Insurer
Allianz cites competitive market conditions as first half profits fall 12%
Allianz's UK pre-tax profits fell 12% in the first half of 2015 to £56.5m compared to £64.2m in the same period last year.
Bauer to leave Allianz
Manuel Bauer, head of insurance growth markets, Allianz is leaving at the end of August.
RSA loses telematics director Skerrett to Trak Global
RSA telematics director Bob Skerrett has left the insurer to take on the role of managing director of Trak Global’s insurance division.
HMRC to allow estimation of new IPT levels to ease back-office stress
Insurers are to be given a temporary relaxation in how they file their insurance premium tax returns to HM Revenue and Customs after Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne increased IPT by 56% in the July Budget.
'Cracks appearing' in DLG reserving policy, Macquarie analysts claim
Direct Line Group posted a £100m rise in operating profit in the first six months of 2015 but analysts at investment bank Macquarie have suggested that “cracks are appearing” in the insurer's reserving policy.
Blog: Five big percentages to emerge from the latest results season
Other than an over-use of the word "benign", insurers' first half/second quarter results statements were also littered with significant percentage figures - both good and bad. This is Post's round-up of some of the headline-grabbing numbers.
LV to publish prior year premiums on renewal documents
LV is to join Axa in publishing prior year motor premium prices on renewal documents.
Blog: Football season opens time of dilemmas for employers and insurers
The Premier League starts again tomorrow, opening a new season of potential scandals and dilemmas for employers and insurers.
Quiz of the week - 7 August 2015
It’s that time of the week again… Quiz Time!
Hood Group partners with Stoke City FC
Hood Group has entered into a two year partnership deal with Stoke City Football Club where it will promote its affinity partner Asda Home Insurance.
Competition: Win a Panasonic Toughpad tablet and Lumix camera
Zurich engineers are busting the “boring insurance” myth daily by scaling wind turbines out to sea and climbing giant construction cranes to insure the safety of some of the UK’s largest industrial equipment.
Lewis focused on correcting 113.6% personal motor COR
RSA UK and Western Europe CEO Steve Lewis is "clearly focused" on improving the performance of the company's personal lines motor division after it reported a significantly deteriorated combined operating ratio for the first six months of 2015.
Hastings adds Peter Blanc to its board of directors
Aston Scott executive chairman Peter Blanc has been appointed to the board of directors at Hastings Insurance Group along with legal private practice stalwart Selina Sagayam.
Zurich UK GI boss Sharma notes 'benefits' of RSA tie-up
Zurich’s UK general insurance boss Vibhu Sharma believes "synergies" could be achieved from a takeover of RSA but said the insurer would focus on making improvements in its own business if a deal could not be reached.
Tulloch points to internal loan returns as driver of operating profit drop
Aviva UK & Ireland general insurance CEO Maurice Tulloch has cited returns on the insurer's internal loan as a key factor in the division's drop in operating profit reported within the company's first half results today (6 August).
Claims Management Regulator issues first fine to nuisance CMC
A claims management company that pestered people with nuisance calls about noise induced hearing loss claims has become the first firm to be fined under new regulatory powers.
Arista and Arag partnership extends over a decade
Arista Insurance has extended its partnership with legal expenses provider Arag for a further three years.
Zurich UK GI faces ‘a struggle ahead’ as H1 profit falls by 50%
Business operating profit for Zurich’s UK general insurance business halved to £50m in the first six months of 2015 (H1 2014: £100m) as the insurer suffered a higher than average number of large losses, only partially offset by benign weather.
Markel reports 90% H1 combined ratio
Markel International has reported a comprehensive loss to shareholders of $132.9m (£85.1m) in the second quarter of 2015 compared to a loss of $250.6m in Q2 2014.
Aviva signs seven-year distribution agreement with TSB
Aviva has signed an exclusive seven-year distribution agreement with TSB covering the distribution of Aviva’s core general insurance products including home, travel, motor, pet, and commercial insurance through TSB’s branch network, online and via…
Aviva UK GI records best COR in 8 years despite fall in profits
Aviva was aided by benign weather conditions in delivering its best UK general insurance combined operating ratio for eight years in the opening six months of 2015, however operating profit fell 11% to £223m (H1 2014: £251m).
Hester bigs up RSA's ‘stand-alone' value in face of Zurich deal
RSA's strategy dictates it will have a strong stand-alone value in the coming years, according to group CEO Stephen Hester who has assured shareholders he is serving their interests in the face of a potential takeover bid from Zurich.
RSA reports record UK underwriting profits as Hester praises ‘excellent' progress
RSA has reported record UK underwriting profits of £77m and a combined operating ratio for the region of 94.4% for the first six months of 2015.
Large losses and rising expenses hamper Zurich's first half global results
Zurich blamed a 15% fall in pre-tax global profits to $2.2bn (£1.4bn) in the first half of 2015 on a significantly lower contribution from its GI business.