Consolidation
Video: Succession planning (1) - the latest wave of consolidation
Phil Bayles, chief distribution officer, intermediaries at Aviva joins Insurance Age editor Emmanuel Kenning in the studio.
Editor's letter - February 2017
“Brokers have to give customers what they want and need in the way that they choose to buy”
News analysis: Broad support for Marsh’s Bluefin buyout
US broking giant agrees £295m takeover deal with Axa that will see Bluefin and Jelf combined
Editor's letter - November 2016
“There definitely needs to be change. And it is only through such collective thinking and a combined effort that solutions will be found”
News analysis: Consolidation continues apace
Ongoing buyouts fuel speculation in the broking market
Appetite outweighs uncertainty
Lloyds Bank's Bill Cooper explains why political instability in the UK has failed to dampen the verve of those on the broker acquisition trail.
Robert Organ: “My role is to protect Bluefin”
CEO pledges to keep the broker on a steady growth trajectory and stick to strategy.
Customers losing out
The most recent wave of consolidation could lead to a revamp of commission structures, which won’t be good for brokers or their clients, says Ian Stutz
Rational acquisitions
There is a vibrant market for structured and sensible broker acquisitions in the UK, says Peter Blanc
Another wave of consolidation?
Tony Cornell considers how insurers will cope with demands for more commission if acquisition activity picks up again
Back to binge buying?
Returning to the market, Barbara Bradshaw sees the same mistakes being made and bemoans unequal access to finance
Back to buying
As consolidation picks up pace again, Paul Meehan looks at if any lessons have been learned from the last round of buyouts
Editor's letter - July 2015
“If… hundreds of players all have a little nibble, then they will need to get their funding from somewhere”
Towergate refinancing deal finally complete
Broker works to rebuild trust after closing the deal with unsecured creditors
All change
Change will be this year’s defining theme, says Bill Cooper, and small to medium-sized brokers are in a perfect position to exploit it
Simply Business edging toward 300,000 customers
Jasper Martens shares his overview of 2014 and takes about how the line between broker, aggregator, and insurer is blurring.
Full recovery mode
The Chancellor’s prediction of strong growth in GDP could point to a resurgence for the commercial insurance market, says Paul Upton
Questions asked over consolidator model
Recent acquisitions and shareholder tension at consolidators puts model under the spotlight
Profile: The bright side of life
Markerstudy Group underwriting director Gary Humphreys tells Caitlin Morrison why the firm courted Brightside and what prospects he sees for the market
Biba 2012: FCA uncertainty could damage broking sector
Uncertainty around what the incoming Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) wants from the broking industry is causing the greatest concern in the market and greater clarity must be given before damage is done.
Tug of war over Cobra fuels speculation
Cobra Holdings’ sale could create lucrative opportunities for rival networks
Where now for Groupama et al?
So we’ve got three insurers up for sale, namely RBSI, Brit and now Groupama. Consolidation in the insurer space has been predicted for some time now but I don’t think people expected it to happen like this – more deals done behind closed doors than…
Scottish broker makes Edinburgh acquisition
Central Insurance has completed its second acquisition of the year with the purchase of Edinburgh-based Castle Cairn Insurance Brokers.
Private equity hungry for insurance investment
More than two thirds (68%) of private equity houses plan to invest in the UK financial services market in the coming year, particularly in insurance and banking, according to a Grant Thornton report.