Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
Swiss Re completes £1.6bn deal
Swiss Re has announced plans to acquire approximately 300 000 policies and £1.6bn in assets from American Life Insurance Company.
Novae in "due diligence" over Omega merger proposal
Novae has become the latest Lloyd's insurer to consider entering merger talks with a rival.
Chaucer takeover set
The acquisition of Chaucer by The Hanover Insurance Group, set for completion by 1 July, will create a combined premium income of $4bn, and bring scale, diversity and financial strength benefits to all stakeholders, according to the Lloyd's insurer.
Ageas to hike household rates to emulate motor
Ageas is set to continue hiking rates on its household insurance, on top of the 10% it has already pushed through in the first quarter of 2011, in a bid to replicate the improved combined ratio already seen in its UK private motor performance.
Junction sees huge boost after B&B buy
A year after its acquisition of Bradford & Bingley's motor and home insurance business, Junction claims to have boosted new home policies by 200%, increased sales on its smaller motor book by 1000% and improved renewal rates by 25%. The firm has now…
Penny Black's insurance week
Another year, another Biba conference; brokers nurse their hangovers, hacks try to recall the juicy story slurred in their ear at 2am, and insurers vow to return to the exhibition hall next year with a bigger stand than Aviva, nicer cup cakes than Zurich…
Perseverance prepares to exit UK insurance market
Perseverance, the Gibraltar-based former owner of KGM, is set to dispose of one of its remaining assets in the UK insurance market, Post understands, following negotiations to sell its stake in One Answer Network.
Biba 2011: Brokers back Biba and IIB as merger revealed
Moves by the British Insurance Brokers' Association and the Institute of Insurance Brokers to merge have been overwhelmingly backed by brokers.
Barbon trading platform on track for a summer launch
Barbon Insurance Group is now "weeks away" from launching its wholesale broker online trading platform via property business Keelan Westall.
Editor's comment: All action, no talk
Mergers & acquisitions have definitely dominated the insurance headlines this week. Nothing unusual in that — except, for once, it's been more a case of all action and little talk, rather than the reverse, as is so typically the case. But it also remains…
Post history - Five years ago: Colosso gives staff advice on takeover
Looking back through Post's back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this article from five years ago reveals.
News analysis - AJG acquisition: Deal or no deal
After a number of stalled bids from a variety of firms, Heath Lambert has been bought by international giant Arthur J Gallagher. Mairi MacDonald follows the timeline of the deal and looks at what the consequences may be.
Giles rebuffs claim that growth dependent on acquisitions
Giles Insurance Brokers has stated its growth "does not depend on acquisitions" as it recorded an operating loss of £6.5m (2009: £8.4m profit) for the year ended August 2010.
RSA plans to 'dominate' marine after niche buy
RSA's acquisition of niche marine broker Noble Marine is part of a plan to dominate the UK marine market, according to marine director Richard Turner.
Ryan secures "direct access to Lloyd's" with acquisition
Illinois-based Ryan Specialty Group has secured a place in Lloyd's after confirming it has entered an agreement with Jubilee Group to acquire 100% of its share capital.
Jubilee confirms sale to Ryan
Jubilee Group has been sold to Ryan Specialty Group for an undisclosed sum.
Ryan secures "direct access to Lloyd's" with acquisition
Illinois-based Ryan Specialty Group has secured a place in Lloyd's after confirming it has entered an agreement with Jubilee Group to acquire 100% of its share capital.
Markel acquires Swedish coverholder
Markel International has acquired Stockholm-based Lloyd’s coverholder Globen Försäkringar.
Markel acquires Swedish coverholder
Markel International has acquired Stockholm-based Lloyd’s coverholder Globen Försäkringar.
Gallagher's crashes UK top 10 broker table with £97m Heath swoop
Arthur J Gallagher has confirmed it has completed the acquisition of Heath Lambert in a £97m cash deal.
Aon expands Irish operations with risk consulting practice
Aon Risk Solutions is expanding its presence in Ireland, with the opening of a branch of its global risk consulting business.
Interview - Tim Coles: up and at it
After serving in the army, Tim Coles, chief executive of Howden, found fresh excitement in the world of insurance. Mairi MacDonald talks to him about the company's unique attitude and his plans to grow the business further.
Insure & Go ditches home and motor to push travel ambition
Mapfre-owned online travel provider Insure & Go has ceased writing home and motor business ahead of a global roll-out of its direct travel insurance model.
Hyperion aims for £200m target by 2014
The development of a general commercial retail broking operation in the UK will play a major role in Hyperion Group becoming a £200m business by September 2014.