Insight
Cowbell makes first move beyond standalone cyber insurance in UK with PI launch
Cowbell, provider of cyber insurance for SMEs and middle-market businesses, has launched professional indemnity and cyber cover for technology companies with up to £1bn in annual turnover.
Axa swings back to UK underwriting profits in 2024
Axa Insurance UK returned to underwriting profit in 2024 with a £45m result, reversing a £103m deficit in 2023.
MGA Ventis targets number one real estate spot with brokers following Acturis deal
Managing general agent Ventis is launching into e-trade with Acturis, claiming it would be plugging a gap in an underserved market segment.
IPT receipts surge 9% to £8.88bn in 2024/25
Data from HMRC has confirmed receipts from Insurance Premium Tax jumped by £737m in the 2024/25 financial year reaching a new high of £8.88bn.
JMG strikes first deals of 2025 with triple swoop
JMG Group has made a trio of acquisitions in its first deals of 2025, having been the most active consolidator last year with 16 buys.
Ex-EY boss Tony Sault joins Oxbow Partners
Former EY leader Tony Sault has joined management consultancy Oxbow Partners, tasked with extending the UK and Ireland general insurance practice.
Brokers see growth opportunities in non-standard property
Brokers have ranked unoccupied homes as top of the key growth areas list in a Prestige Underwriting survey on the non-standard market.
Drone MGA Moonrock expands Apollo relationship with $122.5m facility
Managing general agent Moonrock has launched a $122.5m (£91.6m) drone, eVTOL and aviation innovation insurance facility led by capacity from Apollo.
Ecclesiastical grows presence in Scotland opening office in Glasgow
Ecclesiastical Insurance has opened an office in Glasgow after it saw a surge in new business in Scotland.
UIB responds to SFO court case decision
United Insurance Brokers Limited has responded to the Serious Fraud Office’s decision to bring a case of failing to prevent international bribery with the charges to be heard at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 7 May.
Alan Boswell buys Suffolk broker
Alan Boswell Group has bought commercial insurance broker Andrew Thompson and Associates in its first deal of the year after two purchases in 2024.
Howden partners with the Lawn Tennis Association
Howden has served up a three-year partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association.
SFO accuses United Insurance Brokers of failing to prevent international bribery
The Serious Fraud Office has accused United Insurance Brokers Limited of failing to prevent international bribery and representatives of the company will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 7 May to face the charges.
Axa warns brokers on criminal gangs targeting vacant commercial properties
Axa UK has urged brokers to make sure customers are vigilant about criminal gangs targeting empty commercial properties as the insurer has seen a steep rise in the problem in recent months.
A-Plan details £3.6m rebrand spend as turnover ticks up but profits dip in 2024
A-Plan, now rebranded as Howden, grew turnover by 2.1% to £167.3m in the year ended 30 September 2024 as investments in staff, rebrand costs and IT spend hit the bottom line.
People Moves: 14 – 17 April 2025
Stay in the loop with the latest insurance personnel moves.
Policy Expert has “clear focus” on UK with plans to double the business
Personal lines specialist Policy Expert is targeting organic growth in the UK, with plans to double the business in the next three to five years, according to CEO Steve Hardy.
Biba 2025 Countdown: Flood Re’s Kelly Ostler-Coyle
Kelly Ostler-Coyle, head of communications and stakeholder engagement, Flood Re looks forward to sharing information about its Chelsea Flower Show medal-winning Flood Resilient Garden, handing out Freddy the Flood Re ducks, and expects Oasis sound…
Markel to buy London-headquartered marine MGA
Markel has inked a deal to buy specialist marine managing general agent The MECO Group.
New owners reveal Academy and Premierline deal costs
Academy Insurance Services’ previous owner Vmans cost £7.87m while the bill for Premierline came in at £4.12m, filings at Companies House have revealed.
Gallagher tipped to win the race for PIB
A deal for Gallagher to buy PIB is said to be “80% done”, sister title Insurance Post has revealed.
Radius Insurance MD sees “huge” opportunity to put “foot on the gas”
Philip Thorn, Radius Insurance Solutions managing director, is eyeing up the opportunities from being a true risk advisor and broker, as he highlights possibilities to lean into the wider group’s customer base.
Ceta posts turnover and profit growth in run-up to sale
Digital niche personal lines and SME broker Ceta Insurance grew turnover by 23% in the year parent Atec Group was bought by European private equity investor Perwyn.
Marshmallow raises $90m to grow product offering and international expansion
Fintech Marshmallow has raised $90m (£68m) of funding, a mixture of equity and debt, from Portage, BlackRock and Columbia Lake Partners to grow the business’ product offering and support plans for international expansion.