Insurer
Zurich expands mid-corporate appetite
Zurich has expanded its Corporate Focus range to include products covering food and beverage and sports, leisure and entertainment (SLE).
TVL expands with Maestro acquisition
Tasker Ventures (TVL) has acquired Cheshire-based Maestro Insurance Services.
Markel's combined ratio takes a tumble
Markel International has reported a combined ratio of 116% for 2011, in stark contrast to its rate of 95% for 2010.
Profits halved at Ace
Ace has reported that net income dropped by 49% to $1.59bn (£1bn) in 2011 from $3.1bn the previous year.
XL planning for construction growth with new appointment
XL Group has appointed Ian Lushington as construction underwriting manager for the UK, Ireland and Nordic region.
Arc Legal in SME deal with Swinton
Arc Legal Assistance has signed up to provide Swinton Commercial with a legal expenses policy geared towards protecting SMEs.
NIG rolls out new property cover
NIG has launched Essential Property Owners’ (EPO) cover, an SME-focused version of its Premium Property Owners’ (PPO) product.
Former Arista man heads up new Aspen venture
Aspen Risk Management has appointed former Arista regional manager, Paul Dooley to head up its new Manchester office.
APPG calls for more guidance on EU gender ban
Concerns over the implementation of the gender ban in insurance pricing have been raised by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Insurance and Financial Services at a recent meeting.
Evolution agrees five year capacity deal with Allianz
Evolution Underwriting has announced the extension of its capacity arrangements with Allianz for a further five years covering property, casualty, excess of loss and motor lines.
Editor’s letter - February 2012
“It’s not that I want to make you all feel bad it’s just that, for brokers, there hasn’t been a lot to be cheerful about”
Lessons to learn from FSA
That broker favourite, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has taken a bit of a pasting from the Treasury Select Committee which described the soon to depart regulator as too expensive, aloof, bureaucratic and unable to protect customers.
Straw vows to continue pushing on motor insurance premiums
Transport Select Committee calls for multi-government department approach
How long till a hardening market?
Rumours of the impending hardening market may be premature
The truth about redundancy
Is making redundancies always the best option for coping with financial pressure? Peter Done explores the problems and alternatives
Review: Talking tech
CNA Europe technology package product. 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
Product: Stonebridge focuses on printing industry
Stonebridge Corporate has created a new trading subdivision, Print-Insure, to provide cover to the lithographic, digital print and supply industries.
Product: New products to cover digital downloads and cloud computing
Managing general agents have been busy focusing on plugging gaps in the technology-related insurance market.
Product: Axa releases more efficient art offering
Axa Art has targeted the owners of art and other valuable collectible items such as vintage cars, wine and furniture with its new insurance policy, ArtFIRST.
Product: Travelers expands media range with PI products
Travelers has launched two new professional indemnity (PI) products aimed at the publishing and general media sectors.
Product: Equity launches telematics service
Equity Red Star has launched a new risk and vehicle management telematics service for the commercial motor and motor fleet sectors.
Products roundup: Brokers braced for the digital future
It has been a technology heavy start to the year for brokers who have been inundated with new offerings from insurers in this fast evolving sector.
Power hour: Northern lights
Cautious optimism in the local economy and increased insurer presence in Newcastle are just two reasons why the North East market is looking up, reports Martin Friel
Changing attitudes
Businesses need to treat everyone fairly and comply with equality legislation, explains Sally Mbewe