Insurer
Insurance insolvencies drop by 85%
The number of insurance companies going bust plummeted by 86.1% last month, compared to July 2011, according to statistics published today by Experian.
Profits up at Amlin
Amlin has returned to pre-tax profit in the first half of 2012 with a result of £184.5m reversing a loss of £192.3m in the same period last year.
QBE expects Brit purchase to deliver extra £175m GWP
QBE Insurance Group expects the purchase of Brit's UK regional business to deliver an extra £175m of gross written premium (GWP) in its first full year.
Zurich results dip caused by pensions 'blip'
Zurich’s UK general insurance business enjoyed a good half year performance, distorted by a one-off pension “blip”, according to Karl Bedlow, managing director of personal lines.
Fitch upgrades Hiscox to A+ with stable outlook
Fitch Ratings has upgraded Hiscox Group’s, insurer financial strength (IFS) ratings from A to A+.
Aviva rocked by S&P downgrade over strategy fears
Aviva has been hit with a rating downgrade by Standard & Poor's (S&P) amid concerns its strategic plan will create "significant risks and costs".
Zurich UK GI business reports drop in profit, GWP and COR
Zurich UK has reported a £52m operating profit for its general insurance (GI) arm in the first half of 2012.
Towergate London Markets in redundancy talks with staff
Towergate has confirmed that jobs may be lost in its London Markets business.
Former Merlin man snubs LAS for Direct Group
Former Merlin loss adjusting and claims services director Russell Crewe has snubbed LAS Claims and instead joined Direct Group.
Markel boosts UK retail division with Chartis hire
Markel UK has appointed Julia Churchill as broker development manager for the South.
Axa and GAB Robins extend contract by three years
Axa has renewed its commercial property loss adjusting contract with GAB Robins by three years.
Chaucer raids Ace for new catastrophe risk head
Chaucer has snapped up Nick Barter from Ace European Group as head of catastrophe risk.
Aviva trialling telematics app for private car insurance
Aviva has launched the test of a new pay-how-you-drive app on smartphones called - Aviva RateMyDrive – with the target of signing up 5,000 drivers.
Markel takes on ex-Chubb underwriter
Markel UK has appointed Simon Webster as technical underwriter with the responsibility of expanding its specialty liability account.
Groupama chief hails performance amid ongoing fight
The chief executive of Groupama UK has hailed a "great performance" despite having to "fight against the whole world".
Groupama UK sees half-year profits soar by 20%
Groupama UK has seen its half-year profits before tax jump by 20% to £22.2m compared to the same period last year.
Market shake-up drives IRS' two-year PI package
Indemnity Risk Solutions (IRS) is offering a two-year professional indemnity (PI) policy for solicitors ahead of the market's "biggest shake-up in a decade".
LAS in employment drive following Merlin administration
LAS Claims has announced it will boost staff numbers by 25% in the wake of Merlin Claims' administration.
Administrators confirm 200 job losses at Merlin
Administrators BDO have confirmed that 200 members of staff at Merlin Claims have been made redundant with immediate effect.
Bupa sees Europe and North America profits drop by 22%
Bupa has seen its half-year profits for Europe and North America fall by almost a quarter.
Ecclesiastical exits wedding market
Ecclesiastical Insurance will cease providing wedding insurance from 31 August 2012 after a strategic review.
Spencer committed to getting commercial COR below 100%
Robin Spencer, chief executive for UK & Ireland general insurance at Aviva, has described himself as "delighted" by the insurer's half-year results.
Markel soars to profit
Markel International has reported a combined operating ratio (COR) of 84% for the six months ended 30 June 2012 compared to 130% for the same period of 2011.
Aviva commercial COR stays at 101%
Aviva has revealed a combined operating ratio (COR) in UK commercial lines of 101% for the start of 2012, an identical figure to the result for the first six months of last year.