Insurer
Ageas loses £16.6m in general insurance
Ageas UK has announced a loss in its general insurance book despite growth in both personal and commercial lines.
Google buys UK aggregator BeatThatQuote.com
Google has bought BeatThatQuote.com for £37.7m. The website offers a suite of financial products including insurance, loans and mortgages.
ABI appoints Aegon UK boss as new director general
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has appointed Otto Thoresen as its new director general. Mr Thoresen takes up the role on April 4 and will be based in London.
RSA completes PL broker team with Mark Coffey
Former head of personal lines at Zurich Mark Coffey has joined rival RSA as trading director, Personal Lines Broker.
Review: uncomplicated cover for specialist property risks
This product has been reviewed by brokers and rated from one to five stars, based on the policy’s key benefits.
Review: Business combined policy for metal manufacturers
This product has been reviewed by brokers and rated from one to five stars, based on the policy’s key benefits.
Liberty pushes into UK mid corporate market
Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe (LMIE), is set to expand its presence in the mid to large UK SME sector.
Chartis launches commercial app for brokers
Chartis has launched a web app for two of its SME products to allow brokers to obtain speculative or last minute quotes on the move.
Opinion – public perception: insurance to the rescue
Could the industry do more to encourage more positive media coverage and improve public perception, asks Alistair Steward.
Aviva's UK GI business sees boost in premium and profit
After four quarters of consecutive growth, UK GI net written premiums increased 5% to £4bn (2009: £3.86bn) and operating profit for UK GI and health also rose 8% to £579m (2009: £535m).
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.
News analysis - numbers: rival brands NIG's new pricing policy 'suicidal'
"We are certainly looking to grow our book of business and that means making it clear that we have an appetite"
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.
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.
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.
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.
Opinion - accident management: a case of double standards
Clare Ryder tackles two topics that have been the subject of debate recently - deskilling and insurer use of accident management
Products/schemes: MFL scheme eases PI struggle for surveryors
McParland Finn (MFL) has launched a professional indemnity (PI) insurance scheme for Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) member practices.
The consolidator bubble: refunding lessons
Tony Cornell reflects on the problems of excess capital in the market and the effect on long-term growth.
Products/schemes: Dual unveils standalone POSI
Specialist underwriting agency Dual Corporate Risks has launched a standalone product for public offering of securities insurance.
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
Reportage - SME: a blossoming romance
The SME love affair has been flourishing for a while, but what does the term actually mean? With nearly all UK enterprises falling into this category, Liz McMahon explores the sector's diverse needs.