Direct Line Group
End of Year Review 2025: nCino’s Ashleigh Gwilliam
Ashleigh Gwilliam, director of insurance at nCino calls for more to be done to make insurance careers genuinely attractive to young talent and predicts AI will be handling first-pass underwriting decisions on at least 30% of SME commercial risks by the end of next year.
CMA greenlights Aviva’s takeover of DLG
The Competition and Markets Authority has today cleared Aviva’s takeover of Direct Line Group.
DLG CEO Winslow and CFO Poole to exit in Aviva takeover management reshuffle
Adam Winslow, CEO of Direct Line Group, will exit when the takeover by Aviva goes through.
Aviva/DLG set for July as regulators rubber stamp takeover
The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority have given the greenlight to Aviva buying Direct Line Group clearing a pathway for the deal to complete next month.
Ghost broker sentenced
A ghost broker has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months with a requirement to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, after selling two fraudulent motor insurance policies to unsuspecting members of the public.
CMA launches Aviva/DLG merger inquiry
The Competition and Markets Authority has today announced the launch of a merger inquiry into the Aviva/Direct Line Group deal.
Direct Line shareholders sign off on Aviva takeover
Shareholders of Direct Line Group have given overwhelming backing to the Aviva takeover by voting in favour of the proposal at its annual general meeting.
Aviva-bound DLG swings back to operating profit but customer count falls
Direct Line Group has reported an operating profit of £205m for 2024, more than reversing a £189.9m loss the year before.
Aviva “ruthlessly focused” on being consistent for brokers, says CEO Storah
Aviva grew UK SME business by 12% in 2024 with a more or less 50/50 split between rate and policy count growth, its UK and Ireland general insurance CEO has told Insurance Age.
Aviva scores double-digit UK profit and volume growth in 2024
Aviva has posted 16% UK gross written premium growth in 2024, as its combined operating ratio improved to 94.9%.
Direct Line accepts Aviva’s £3.7bn takeover offer
Direct Line has accepted Aviva’s improved offer to takeover the company this morning in a deal one analyst has described as a "bold move that could turn out to be a gift that keeps on giving".
Aviva-target DLG launches on Compare the Market
Aviva takeover target Direct Line Group has launched three new branded motor insurance products on Compare the Market, marking its entry on to price comparison websites.
Somerset Bridge and DLG breach Private Motor Insurance Order
Somerset Bridge and Direct Line Group have both received a letter from the Competition and Markets Authority for breaches of the Private Motor Insurance Market Investigation Order 2015.
Brokers urge Aviva not to let DLG deal dull service
Brokers have hailed the ongoing improvements at Aviva and called on the provider not to be knocked off course in the regional market should the Direct Line Group takeover complete as expected.
Aviva has hit ‘strategic jackpot’ with £3.6bn DLG deal agreement, claims analyst
An analyst at investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown has described Aviva’s £3.6bn bid as a “golden ticket” for Direct Line Group shareholders.
Aviva has Xmas deadline for DLG offer after both agree prospective £3.6bn deal
Aviva and Direct Line Group have jointly announced that they have reached preliminary agreement on the financial terms of a potential acquisition of the latter by the former.
Review of the year 2024: Brown & Brown’s Sime
Chris Sime, group markets director at Brown & Brown Europe, predicts a UK consolidator could get taken out by a US broker, wonders why buyers continue to pay multiples on unrealistic Ebitda projections and mulls what a Blanc/Winslow reunion might look…
Analysis: Aviva’s bid for DLG – what are the pros and cons for UK insurance brokers
The industry was abuzz last week with the ramifications of Aviva’s £3.3bn bid for Direct Line Group. Jonathan Swift reflects on the weekend’s developments, and what the deal might mean for UK brokers should the possibility of a green light gain momentum…
Analysts point to 265p per share to sweeten Aviva-DLG deal
Experts from Peel Hunt have labelled Aviva’s 250p per share approach for Direct Line as a “reasonable offer” adding there is “scope to sweeten the bid to 260-265p”.
DLG rejects £3.3bn Aviva takeover offer
Aviva has revealed it has become the second insurer to publicly bid for Direct Line Group this year, with an offer worth £3.3bn.
DLG to cut 550 jobs as it targets £100m of savings
Direct Line Group has started consultations with staff as part of a proposed reduction of about 550 roles, it announced today.