Insurer
Chartis sees COR improvement but still above 100%
Chartis has revealed it wrote $9.1bn [£5.85bn] in net written premiums for the second quarter of 2012, slightly down from $9.17bn in 2011.
Allianz's UK profits tick up again
Allianz saw its UK operating profits edge up to €92m (£72.3m) for the first half this year, up from €89m posted during the same period last year.
Aviva COR predicted to top 99%
Investec has predicted that Aviva’s combined operating ratio will hit 99.1% in its half year results due to be published on 9 August, a deterioration from the 96% reported for the first six months of 2011.
Novae returns to profit and improves COR by almost 20%
Novae Group returned to profit in the six months ended June 2012, making £19m, compared with a loss of £30m in the same period of 2011.
Direct Line overcomes weather claims to post £135m profit
Direct Line Group overcame "worse-than-expected" home weather claims to post an operating profit of £135m during this year's second quarter.
Axa COR sneaks above 100%
Axa has revealed a combined operating ratio of 100.4% for UK property and casualty (P&C) business in the first six months of 2012, consistent with the 100% achieved in the same period of 2011.
JLT and Aviva in PI offering for small firms
JLT Speciality has struck a deal with Aviva to provide professional indemnity insurance (PI) for two to three partners solicitor firms.
RSA blames UK weather as group profits plummet by 40%
RSA has seen its group post-tax profits plummet by 41% to £164m for the first six months of 2012, down from £277m reported in the same period last year.
Mitsui Sumitomo employee grabs bronze in Olympic judo
Mitsui Sumitomo is celebrating after one of its employees won an Olympic medal at the London 2012 Games.
Music supremo targets broker hit with social media offering
The man who signed rock band The Killers is now hoping to crack the insurance market with a new social media-based release for brokers.
RSA swoops to appoint Cofunds' head of commercial
RSA has confirmed that Cofunds' head of commercial Russell Lancaster has been appointed as distribution director for its UK commercial business.
HCC posts $60m net earnings rise
Specialty insurance group HCC Insurance Holdings has posted net earnings of $176.1m (£112.7m) for the first six months of 2012, up on the $116.5m recorded for the same time last year.
Gallagher reports 75% jump in profit
Arthur J. Gallagher has reported a profit of $99.8m (£63.8m) for the six months ended June 2012.
Quinn Insurance bill could rise to €1.65bn
The estimated bill for the administration of Quinn Insurance has risen to €1.65bn (£1.3bn), administrators appointed to the insurer have told the High Court in Dublin.
Event Insurance Services in party protection launch
Event Insurance Services has launched a party package designed to give planners the ability to host events with confidence.
MIB chief criticises Arsenal star for driving offence
Ashton West, chief executive at the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, has hit out at Arsenal star Nicklas Bendtner for setting a bad example by driving without insurance.
Editor’s letter - August 2012
“The non-stop rain, rain, rain – with the exception of a few days at the end of July – has seen insurance leading the news”
Products: Commercial Express combined product gets full launch following pilot
Commercial Express has unveiled a new commercial combined facility, calling it the “final piece in the jigsaw”.
Is the death knell tolling for networks?
With Aviva and The Broker Network parting company, have networks had their day, or is there still a future for them? Tony Cornell asks
Debate rages over insurer restructures
Brokers say they want closer relationships with insurers no matter what structure they adopt
Bupa’s product pull back stuns broker market
AMII enters discussions with the UK’s largest private medical insurance provider
Schemes market set for further growth
Survey reveals growing importance and increasing popularity of schemes to brokers
Review: Hearth and home
ABC Home. This product has been reviewed by brokers and rated from one to five stars, based on the policy’s key benefits. * = Poor ** = Average *** = Good **** = Very good ***** = Excellent
ECIC covers contractors on green energy jobs
Electrical Contractors’ Insurance Company (ECIC) has launched a Renewable Energy product specifically designed for the green energy industry.