Broker
Bridle buys London broker
Bridle Insurance has made its first acquisition of 2011, London insurance broker Harrington Adams.
Insurance Age blog: Has equality gone mad?
To say that the European Court of Justice's decision to no longer allow insurance companies to use gender in the calculations of premiums has been met with criticism would certainly be the understatement of the week.
CCV buys in South Wales
Cullum Capital Ventures (CCV) has acquired Hanbury Insurance, a personal and commercial lines broker in South Wales specialising in taxi insurance.
Broker Network and Countrywide make two hires after record growth
Broker Network and Countrywide have claimed the 19 members signing up in 2011 so far was the result of “extraordinary” levels of new membership enquiries totalling an additional £40m of annualised gross written premium.
Towergate limbers up for acquisition run
Towergate Partnership has announced the appointment of Stephen Hinbest as head of acquisitions as it looks to strengthen its capability in this field.
Heath Lambert appoints in Scottish business drive
Heath Lambert has appointed Karen McKay and Ian Simpson as sales executives to strengthen the business development team at its Edinburgh office.
The all new Insurance Age hits the broking market
Insurance Age relaunches with a fresh new look featuring a round table with some of the biggest names in the industry as they look to reshape the market for the future
Markerstudy goes for funeral directors
Markerstudy Group has acquired the business of Kent - based Beal & Co.
News analysis - online: Brightside comparison site plans spark aggregator debate
The intention of Brightside Group to build a commercial aggregator following its purchase of technology company Quote Exchange, has reignited the debate over whether or not aggregators can eat into the broker commercial lines arena.
Products/schemes: Brokers home in on landlord sector with an assortment of product launches and revamps
A host of recent product launches seems to indicate that industry appetite in the landlord sector is increasing.
Management - broking success: step forward to look back
Emmanuel Kenning meets Duncan Macbeth of Macbeth Scott & Co as he prepares for retirement after more than 30 years as a broker and casts his eye over the insurance industry.
Management - social medis: meeting for coffee
Social networking is by no means a new phenomenon. Tim Grant explains how brokers can take inspiration from Edward Lloyd's coffee shop model to gain value from today's social media.
Products & schemes: Feedback prompts PPU
Staysure.co.uk, a provider of travel insurance for over 50s, has unveiled a unique Passenger Protection Upgrade (PPU) package that offers £25,000 travel legal dispute cover, £3,000 end supplier failure cover and double the missed departure benefits.
Regulation: Abiding by the rules
As the list of financial regulators grows so, it appears, does the size of their rule books. Branko Bjelobaba hopes a review of the FSA
News analysis - HNW: four-in-one personal lines cover targets busy individuals
Direct Line has targeted the mid (MNW) to high-net-worth (HNW) personal lines market with the release of Direct Line Select Insurance.
HNW: a stealth attacker
High-net-worth clients are often well protected against potential theft but may find more common threats such as water and accidental damage catch them off-guard, writes Edward Murray.
News analysis - regulation: increasingly oppressive FSCS costs could hamper recruitmentConcern that jobs may be lost as brokers struggle to foot rising bill
The recent increase of over 50% in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) levy for brokers has raised fears that it could cause redundancies in the industry.
Products/schemes: Policyfast wins Homework deal
Policyfast has secured a deal with Aviva to provide the insurer's Homework cover electronically to the broker market for the first time.
News analysis - regulation: new regulator confidentiality proposal could spell trouble
Brokers have been warned that the recent announcement of a change in name of their future regulator, from the Consumer Protection and Market Authority to the Financial Conduct Authority, has come with a potential sting in the tail.
The consolidator bubble: refunding lessons
Tony Cornell reflects on the problems of excess capital in the market and the effect on long-term growth.
Power hour - future of broking round table London: Talking heads
The biggest names in the industry come together to debate the key issues facing brokers at the moment, from regulation and rates to consolidation and distribution. Martin Friel reports.
Profile - Henry Engelhardt: Admiral of the fleet
Henry Engelhardt was at the bow when the Admiral ship first set sail and he led the company onto the stock exchange when it floated in 2004. Emmanuel Kenning talks to the CEO about claims, pricing and the source of great market envy - the provider's COR.
News analysis - regulation: anti-corrupution body calls on Government to show proper commitment to Bribery Act
The lowdown: The delay in implementation of the Bribery Act will not necessarily see a dilution of it