News Analysis
Analysis: Broker PI rates going 'through the roof'
As brokers grapple with soaring professional indemnity rates and attention sharpens on the potential for claims in the wake of the ongoing Financial Conduct Authority business interruption court case, Post investigates what the eye-watering price changes…
Analysis: A tale of two mutuals
Eleven days apart in June, two of the UK’s mutual insurers – Police Mutual and LV – made announcements regarding their futures. Their decisions herald challenging times for the mutual model.
Analysis: Returning the dead to rest – a pandemic repatriation problem
With air traffic grounded and sweeping restrictions halting travel during the Covid-19 pandemic, insurers have faced up to the sometimes impossible task of returning policyholders' remains to their home countries and families.
Analysis: The Covid crunch in insurer results
With analysts cautioning the Covid crunch will begin to bite insurers in the second quarter of 2020, Post investigates what impact the coronavirus pandemic has already had in the first quarter
Analysis: Constructing Pandemic Re
The insurance industry stands ready to participate in the creation of a Pandemic Re vehicle but opinions differ on how it would work.
Trade credit insurers in cover limits and pricing re-think
Trade credit insurers are looking at pricing and cover limits as the coronavirus crisis continues to unfold, Post understands, as they warn virtually no sector will be left unaffected by the pandemic.
Analysis: Insurers nix staff travel as coronavirus casts shadow over events
Some firms are telling their staff to avoid all but essential work travel in the UK due to coronavirus concerns, leading to some insurance event postponements and cancellations, Post has learned.
Analysis: A coronavirus call centre crisis?
Personal lines insurance providers are faced with a potentially “lethal” situation if call centre staff cannot go into work en masse due to coronavirus disruption, compliance experts have cautioned. Post asked brokers and insurers how they are preparing…
Analysis: Broker M&A pace picks up again
Acquisitions in the UK distribution space rose 13% last year, according to research by Imas Corporate Finance. Post investigates what is driving the increase in consolidation and the challenges buyers are facing in their traditional hunting grounds
Analysis: Little leeway from five month delay to whiplash portal
The Ministry of Justice has addressed a “loophole” meaning children and vulnerable adults will be able to recoup representation costs when the delayed whiplash portal rolls out, but questions linger over its start date, pressure on courts and claimants…
Analysis: Reinsurance hikes add to motor pricing pressure
The UK motor market had the unwanted title of the biggest riser in the annual global reinsurance renewal season this January, adding another reason for intense scrutiny on insurance pricing in the loss-making sector
M&A volume grows in 2019 but mid-sized targets scarce
Exclusive: The number of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions rose from 82 in 2018 to 93 last year, driven by a surge in deals valued under £5m, industry specialists Imas Corporate Finance has revealed.
Analysis: Rise of the clones
Insurance clone warnings doubled last year, as fraudsters got creative in their attempts to scam the public. Post investigates the rise of the clones and asks why it is so tough to police these fraudulent firms
Budget 2020: What are the Chancellor's options on IPT?
Insurers have ramped up lobbying attempts to convince the government to slice the rate of Insurance Premium Tax. Post investigates why they may well have good reason to be worried it could be cranked up the other way.
Analysis: Revisiting 'Flood Re Plus' for businesses
The idea of a Flood Re Plus scheme has been mooted by Airmic as a solution for those businesses that struggled to obtain flood cover
Analysis: Brokers urged to keep on top of SMCR as rules kick in
The Senior Managers and Certification Regime regulation focused on greater personal responsibility has come into force for senior broker managers, and businesses have a year to train all relevant staff on conduct rules.
Analysis: We Work and Softbank saga could push insurtechs and insurers to partner up
Amid rumblings in the tech sector and trouble at We Work, which could drive more insurtechs to seek a sale to incumbents, Lemonade has reportedly put its initial public offering on hold.
Analysis: Ageas and Tesco joint venture labelled success with separation on horizon
Experts have predicted an increase in partnerships in the insurance industry but do not see another joint venture on the horizon, as Tesco gears up to buy out Ageas' share of their Tesco Underwriting joint venture.
What has become of the vacant Swinton branches?
What happened to all the buildings that used to house Swinton branches? Post content director Jonathan Swift looks to answer this question on an insurance odyssey through south London
Analysis: Should the government revise the deadline for the whiplash portal?
The small claims portal is due to enter its testing phase in October, before officially launching in April 2020. However, many in the industry are concerned that the proposed deadline is not feasible, given the lack of clarity from the government
Analysis: Should the FCA impose fee caps on CMCs?
The Financial Conduct Authority is working to limit charges for claims management companies’ services, but will new regulation actually be a double-edged sword for consumers?
Analysis: What do recent market exits mean for insurtechs targeting millennials?
Three insurtechs have pulled out of the insurance market so far this year, raising questions around the efficacy of selling insurance to millennials and whether more of these firms will fall.
Analysis: RSA UK&I - getting back on track?
Following two consecutive years of poor underwriting results in the UK, RSA has taken decisive action to restructure its business and shrink premiums
Analysis: Consolidators look to Europe for acquisitions as UK competition grows
The UK has seen a wave of consolidation in regional broking over the past few years, making competition for viable targets a challenge. In response, several consolidators are starting to look to Ireland and Europe as a potential area of expansion.