Property
Government to introduce improved building safety standards
Insurers have welcomed the government’s commitment to improving building safety standards.
London company market premiums written in Europe on the rise
Gross premiums written in London by the company market increased 6.7% in 2018, reaching £19.56bn, according to the International Underwriting Association.
2019 Insurance Fraud Awards: Full list of winners
Zurich was the big winner at the 2019 Post Insurance Fraud Awards picking up three awards, and a highly commended including top prize in the Investigation of the Year category.
European insurers paid out €2.9bn every day in 2018
European insurers paid out €1069bn (£953bn) in claims and benefits to insureds in 2018, according to figures gathered by Insurance Europe.
Top 100 UK Insurers 2019: AM Best Commentary - Insurers well placed to withstand strong headwinds
The 100 largest UK-regulated insurers, ranked by non-life gross premium written, reported a combined underwriting profit in 2018, compared to a loss in 2017. Catherine Thomas, senior director of analytics in London at AM Best, explains how they achieved…
MS Amlin to withdraw from nine lines of business
MS Amlin is to withdraw from nine lines of business that “no longer form part of its future strategic direction” as part of a wider restructure following an underwriting review.
Government pledges £62m flood funding
The government has pledged £62m flood defence investment for communities across Yorkshire, Cumbria, the North East and the South East of England.
Analysis: Trampoline parks – on an upward trajectory for insurance?
To borrow an analogy from Forrest Gump’s mother, writing about insurance can be like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get. On the topic of trampolines, an assortment of ‘no comments’ left a rather nasty taste
Government consults on compulsory sprinklers for shorter high-rises
The government has proposed reducing the building height over which the installation of sprinklers are mandatory from 30 metres to 18 metres.
Allianz increases fraud savings by 30%
Allianz has uncovered more than £29.6m worth of fraud in the first half of 2019, an increase of £6.9m compared to the same period last year.
BoE governor Carney warns insurers over climate change
The Governor of the Bank of England has described climate as a “big, big issue” for general insurers and reinsurers.
Hong Kong protests highlight civil unrest exposures as risk appetites wane
Brokers have warned policies may include exclusions for strikes, riots and civil commotion, as insurer risk appetites in the region wane amid continued protests in Hong Kong.
Rising Star: Thomas Hardinge, Axa Real Estate Specialty
After jobs at a bank, an auction house and a caterer, Thomas Hardinge had his eyes opened to the insurance industry during a work experience placement at the London Market Group in 2016.
Blog: The Whaley Bridge experience - how well do insurers cope at times of crisis?
The Whaley Bridge incident has once again thrown the spotlight on insurers, their disaster plans and capacity issues. Alex Dalyac, founder and CEO, Tractable comments that while feet on the ground will never be totally replaced, the industry could be…
Six more insurtech start-ups to watch in 2019 and into 2020
In the latest in his series of Insurtechs to Watch, Post content director Jonathan Swift casts an eye over six more start-ups looking to make a splash in the UK insurance sector.
Analysis: Impact of smart home technology on escape of water claims
In 2018 insurers dealt with 228,000 escape of water claims, at a cost of £617m – an increase from £529m paid out five years ago, according to statistics from the Association of British Insurers. With the rising cost of claims, can technology help reduce…
Blog: Home history data may build a better picture for pricing
Pricing practices in the home insurance market are under scrutiny and according to Jay Borkakoti, director, home insurance, UK and Ireland, LexisNexis Risk Solutions insurers need to use claims history data to better their understanding of property risk.
Blog: Building regulations - how can stricter changes present opportunities for the wider insurance industry?
As stricter building regulations for new buildings are set to come in force, insurers could see lower property damage costs and pay outs. However, Simon Ford, chairman of the British Damage Management Association, asks if this could be a challenge to…
Flood defences save UK £1.1bn a year
Inland flood defences reduce river flood losses by 63%, saving the UK £1.1bn annually on average, according to a recent study.
Insurers call for compulsory sprinklers in schools
Automatic fire sprinklers should be compulsory in all new build schools, insurers have warned.
Analysis: Changing face of terrorism and terrorism covers
Terrorism has been a constant threat in the UK for more than half a century and has proved hard for security forces to keep up with, so it is hardly surprising that the insurance market too has found itself trying to repair gaps in cover as they emerge
British Steel pursues disputed claim and damages against Zurich and others
Mactavish has called for the CEOs of Zurich and Liberty to personally oversee a £30m disputed claim that it says, if paid, could save the company.
Analysis: Managing the M&A insurance risk
It was the Competition and Markets Authority that recently put paid to Sainsbury’s and Asda’s marriage plans, but there are plenty of other risks that also regularly threaten the success of mergers and acquistions – ranging from the uncovering of…
Allianz operating profits rise as personal lines transfer to LV approaches completion
Allianz UK CEO Jon Dye confirmed that the transfer of personal lines business from Allianz to LV remains on-track and will be completed within three to four weeks, as the insurer announced its Q1 results.