Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
Aston Lark buys Brunel Professions
Aston Lark has bought professional indemnity specialist Brunel Professions, Post can reveal.
Co-op faces union protest against Markerstudy job losses
Today members of trade union Unite the Union gathered outside the Rochdale Pioneers Museum in Greater Manchester to oppose incoming job losses at Co-op insurance and the de-recognition of the independent trade union on its sale to Markerstudy.
AA secures four week extension for takeover talks
The three groups eyeing up a takeover of the AA have been given an extra 28 days to make an offer for the business with the deadline moved back from today.
Aon and WTW merger gets shareholder vote of approval
Aon and Willis Towers Watson shareholders have voted in favour of the risk giants' merger.
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…
Ardonagh buys £20m GWP Thames Underwriting
Ardonagh has bought managing general agent Thames Underwriting for an undisclosed sum adding £20m in gross written premium to the business.
Bollington breaks through £200m GWP with Watson Laurie buy
Bollington has bought North West based corporate insurance broker Watson Laurie for an undisclosed sum, Post can reveal.
Analysis: A tale of two mutuals
Eleven days apart in June, two of the UK’s mutual insurers – Police Mutual and LV – made announcements regarding their futures. Their decisions herald challenging times for the mutual model.
Abbey and Autoline merger to create £119m GWP acquisitive firm
The merger of Northern Ireland brokers Abbey Insurance and Autoline Insurance as Abbey Autoline on 1 September will create a £119m gross written premium growth focused firm that has an eye for striking takeover deals, managing director of the newly…
Watchstone launches £63m claim against PWC following S&G settlement
Watchstone, formerly Quindell, has filed a £63m damages claims against PWC, alleging the firm breached contract and opened an “unauthorised and illicit” channel of communication with a corporate finance adviser to Slater & Gordon in relation to the 2015…
Ardonagh completes Bennetts buy as CMA orders no integration
The Competition and Markets Authority has ordered Ardonagh not to integrate with Bennetts, transfer control or stop competing with it as the consolidator completed the deal to buy the motorcycle specialist.
Sampo and RMI bid a ‘real vote of confidence’ in UK insurance, says Hastings CFO
The takeover offer from Finnish insurer Sampo and South African financial services firm Rand Merchant Investment holdings is a ‘real vote of confidence’ for UK Insurance, Hastings chief financial officer John Worth told Post as Hastings released its…
Markerstudy 'surprised' by union criticism as it confirms Co-op redundancies
Markerstudy's purchase of Co-op’s underwriting business could lead to up to 300 redundancies, with the group telling Post it has committed to keeping 700 staff and is actively engaging with Unite the union.
Hastings agrees £1.66bn takeover
Finnish insurer Sampo and South African financial services firm Rand Merchant Investment Holdings have agreed a £1.66bn takeover with the directors of Hastings.
Aon and WTW brand five takeover lawsuits as ‘without merit’
Aon and Willis Towers Watson have decried the filing of five legal cases across the US by “purported” shareholders and slammed the complaints for being “without merit”.
Co-op under fire from union over Markerstudy insurance deal
Trade union Unite has accused Co-op of having "forgotten its principles" by selling its Manchester-based insurance business to Markerstudy, alleging the deal will result in 200 job losses.
PE firms circle AA for takeover talks
Motoring group The AA has confirmed holding takeover talks with three private equity parties as it discusses “a wide range of potential refinancing options”.
Covea agrees €1.5bn investment with Exor after Partner Re deal collapse
Covéa will invest €1.5bn (£1.35m) with Exor and special purpose reinsurance vehicles managed by Partner Re, after its bid to buy the reinsurer fell apart earlier this year.
Aon/Willis combination not ‘good for clients or good for the market’: MMC CEO Dan Glaser
In a half year results call, Marsh and McLennan CEO Dan Glaser aired a “personal” view that the Aon and Willis Towers Watson merger will be negative for clients and the market .
Hastings confirms cash offer approach
Hastings has confirmed it has been approached by Sampo and Rand Merchant Investment Holdings with a potential cash bid for the business.
Davies’ captive management arm grows US presence and eyes European expansion
Davies Group is scoping out expanding its captive management presence to Guernsey or Malta, after expanding its US capabilities with the acquisition of Citadel Risk’s captive management business last week.
Complete Cover deal saw £108.7m written off
The net liability position of Complete Cover’s ultimate holding company Key Topco improved from a deficit of £93.4m at the end of 2018 to just £1.7m by the end of March 2020 after the takeover by Sun Capital Partners at the start of this year.
Sun Capital injected £7m into Mulsanne as SCR fell below 100%
The new backers of Mulsanne Insurance Company had to invest £7m into the Gibraltar-based underwriter this April to meet solvency capital requirements.
600 jobs at risk as LV commences L&G integration
LV General Insurance has started the clock on a two-and-a-half-year integration of Legal & General’s general insurance business that is expected to impact 14% of jobs across the two Allianz businesses.