News/Regulation
FCA’s Brewis warns MPs premium finance action could have ‘waterbed effect’ for consumers
The Financial Conduct Authority’s insurance director Matt Brewis has raised the concern that taking action on premium finance would have little or no impact on the price of motor cover.
Markerstudy gets CMA greenlight to complete £1.2bn Atlanta deal
The Competition & Markets Authority has cleared Markerstudy to pursue its proposed £1.2bn acquisition of Ardonagh-owned personal lines broking arm Atlanta.
Biba appoints Julie Comer as head of compliance
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has recruited Julie Comer from Lloyd & Whyte as head of compliance.
FCA to raise budget by 10.7%
The Financial Conduct Authority has set its annual funding requirement for 2024/25 at £755m, an increase of 10.7%.
Fair value not a Trojan Horse for price regulation, says FCA boss Nikhil Rathi
The onus on firms to satisfy themselves about fair value under the Consumer Duty is “not a Trojan horse for price regulation”, according to Nikhil Rathi, CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority.
FCA reveals slight decline in whistleblowing
The Financial Conduct Authority received 249 whistleblowing reports containing 649 allegations in the fourth quarter of last year.
FCA’s Mills commits to using all regulatory tools in flats insurance update
Sheldon Mills, executive director of consumers and competition at the Financial Conduct Authority, has promised to use all regulatory tools at the watchdog’s disposal in an update on progress for multi-occupancy buildings insurance.
FCA ‘still learning’ about Consumer Duty, claims GI boss Brewis
No single metric will decide whether the Consumer Duty has been a success. But if people are no longer talking about it, that will be a positive sign.
FCA promises more speed and transparency on enforcement cases
The Financial Conduct Authority has committed to carrying out enforcement cases more quickly as it opened a consultation on a “step change” in being more transparent when opening an investigation into a firm.
FCA survey outlines broker Consumer Duty performance and room for improvement
The Financial Conduct Authority has released the findings of a survey of 634 mainly SME firms, including 82 personal and commercial lines intermediaries, on compliance and action taken in response to the Consumer Duty.
Biba outlines plan to build on ESG “groundwork” in 2024 and beyond
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association’s CEO Graeme Trudgill has reaffirmed the association’s environmental, social and governance policy as UK and international regulatory requirements ramp up.
GI & Protection accounted for 4% of FCA financial promotions cases in Q4
The Financial Conduct Authority intervened to get 10,008 financial adverts and other promotions withdrawn or changed in 2023, a year-on-year rise of 17%.
House of Lords call for urgent reform of UK regulators
A House of Lords committee has raised concerns over the role of UK regulators, and claimed reform is needed to improve accountability and performance.
Biba unveils ‘Managing risk for growth and economic security’ theme for 2024 manifesto
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has called for a proportionate regulatory framework that can facilitate growth as it unveiled its 2024 manifesto, ‘Managing risk for growth and economic security’.
FCA warns of Axa clone
The Financial Conduct Authority has warned of a clone claiming to be Axa Insurance UK and Axa Investment Managers UK.
Applied Systems investigated over alleged anti-competitive conduct
The Canadian Competition Bureau has gained a court order to progress a civil investigation into alleged anti-competitive conduct by Applied Systems and its affiliates.
FCA authorisation performance dips in Q2 2023
The Financial Conduct Authority has seen its authorisations performance in four out of five categories affecting brokers slip backwards in Q2 2023.
FSCS open for claims against failed broker
The FSCS has listed FML Insurance Services Limited, trading as Entertainment Insurance Services, as a failed company.
FCA urges focus on Consumer Duty annual board report obligations
Nisha Arora, director of cross-cutting policy and strategy at the Financial Conduct Authority, has called on firms not to delay their preparations for the annual Consumer Duty board reports.
Biba recruits standalone public affairs manager from FTSE 100 firm
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has appointed Shayne Halfpenny-Ray, social affairs manager at Phoenix Group, as its new head of policy and public affairs.
Biba delivers fair value assessment framework
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has launched a fair value assessment framework, after the Financial Conduct Authority took aim at brokers in its review of flat insurance costs.