News Analysis
Thin end of the wedge – Could an FCA property commissions crackdown extend to all SME products?
Could the government’s plan to ban insurance commissions being taken by landlords, managing agents and freeholders on buildings insurance be extended to other lines? Saxon East looks at what might happen if this proves to be the start of something more…
The runners and riders in the Open GI sale
Open GI is reportedly up for sale, with private equity shareholder Montagu wanting to exit. Who are the likely new investors?
Turnover down but profit up at Open GI for 2022
Open GI has posted a fall in revenue for the third year in a row in its results for the year ended 31 May 2022.
Long awaited regulator D&I consultation due in first half of 2023
Financial regulators have set a target of the first half of 2023 to publish the repeatedly delayed consultation paper on improving diversity and inclusion across the financial sector, a year behind the original plan.
Code released to ease crisis in affordable premiums for tower block residents
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers have released a code for capturing risk information, one of the first steps in solving the crisis in affordable premiums for residents in tower blocks, Insurance Age can…
Polaris’s imarket hits new high with £322m premium in 2022
The number of policies traded on imarket, which connects broker software platforms to insurer systems for the placement of commercial lines, hit a record 497,883 in 2022, Polaris has revealed.
Howden to become broking powerhouse in the North after Reich buy
Reich will add bolt-on acquisitions, becoming the Northern hub for Howden’s expansion into the region, according to Aston Lark CEO Peter Blanc.
Bravo unveils ‘biggest transformation’ in broker network trading for two decades
Bravo has hailed its latest launch as “the biggest transformation” to how broker networks add value for members in the past 20 years.
Howden buys Reich
Howden has bought Reich Group for an undisclosed sum, Insurance Age can reveal.
Profits and turnover up at Reich in 2022
Reich Insurance Brokers increased revenue organically by 10.4% to £14.68m in the year to 31 March 2022.
Accredited Europe looks to partner with UK MGAs as premium nears £500m
Randall and Quilter’s European program arm, the capacity backer of Policy Expert and Inperio, is looking to partner with UK managing general agencies.
Covéa exits HNW motor line
Covéa is no longer writing business in the executive motor space for high net worth, Insurance Age can reveal.
Start-up broker targets £1m income in five years
Start-up broker Ash Tree Insurance, which specialises in the agriculture and the SME sector, is targeting £1m income in five years.
Are brokers bucking the trend of insurtech investment struggles?
According to a new Gallagher Re report, global insurtech investment fell in the fourth quarter of 2022 to its lowest level since the third quarter of 2020. Sophie Locke-Cooper details why some may be struggling even if there are signs of hope among…
Allianz reveals £32m December freeze hit and CEO Holmes predicts rate hikes to continue
Allianz Holding has revealed the impact of the winter weather on its bottom line, as CEO Colm Holmes forecast that the Q3 and Q4 rating hikes would continue into 2023.
‘Double standards’ – fed up brokers urge FCA to improve authorisation times
Brokers are urging the Financial Conduct Authority to improve its authorisation speeds, and stressing that the current performance is damaging the industry.
FOS hones in on high motor insurance complaints
The Financial Ombudsman Service has zoomed in on the high level of complaints about motor insurance as it released the latest set of data.
Light on the horizon for brokers squeezed by rising professional indemnity costs
Brokers have faced rising professional indemnity costs amid a perfect storm of factors driving rate increases. But now the market is beginning to settle, although some firms will still face significant headwinds
FCA details 16% staff turnover rate in response to Unite
The Financial Conduct Authority’s headcount grew to 4352 at the end of January, the regulator has confirmed in a letter to Unite.
Brokers to settle ‘very little’ of £19m financial adviser claims amid latest FCA blow, legal expert says
The FCA’s hopes of getting insurers and brokers to settle £19.2m in IFA claims is in doubt, with a fresh legal challenge the latest blow to hit the regulator’s compensation scheme.
Biba demands FCA turn up the heat on authorisations ‘burndown’
The Financial Conduct Authority is taking “far too long” to authorise firms seeking to trade general insurance business for the first time and also needs to up its game on key c-suite broker approvals, executive director of the British Insurance Brokers’…
Meet the MGA: Fusion Specialty UK
As Fusion Specialty UK begins trading, managing partner Josh Cowen and partner Sam Shirley discuss why technology is key to their plans for the SME-focused mergers and acquisitions MGA.
FCA broker c-suite volumes stable as decision delays tick down
The Financial Conduct Authority authorised 1129 general insurance intermediary CEOs in 2021 and a further 994 in the first 10 months of 2022, an Insurance Age Freedom of Information request to the regulator has revealed.
Barbon aims to double £21m earnings in five years
Barbon aims to double its current £21m Ebitda over the next five years, new managing director Wayne Tonge has revealed to Insurance Age.