News
Aviva and Direct Line Group are most-complained about insurers
Data analysis: The Financial Ombudsman Service data shows general insurance complaints have sharply increased in the second half of 2022 as consumers battle with inflation and cost-of-living.
Time for insurtechs to grow up or say goodbye to funding
Editor’s View: If you want to survive as an insurtech, you need to prove you can survive on your own.
Admiral launches telematics product; Generali partners with Supercede; FCA hires in enforcement
Friday Round Up: Insurance Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Group income surpasses £1bn as Ross reflects on five years of Ardonagh
The broker celebrated its fifth birthday in 2022, and has continued on its path to growth through acquisitions.
‘Serious concerns’ about Ombudsman power to increase redress awards by 20% in two years
Industry experts shared concerns that the Financial Ombudsman Service's award limits are “very high” and could push small firms out of business.
Insurers are increasing admin fees after ‘loyalty penalty’ ban
Research from Go Gompare found that more products are subject to administrative fees across its car insurance policies since the introduction of the Financial Conduct Authority’s General Insurance Pricing Practices regulations last year.
Ombudsman compensation limit soars to £415K
From the start of next month the Financial Ombudsman Service's award limits will increase from £375,000 to £415,000 for acts or omissions by insurance firms on or after 1 April 2019.
Multiple insurers join neurodiversity campaign
The Group for Autism, Insurance, Investment and Neurodiversity has launched a campaign to push the way the insurance industry operates to better enable and equip neurodivergent employees.
Coalition enters UK excess cyber market; JMG Group acquires New Era; Gallagher Re appoints CEO
Friday Round Up: Insurance Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
SVB collapse sparks long-term funding fears for UK tech sector
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and a rescue deal from HSBC has raised questions about the future of the UK tech space and startups’ access to funding.
End of Energy Bill Relief Scheme could be ‘final nail in the coffin’ for SMEs
SMEs could face more hardship as the Energy Bill Relief Scheme comes to an end, after the cost of living and energy crises led to over half a million insolvencies in 2022.
Insurtechs send Chancellor ‘thank you’ letter after HSBC rescue of SVB UK
The UK insurtech sector has praised HSBC’s acquisition of the UK arm of Silicon Valley Bank, following its collapse on 10 March.
Amazon to scale up Insurance Store activity after slow sales
According to sources, only around 250 policies have been sold through the Amazon Insurance Store since it was launched back in October.
Direct Line posts £45m pre-tax loss as operating profit crashes 95%
After a well-documented difficult first three months of the year for Direct Line, financial results for 2022 show just how tough last year was.
Aviva’s Winslow hopes for easing inflation as PL motor shrinks slightly
Adam Winslow, Aviva GI CEO for UK and Ireland, says diversification helped the firm weather a drop in personal lines motor business, and shares Aviva’s approach to pricing and building out the HNW book.
Gallagher partners with Knight Frank Finance; Azur announces MBO; Criterion appoints MD
Friday Round Up: Insurance Post wraps up the major insurance deals, launches, investments and strategic moves of the week.
Aviva UK&I GI sees growth as it returns more than £5bn in capital since 2021
Aviva Group CEO Amanda Blanc has announced strong results for the UK and Ireland general insurance business, while launching a £300m share buyback scheme, having taken capital return to over £5bn in two years.
Hiscox’s UK & London Markets’ GWP drops for 2022 but sectors stay profitable
Hiscox’s UK and London Markets businesses both dropped gross written premium in real terms but continued profitability, as the insurer announced the launch of an ESG sub-syndicate.
Admiral builds on pre-pandemic profits in 2022 despite inflation pressures
Admiral has reported pre-tax profits of £616m from its insurance operations in the UK last year, despite markedly deteriorating loss ratios.
Insurtech 2.0 must embrace the concept of brokers
Flock CEO Ed Leon Klinger said in order for insurtechs to continue to grow their scale and distribution capabilities, they needed to use the concept of brokers.
Ifed secures first Serious Crime Prevention Order
The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department has obtained its first ever Serious Crime Prevention Order against a fraudster who scammed insurers and lawyers out of nearly £250,000, and its DCI is targeting more orders in the future.
CII & PFS CEOs claim recent talks were ‘never hostile’
In a joint letter addressed to the Insurance Institute of Sheffield, Personal Finance Society interim CEO Don MacIntyre and Chartered Insurance Institute CEO Alan Vallance have insisted interactions between the two bodies since December have never been …
‘Hardly any insurance players put customers at the heart of the product,’ says Beale
Dame Inga Beale has said radical thinking is needed to change insurance, encouraging insurtechs to continue challenging the current way of operating.
Percayso lines up further acquisitions following Cazana deal
Percayso Inform is looking for further acquisition opportunities following its purchase of Cazana last week, managing director Rich Tomlinson has told Post.