Personal
30% premium growth sees Aviva UK&I PL arm overtake commercial at HY 2024
Aviva has reported that its UK & Ireland premiums increased 18% to £3,809m in the first six months of 2024 (HY23: £3,219m) with strong growth across all business lines, especially personal.
Broker branches a key focus for Allianz in 2024, CEO Holmes promises
“I want to expand the amount of branches we have where we’re connecting with customers,” Allianz UK CEO Colm Holmes told Insurance Age.
Allianz UK grows GWP and profit as COR improves
Allianz UK boosted gross written premiums by 5.5% in the first half of the year to £2.21bn as operating profit jumped by £62m to £174.8m.
Interview: Tuplin on turning up the heat with Ardonagh
Richard Tuplin, CEO of Advisory Insurance Brokers at Ardonagh, shares his insights on leading the transformational change that is garnering praise from the sector and the non-negotiable culture that is bringing success.
Alps partners with AmTrust on motor book
Add-on insurance provider Alps has moved its entire motor book, under a full delegated authority agreement, to AmTrust International.
Halo founder launches insurtech Gigasure
Ernesto Suarez has launched insurtech managing general agent Gigasure offering travel, backpackers, and car hire excess insurance.
ABI measures 2% drop in motor premiums in Q2
The average motor insurance premium fell by 2% in April to June compared to the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers.
Zurich sells Navigators & General to Ardonagh’s Geo
Geo Underwriting is buying marine insurance provider Navigators & General from Zurich UK, with the deal expected to close before the end of the year.
Howden scores Allianz musical insurance book
Howden has agreed to acquire the musical insurance book of Allianz UK for an undisclosed sum with the provider staying on as the underwriter.
Alan Boswell buys Priory Insurance Brokers in Norfolk
Alan Boswell Group has snapped up Wymondham-based Priory Insurance Brokers, adding to its purchase of The Insurance Centre earlier this year.
Jensten completes on three deals
Jensten has bought Asprey Harris and completed the purchases of Chris Knott Insurance Consultants and Robert Gerrard & Co in a triple swoop that has pushed headcount above 1,000.
Consumer Duty one year old – Mills stresses FCA support for smaller firms
The Financial Conduct Authority has been, and will continue to be, proportionate in its approach to supervising the Consumer Duty, according to Sheldon Mills on the one-year anniversary of the rules.
FSCS broker compensation costs fall to £600,000
The total general insurance distribution compensation costs the Financial Services Compensation Scheme paid out dropped to £600,000 in the year ended 31 March 2024, from £2m the year prior.
FCA doubles down as it seeks to lower burden on firms and support growth
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a review which it claimed could streamline the rules governing financial services to reduce burdens on businesses.
Markerstudy to buy Northern Ireland broker Hughes Insurance
Markerstudy Group has confirmed plans to buy Hughes Insurance, just a month after completing its deal with Atlanta.
Lycetts grows turnover and operating profit in 2023
Newcastle-headquartered Lycetts grew turnover by 15.8% to £25.1m and operating profits by 20.7% to £3.77m in 2023.
Ghost broker sentenced for £17,000 Instagram insurance scam
Wahidullah Usmani, 22, of Prayle Grove, Cricklewood, has been sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, for making £17,618 by selling invalid car insurance policies on Instagram.
Which? finds 48% of people making claims experience at least one problem
Which? has called on the Financial Conduct Authority to take tough action against firms over claims handling failures, arguing consumers are suffering from “significant harm”.
Acturis continues personal lines push with Covéa
Acturis has partnered with Covéa to make the insurer’s Home IHP product available on its platform, adding to the previously rolled out motor offering.
Voyager Insurance Services sold to Caledon Group
Recently-formed investment group Caledon has bought travel and wedding insurance broker Voyager Insurance Services for an undisclosed sum.
Partners& snaps up two in employee wellbeing and healthcare push
Partners& has bought Nottingham-based Halo Consulting and Chester-based Personal Healthcare Management.
Ecclesiastical urges insurer climate credentials be part of broker-client conversation
The majority of brokers are not talking to clients about insurers’ climate credentials, according to research from Ecclesiastical, Insurance Age can reveal.
Ageas here for brokers Beckett promises as connected personal lines flourishes
“We are here for the broker today, and we will very much be here for them tomorrow. There’ll be no change in that strategy,” Ageas chief distribution officer Adam Beckett tells Insurance Age.
Interview: Addept Group managing director Richard Finan
Addept MD Richard Finan gives Insurance Age the lowdown on his return to the market; his thoughts on changes to the MGA market in the wake of Consumer Duty; and the challenges of creating ancillary products in a post-FCA GAP intervention world.