Articles by Katie Marriner
Maciver ‘coaxed off golf course' to join Cullum at GRP
Towergate Partnership founding shareholder Kenny Maciver has joined Peter Cullum-backed Global Risk Partners to work on mergers and acquisitions.
Disaster losses reach £23.7bn in H1 2015
Total economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters reached $37bn (£23.7bn) in the first half of 2015, according to Swiss Re.
Unum spends £31.7m on National Dental Plan purchase
Unum has acquired workplace dental insurer National Dental Plan from Capita for £31.7m, pending regulatory approval.
Dye denies Allianz UK's reinsurance arrangement is for acquisition 'war chest'
Allianz UK's 12% drop in operating profit in the first half of 2015 was impacted by a quota share reinsurance arrangement agreed with sister company Allianz Re, according to CEO Jon Dye.
HMRC to allow estimation of new IPT levels to ease back-office stress
Insurers are to be given a temporary relaxation in how they file their insurance premium tax returns to HM Revenue and Customs after Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne increased IPT by 56% in the July Budget.
Blog: Five big percentages to emerge from the latest results season
Other than an over-use of the word "benign", insurers' first half/second quarter results statements were also littered with significant percentage figures - both good and bad. This is Post's round-up of some of the headline-grabbing numbers.
LV to publish prior year premiums on renewal documents
LV is to join Axa in publishing prior year motor premium prices on renewal documents.
Hood Group partners with Stoke City FC
Hood Group has entered into a two year partnership deal with Stoke City Football Club where it will promote its affinity partner Asda Home Insurance.
Jelf swoops for North London broker Libra
Jelf has grown its southern footprint by acquiring Watford-based broker Libra Insurance Services.
Allianz Group estimates 2015 operating profit at upper target range
Operating profit in Allianz Group's property and casualty division rose 29.7% to €1.35bn (£952m) in the second quarter of 2015 as the company confirmed its operating profit outlook for the full year would reach €10.8bn.
Lewis focused on correcting 113.6% personal motor COR
RSA UK and Western Europe CEO Steve Lewis is "clearly focused" on improving the performance of the company's personal lines motor division after it reported a significantly deteriorated combined operating ratio for the first six months of 2015.
One Broker buys Essex-based independent firm
One Broker has acquired the entire share capital of Barking-based independent broker P J Weller & Son.
Tulloch points to internal loan returns as driver of operating profit drop
Aviva UK & Ireland general insurance CEO Maurice Tulloch has cited returns on the insurer's internal loan as a key factor in the division's drop in operating profit reported within the company's first half results today (6 August).
Markel reports 90% H1 combined ratio
Markel International has reported a comprehensive loss to shareholders of $132.9m (£85.1m) in the second quarter of 2015 compared to a loss of $250.6m in Q2 2014.
Hester bigs up RSA's ‘stand-alone' value in face of Zurich deal
RSA's strategy dictates it will have a strong stand-alone value in the coming years, according to group CEO Stephen Hester who has assured shareholders he is serving their interests in the face of a potential takeover bid from Zurich.
RSA reports record UK underwriting profits as Hester praises ‘excellent' progress
RSA has reported record UK underwriting profits of £77m and a combined operating ratio for the region of 94.4% for the first six months of 2015.
Ageas UK's Watson signals commercial appetite after improved profitability
Ageas UK is to focus on writing schemes business, digital trading and motor in its commercial book after an action plan has led to sustained profitability in the division, CEO Andy Watson has said.
Towergate shifts London market division to broking arm
Towergate London Market has moved from the consolidator's underwriting arm to the Towergate Insurance Brokers division alongside the formation of a new London region.
Ageas UK grows profits as Watson hails upward motor pricing trend
Ageas UK has reported an increased net profit for the six months ended 30 June 2015 to £29.5m (H1 2014: £25.3m) and an improved combined operating ratio of 98.3% (H1 2014: 100.7%).
Compulsory insurance for drones mooted as insurers are urged to review wordings
Insurers must review policy wordings that could be interpreted to cover drone use, legal experts have advised, amid calls for the industry to lobby regulators around safety laws and the potential for compulsory insurance relating to the emerging…
Pool Re boss raises prospect of separate cyber reinsurance scheme
Funds for a potential public-private reinsurance scheme for cyber catastrophes should not be mingled with Pool Re, however, the remit of the terrorism fund's management team could be extended to operate a separate cyber initiative.
Geddes trumpets DLG reserve releasing in ‘strong' H1 results
Direct Line Group CEO Paul Geddes says the insurer should "claim some credit" for its reserve releasing in the first half of 2015, which demonstrated a shift from its usually conservative reserving stance.
DLG operating profits increase £100m as COR drops to 89.4%
Direct Line Group has reported a £100m increase in operating profit for the six months ended 30 June 2015 and a 6.7 percentage point increase in its combined operating ratio.
County Insurance boosts north west footprint with Chester acquisition
County Insurance has acquired broker Chester Insurance Services and expects to complete two further acquisitions this year.