Property
Swiss Re reiterates commitment to Japanese market
Reinsurer Swiss Re has reiterated its commitment to the Japanese insurance market following the earthquake which hit the country last week.
Japan earthquake insured losses could top $35bn
The insured property losses caused by the devastating earthquake which struck Japan could reach $35bn (£21.7bn), catastrophe modelling firm Air Worldwide has warned.
Technology reliance must not hinder contingency plans
Robust contingency plans must be in place to avoid over-reliance on technology, panellists warned.
Claims leakage approach sees a seven-to-one ROI
Martin Ashfield, head of commercial property claims at Axa Insurance, attributed the end of its historical "master-servant" relationship with suppliers to its investment in a consistent rules-based approach to claims leakage. Citing a seven-to-one return…
Interview – Peter Halpin: keeping Swinton on the acquisition track
Swinton CEO Peter Halpin had a lot to live up to - following, as he did, in Patrick Smith’s footsteps. He talks to Leigh Jackson about taking the company forward and continuing its impressive acquisition record.
Allianz calls on brokers to better BI basics
Allianz insurance has urged brokers to go “back to basics” to ensure more commercial customers are provided with adequate business interruption cover.
Catastrophe losses hold back Hardy profits
Hardy Underwriting’s profits halved to £10m during 2010, after it faced a string of international catastrophe losses with a net value of £37m.
LMIE aims for slice of mid-corp market
Liberty Mutual insurance Europe is targeting rivals Ace and Chubb for a larger slice of the mid-corporate market - a sector it believes will act as a “springboard” into the wider UK market.
Chaucer profits fall due to cat exposure
Chaucer has attributed its fall in profit and property underwriting loss to its exposure to global catastrophes.
Rebuilding Cost launches web portal
Rebuilding Cost has unveiled a new website which allows insurance companies online access to valuation surveys.
RSA hires Coffey for personal lines restructure
RSA has appointed Mark Coffey as trading director, personal lines broker, with effect from 1 April.
Allianz in timber frame warning
Allianz has launched a campaign to highlight the fire risks associated to timber frame construction sites.
Aviva UK GI profit improves to £579m
Aviva’s UK general insurance and health business reported £4.54bn in net written premium in 2010 (2009: £4.30bn) and an operating profit of £579m (2009: £535m).
Aviva UK GI profit improves to £579m
Aviva’s UK general insurance and health business reported £4.54bn in net written premium in 2010 (2009: £4.30bn) and an operating profit of £579m (2009: £535m).
Roundtable: Is there a cross industry solution to rebuilding costs?
The current approach to rebuilding costs can lead to both underinsurance and ill-suited reinsurance programmes. Post gathered together a host of industry figures to debate whether a cross-industry solution could be found. Leigh Jackson reports.
AA sets out strategy for push into commercial market
AA Insurance is gearing up to expand its commercial insurance offering by tapping into the group's customer base across its many different trading channels.
Editor's comment: No-claims discount: is it a goer in household?
This was the question posed by Axa finance director Jean Drouffe in last week's Post, and follows a number of recent musings by those in the general insurance market about how to counteract the growth in household claims due to events that can be linked…
Howden targets energy and marine markets
Howden is planning to enter the offshore energy and marine markets in a bid to diversify its international book of business.
Allianz: double-digit rate rises needed
Allianz is set to apply rate increases of up to 10% on its commercial and retail books to return to profitability.
JLT extends 'firepower' to £350m as bolt-on buys beckon
Jardine Lloyd Thompson has extended its unutilised debt facility beyond the £200m mark in order to fund new acquisitions.
LBG sees slight rise in pre-tax profit
Lloyds Banking Group's general insurance business pre-tax profit in 2010 was £372m marking an increase of 1% on the 2009 result (£367m).
Prior reserve release staves off RSA underwriting loss
Prior year reserve releases of £267m have helped insurer RSA avoid posting an underwriting loss of £29m for 2010.
Postbox: staying ahead of the game
The recent article ‘Brokers unprepared for household fraud’ concerning a Legal & General report raised some interesting issues for the broking community.
New rating factors needed after European gender ban – Insurance News Now – 2 March 2011
Post news editor Mairi MacDonald outlines this week’s major general insurance stories including what the ECJ’s ruling that a person’s gender can no longer be used to calculate insurance premiums or annuity rates will mean for insurers.