Property
HDI-Gerling enters Irish market
Industrial insurance company HDI-Gerling is to create a new branch in Ireland.
Marsh expands contamination cover
Marsh has launched a specialist contamination insurance product for water utility firms.
Corporates seek insurer credit rating assurances
Aviva is receiving a surge in enquiries from corporate clients worried about insurer credit ratings.
Parabis Group swoops for loss adjuster Carmichaels
Parabis Group has acquired a controlling stake in property specialist Carmichaels to complement its existing niche subsidiary, Argent Liability Adjusters.
Law report: Furniture company director found liable for breach of trust
This law report has been contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Interview - Ken MacDonald: Keeping it simple
As former chief exec of Aon Global UK, Ken MacDonald has been refreshed by a return to a private company. Lynn Rouse talks to Miller's head of corporate risks about triple-digit growth and targeting FTSE 250 firms.
Co-op boss expects 2010 profits to beat 2009
Co-operative Insurance chief executive David Neave has revealed he expects the insurer's 2010 profits to surpass those of 2009.
BIA offers women hope
Research released this week by the Chartered Management Institute to mark the 40th anniversary of The Equal Pay Act 1970, revealed equal pay within the insurance industry could still be more than 35 years away.
Argent confident over deal for rival adjuster
The man charged with overseeing the integration of loss adjusters Argent and Carmichaels has insisted the merger will succeed where similar deals have faltered.
Imperial records spike in claims volume
Imperial Consultants has recorded a 25% increase in incoming claim volumes received from its UK insurance clients for the year ending August 2010.
Allianz aims for €120m target with new Madrid corporate base
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, the insurance group's dedicated carrier for large corporate insurance customers, is opening a branch office in Madrid.
Catastrophe: Put a (stronger) lid on it
Natural catastrophe models have been transformed through scientific research, growth in global and localised observation systems and modeling technology enhancements. But despite this, uncertainty remains, say Claire Souch and Michael Kistler.
Tree root damage claims cost over £37m
The public risk management association, Alarm, said that the issue of subsidence damage to property and the cost of related claims, where tree roots are seen as the main cause of the damage, is one that concerns many of its members, particularly those in…
Arista records growth in H1 2010
Commercial lines MGA Arista Insurance has recorded a 21% increase in income in the first half compared with the same period in 2009.
Rok to create 50 new jobs following £40m Axa contract win
Rok, the maintenance and building services group, has signed a contract with Inter Partner Assistance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Axa Assistance to provide home emergency services to its UK customers.
Weather events cause Ecclesiastical loss
Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical has attributed its pre-tax loss of £9.9m for first half of 2010 to a string of exceptional weather events.
Lloyd's insurer Chaucer H1 2010 result bolstered by £5.3m reserve releases
Chaucer has reported a profit before tax of £7m (30 June 2009: £17m) for the first six months of 2010 on gross written premiums of £493m (30 June 2009: £491m).
Climate change - renewable energy: Investing in the future
With high targets on reducing carbon emissions, Daniel Dunkley asks if the government has the political will to invest in renewable energy and how the insurance industry can benefit.
Retail expansion key as Hiscox remains cautious
Hiscox plans to continue expanding its UK, mainland Europe and US retail businesses despite adopting a cautious outlook for the second half of 2010.
Avantia enters home protect market
Avantia Insurance has launched a home protect service to the trade.
Snowball heralds recovery as Suncorp profits increase A$432m in 2010
Australian financial services group Suncorp has recorded a net profit after tax of A$780m for the full year to 30 June 2010, (2009: A$348m).
ABI issues consumer insurance guide
The Association of British Insurers has published a guide of its top tips and myths to help consumers make the right choices when buying cover.
Fortis Insurance UK back in the black after strong Q2
Fortis Insurance UK this morning reported that a profit before tax of £8.4m in the first half of 2010, reflecting improved performance in the second quarter (Q1 2010: £3.2 m loss; HY 2009: £26.0m profit).
Fire risks - kitchen ducts: Grease is the word
Improper cleaning of extraction units in the hospitality and catering sectors can cause devastating fires. Allister Smith looks at the facts.