Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
FCA and PRA greenlight Aviva’s Direct Line takeover
The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority have both given the go ahead for Aviva’s £3.7bn acquisition of Direct Line Group.
The insurance stories set to dominate the headlines in the second half of 2025
Content director’s view: Things might have gone quiet of late, but Jonathan Swift expects the lull to offer only a short respite before the deal-doers and headline-makers are back in force fueling the market conversation. And here are some predictions as…
Could M&A, motor and regulation drive the UK legacy market to new heights?
Legacy insurers and reinsurers are confident they step up the frequency with which they transact with insurers in the ‘live’ general insurance market in the years to come.
Davies secures £275m for M&A and genAI investment
Davies has secured new credit facilities of £275m as it seeks to boost organic growth and buy more businesses.
DLG deal ‘on course’ and not a distraction for Aviva
Despite the Competitions and Markets Authority opening up a probe into the acquisition, Aviva’s Owen Morris remains confident the deal will still be done in mid-2025.
CMA launches probe into Aviva’s takeover of Direct Line
The Competition and Markets Authority has launched a probe of the prospective acquisition of Direct Line Group by Aviva, with its decision due by 10 July.
Why legacy tech is a key driver of M&A in insurance
Jeff Heine, chief revenue officer of Novidea, explores how insurers with outdated technology stacks are less attractive to buyers who are looking for acquisition targets who are tech-savvy or have already undergone a significant digital transformation.
Is Esure enough for Ageas?
News Editor’s View: After securing two acquisitions, Scott McGee asks if Ageas will look to acquire more rivals in the future to ensure it is a top three personal lines provider or whether it will focus more on organic growth.
Probitas CEO to retire a year on from Aviva acquisition
Probitas CEO Ash Bathia will retire at the end of July, with Aviva’s global corporate and specialty managing director Matthew Washington set to take the reins at the Lloyd’s insurer.
Throwback Thursday: Marsh takeover; Autoglass deal
Insurance Post’s Throwback Thursday steps back in time to April 1980 to remind you what was going on this week in insurance history when Marsh was preparing to buy Bowring and Autoglass struck an important deal
Gallagher poised to snap up PIB
A deal that would see Gallagher buying PIB Group is imminent, multiple market sources have told Insurance Post.
McLarens changes top team to ‘maintain’ growth
McLarens has made changes to its senior management team, in a bid to “maintain the momentum” of the loss adjusting firm’s growth across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Zurich takes stake in Lloyd’s coverholder
Zurich Insurance is set to buy a stake in Icen Risk, a Lloyd’s of London coverholder.
What has driven loss adjuster start-ups to near extinction?
Content Director’s View: The beginning of the century saw a number of loss adjusting start-ups fueled by entrepreneurial managers and teams determined to go it alone and forge their own paths outside of the incumbent ‘big boys’ but of late these new…
Bringing a little cultural sunshine to the insurance market
View from the Top: Carolyn Callan, CEO of Brown & Brown Retail, explains why strong company culture is key to navigating mergers and acquisitions and ensuring lasting success.
Throwback Thursday: CU & GA’s vow; Beazley’s hoax cover
Insurance Post’s Throwback Thursday steps back in time to March 1998 to remind you what was going on this week in insurance history when Commercial Union and General Accident were making promises, and bomb threat cover was created.
Marshberry reveals the top 20 European insurance brokers
Over a quarter of Europe’s largest 20 brokers are UK domiciled with one of those businesses, Howden the second fastest growing intermediary on the continent, according to the latest European Insurance Distribution market report from Marshberry.
M&A trends in the UK insurance sector
After 2024 ended with the mega merger of Aviva and Direct Line being lined up, Insurance Post’s latest podcast examines whether more takeovers are on the cards for the UK industry in 2025.
Direct Line expected to return to profit ahead of Aviva vote
Investment bank Peel Hunt has predicted Direct Line Group will return to profit for the full year 2024, weeks before it is due to release its results and vote on the deal with Aviva.
JMG Group to maintain M&A spree in 2025
JMG Group has announced its intention to continue its acquisition strategy into 2025, following more than 20 acquisitions in 2024.
What to expect from the London market in 2025
Trade Voice: From consolidation to the evolution of specialty lines, Paul Finn, technical author at the London Forum of Insurance Lawyers, runs down the trends we’re likely to see in the London market this year.
Q&A: Matt Button, Davies
Matt Button outlines what he has been tasked with as deputy group CEO of Davies plus how he plans to ensure the business achieves annual global revenues of £2.5bn by the end of 2030.
Record claims payouts signal ‘new normal’ in W&I market
Howden has reported that its clients saw a record year of warranty and indemnity claims recoveries in 2024, with the business class seeing significantly elevated notifications for a second year in a row.
Fitch expects mixed fortunes for UK non-life insurers in 2025
Fitch Ratings has predicted that the UK non-life insurance sector will have mixed fortunes in 2025, with some parts of the market facing an uphill battle to turn a profit.