the claim of a dissatisfied customer who then went on to create an action group.
Policy Expert gets capacity for pet push
Policy Expert has announced Bridgehaven will provide capacity for the business alongside Accredited, allowing the personal lines insurer to finally launch pet cover.
Aviva attempts ‘opportunistic’ take-over of Direct Line
Direct Line’s board confirmed this evening (27 November) that they have rejected a £3.3bn takeover bid from Aviva - the second suitor they have turned down so far this year.
Checking the price is right for insurance
Emma Ann Hughes examines how to prove the price is right of cover for different segments of consumers and observes it requires a whole lot more than just knowing the cost of delivering insurance products and services.
Average cost of lithium battery fire claims hits £50k
The average cost of fire-related home insurance claims involving lithium batteries has hit £50,000, according to data from Allianz.
Property payouts hit £4bn; RSA's latest launch; Konsileo's £8m fundraise
Friday Round-Up: Insurance Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Home insurers that reject half of claims named and shamed
Consumer watchdog Which? has named and shamed home insurers with a claims acceptance rate of less than 55%.
Pace of general insurers’ race to net zero revealed
As the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as Cop 29, begins in Baku, Azerbaijan, Insurance Post’s Emma Ann Hughes analyses the pace of providers racing to become net zero heroes.
Howden rolls out pilots to increase efficiency
Carl Shuker, UK & Ireland CEO for Howden Insurance Brokers, has outlined three examples of how the broker has increased efficiency within its operations.