Insurance Age - 2010-09-01
Articles in this issue
Reportage - solicitors' PI: The domino effect
The much publicised troubles of Quinn and its solicitors' PI book have had a knock-on effect on other providers in the market. Liz McMahon asks what opportunities and responsibilities for brokers now exist.
Reportage - D&O: Scare tactics
Louise Meeson asks if the recession has highlighted the true benefits of D&O or whether providers and distributors are just using it to frighten business leaders into taking out unnecessary cover
Reportage - cyber liability: Reducing online exposure
As websites and e-trading take a more prominent role in every facet of business, online liability risks grow. Edward Murray asks how the market can keep up to date with the exposures and how brokers should best advise their clients.
Reportage - long-tail liability: Breathe easy
Neil Hackett advises how brokers can assist in the handling of long-tail liability claims for lung diseases such as pneumoconioses.
Insurers' PPI responsibility: Accepting responsibility
Against the backdrop of the recent FSCS levy increases, Martin Friel asks what responsibility insurers have for making sure products sold on their behalf are done so properly.
Accurate risk pricing: On the nose
Insurers are increasingly turning to technology to help them underwrite their risks more accurately. Liz McMahon uncovers the key to getting the pricing right.
SMEs and Government: A cure for the economy
Small business is the backbone of the UK economy, says Stephen Archer, and the Government needs to encourage, rather than hinder, its growth.
Polly C - the hottest insurance gossip
A healthy dose of irony is good for the soul and Polly found her fix in Zurich's misfortunes this month.
News review: August
Axa Insurance customer experience director, Paul Meehan, expressed interest in filling the senior management vacancy in the company's commercial division.
Motor insurers' excuses for poor results rejected
Insurer claims that increases in bodily injury costs are to blame for poor performance in the private motor market may be misleading, according to industry experts.
Further changes at Brit as distribution boss bids farewell
Brit Insurance's head of distribution Tim Grant is leaving to join Dual Corporate Risks, Insurance Age can reveal.
Expo introduces clinics
The Broker Expo has expanded its workshop programme for 2010. Building on the practical aspect of the successful workshop programme, new focused broker clinics have been developed to give brokers the opportunity to delve deeper into the issues that…
Equity Red Star slammed for being too slow to adjust reserves
Equity Red Star should have taken quicker and more decisive action in reserving for increasing bodily injury claims according to a report produced by JP Morgan.
Potential Aviva sale to shape outlook for composites
The future of the composite model remains uncertain as the industry waits to see if another insurance giant will swoop on Aviva's general insurance arm.
Adrian Flux confirms plan to grow workforce
Norwich-based Adrian Flux has announced it is to create 150 jobs as it gears up for further expansion. The broker, which appears in this year's Top 50 Brokers in Personal Lines supplement, already employs 480 staff at its offices in King's Lynn and…
NTR pilot to ease complex business underwriting
Broker Network is piloting a network trading room (NTR) environment that aims to allow members to place complex commercial risks.
Opportunity for brokers to slash their FSCS contribution
Brokers labouring under the demands of this year's Financial Services Compensation Scheme levy may be given the chance to resubmit their data and dramatically cut their contribution.
Ink seals Westinsure Group deal for mystery figure
Giles-owned Ink Underwriting Agencies has completed the acquisition of the Westinsure Group for an undisclosed sum.
Power hour debate appeals for 'remote' CII to give helping hand
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has been accused of being "London-centric" and remote at an Insurance Age roundtable event in Newcastle.
Further cuts at Tesco Compare
The majority of staff at Tesco Compare's Redhill base have been put on redundancy notice raising questions over the aggregator's future.
Record FSA fine prompts call for brokers to help tackle fraud
Brokers have been called on to do more to support the Financial Services Authority's (FSA) crackdown on fraudulent behaviour after the regulator imposed one of the largest ever fines on an individual.
Birmingham exposed as worst 'crash for cash' area
Birmingham has topped the Insurance Fraud Bureau's (IFB) top 20 league table of crash for cash hotspots in Q2 2010.
Confidence grows as broker recruitment activity picks up
Broker recruitment activity has increased by between 50% and 60% this year, according to financial recruiting company Joslin Rowe.
Claims farming clampdown needed to cut motor costs
The insurance industry must tackle the ongoing rise in claims farming in order to reduce overall motor claims costs, according to a recent report issued by Defaqto.
HMRC stipulates VAT exemption conditions for online intermediaries
Online insurance intermediaries must look closely at their business models in order to qualify for VAT exemption following a briefing by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Employee risk costs could soar under retirement proposals
The Government's decision to scrap the default retirement age from October 2011 could lead to key benefits becoming uninsurable for older employees, Mercer has warned.
Individual responsibility required to reduce NHS strain
More people will be required to take out health insurance over the next decade as their access to free healthcare becomes increasingly limited, according to a new report by Friends Provident.
Aviva boss lists three reasons for fall in GI operating profits
Aviva's UK general insurance chief executive, David McMillan, said the dip in the insurers' general insurance and health operating profits was due to its decision to release fewer reserves this year.
Groupama reports stagnant broking revenues
Combined revenues of Groupama Insurances' UK broking businesses have remained relatively flat at £33.3m during H1 2010 (H1 2009: £34.1m).
NIG exit sparks RSA return to personal lines
RSA has expressed a renewed appetite for personal lines business after admitting it had previously been "deliberately underweight" in this area.
RBSI puts operating loss down to bodily injury claims injection
The chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance said its results were heavily impacted by the need to boost its reserves for bodily injury claims after reporting a £253m operating loss for H1 2010 (H1 2009: £217m profit).
Allianz head urges industry to match motor hikes
Allianz chief executive, Andrew Torrance, has called on the market to push up rates, as he promised further double digit increases in private motor in 2011.
CFC suite to tackle risks arising from digital media
Specialist lines underwriting agent CFC aims to address a host of emerging media risks including social networking with its new suite of products.
Bespoke classic car scheme unveiled
Independent insurance and financial services group Lucas Fettes has launched a new bespoke classic car scheme for the motor trade.
Product launches: ATE claims support offered
Lorega has launched an after-the-event (ATE) claims preparation, mitigation and negotiation service.
Product launches: MMA initiates variable rates
Broker-only insurer MMA has introduced variable commission rates for brokers transacting new business for MMA's Master Tradesman product.
MSL policy gets makeover
MSL Legal Expenses has revamped its legal expenses policy for businesses, which provides up to £50,000 financial protection for legal costs per claim.
Willis teams up for Patentwize
Willis Group Holdings has announced it is partnering with Innography to launch Willis PatentWize, an enterprise-wide business intelligence solution designed to help companies better manage their intellectual property risks.
Product review: Three options to suit all homes
The products reviewed in this article by brokers are rated from one to five, based on the policy's key benefits.
Brokers urged to highlight risks of credit card fraud
The Forum of Private Business has called on brokers to ensure clients protect themselves when processing payments online.
London households most likely to claim for home theft
A study pinpointing the top 20 UK postcode claim hotspots has found that London households are the most likely to make a claim for home theft.
IFB meeting expected to move CUE plans forward
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) is confident it will move a step closer to creating a Claims Underwriting Exchange (CUE) travel database following its latest member meeting.
PIA head urges insurers to embrace global risks
Insurers' conservative attitudes towards risks outside the UK is holding back ambitious plans to establish multi quote-and-buy systems worldwide, according to liability broker Professional Insurance Agents (PIA).
Legal expenses first as Aim launches products on CDL
Aim Legal Expenses has claimed to be the first legal expenses provider to target the broker market with an online offering.
Data hub launch discloses new pricing detail to non-direct market
Coversure and Fortis are among those that have committed to using a new data hub that aims to allow brokers to compete on a level playing field with direct writers.
Digital extension programme to encourage regional broking
Government plans to transform the country's digital infrastructure could empower regional brokers and make the industry less London-centric, according to IT experts.
Fresh hopes web revamp will boost its home book
Fresh Insurance has announced an online makeover as part of its aim to increase its share of the home insurance market during the next year.
Broker Expo 2010: Interacting ideas
With a range of workshops, the introduction of one-to-one clinics and, of course, nearly 100 exhibition stands, Martin Friel explains why the Expo is the broker networking event of the year.
Agenda: That elusive crock of gold
The consolidation of the retail broking sector started in 1998 with the creation of Towergate but gathered pace in early 2000 through to 2008. In that period, some £3.6bn of commercial business was acquired, which equates to 25% of the total commercial…
Your letters: Open letter to the ABI, FSA and FOS
We have it all: human rights, data protection, statutory obligations, regulatory regimes, codes of conduct, corporate governance, rules of engagement, terms of reference, standards for this, standards for that and, ah yes, let's not forget, 'complaints…
Editor's comment - September 2010
So the private motor sector has finally been revealed as the insanely priced kamikaze market that many in the industry always thought it was.
Interview: The almost great and the good
Martin Friel talks to Theo Duchen and David McDonald about how Acturis is over-delivering in professionalism and efficiency in a bid to achieve greatness
Regional power hour - Newcastle: Talent scouting
This month's power hour, held in Newcastle upon Tyne and sponsored by Ecclesiastical, discusses the level of talent in the industry and how new recruits of a high calibre can be attracted. Louise Meeson reports
Viewpoint: The pros and cons of commission disclosure
Evolution Underwriting CEO Paul Upton evaluates the pros and cons of commission disclosure for large and small brokers as the transparency of the current model comes under scrutiny by professionals in the US and the UK as well as by the European…