News
Coronavirus to gain notifiable disease status across UK
Businesses disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak may be able to recoup their losses if they have purchased insurance policy extensions indemnifying losses stemming from “notifiable disease”, following updates to public health statutes.
Regulators scrutinise firms' coronavirus contingency plans
Firms must be ready for coronavirus disruption, the Financial Conduct Authority has cautioned, with organisations’ contingency plans being reviewed and concerns remaining around call centres.
Covéa agrees $9bn deal for Partner Re
Covéa has signed up to buy Bermuda-based global reinsurer Partner Re from the Ferrari-owning Agnelli family for $9bn (£7bn) in cash in a deal scheduled to complete in the fourth quarter of this year.
Guernsey Finance names Rupert Pleasant as CEO
Guernsey Finance has appointed Rupert Pleasant as CEO to replace Dominic Wheatley.
Motor Mouth Podcast 6: Whiplash reforms fatigue and building a stronger customer journey
This week’s podcast brings you two topics in one episode. Jonathan Swift, content director for Insurance Post, interviews Simon Gallimore, vice-president for casualty and motor claims at AIG, on the topics of whiplash reforms and the customer journey.
Manchester and Williams call on MGAs to sign up to chartered status
Managing general agents have been called on to apply for the Chartered Insurance Institute's chartered title, which launched yesterday.
Lloyd's silent cyber mandate leads to 'challenging conversations' over cover
A mandate issued by Lloyd’s of London with the aim of tackling the issue of insurers’ exposure to silent cyber coverage has led to questions over how some cyber-related risks will be underwritten in future.
Aviva puts 30 digital roles at risk
Around 30 people are at risk of redundancy at Aviva's 'digital forge' in Sheffield.
Direct Line profits slump under weight of restructuring and Ogden rate
Direct Line’s profits slumped by 12.2% in 2019 as the group incurred the first of a multi-year package of restructuring costs and strengthened reserves in response to the revised Ogden rate.
Fewer than 10% of Hiscox events customers have pandemic cover
Hiscox yesterday played down worries over coronavirus as it revealed it had seen some small claims.
Post launches the Insurance Post Podcast
The new podcast will provide interviews and news from the world of insurance.
Jorge claims volume ‘much lower’ than previous storms
The insurance impact of Storm Jorge is expected to be less severe than its predecessors Ciara and Dennis.
Pukka owner Freedom Services Group buys Homelyfe
Exclusive: Freedom Services Group has bought insurtech business Homelyfe from Aventus for an undisclosed sum in a deal that closed last week.
Insurtech Digital Risks outlines global SME ambition after BHL investment
Digital Risks has hailed new lead investor BHL Holdings as a potential game changer in terms of the SME specialist insurtech realising its global ambitions.
Northern Irish discount rate of minus 1.75% proposed
The Northern Irish Department of Justice plans to change the Northern Irish personal injury discount rate to minus 1.75%, pending a statutory consultation.
Covéa boosts paternity pay programme
Covéa Insurance has enhanced its paternity pay by offering six weeks fully paid leave for dads of new babies.
Ardonagh adds agricultural specialist Rural to MGA suite
Ardonagh has acquired agricultural specialist Rural Insurance Group from Primary Group for an undisclosed sum.
Hiscox profits dive 61% in 2019
Hiscox Group has reported a slump in pre-tax profits to $53.1m (£41.6m) in 2019 as catastrophe costs of $165m took their toll despite a significant rise in investment income.
ERS posts record profit under Aquiline ownership of £13.9m
ERS has recorded profit of £13.9m for 2019, its best performance since being bought by Aquiline in 2013.
Admiral UK insurance CEO Cristina Nestares levels criticism at gender ban
The gender ban in insurance pricing was not approached in the right way and shows why ratings factors should be linked to actual risk, Admiral UK insurance CEO Cristina Nestares has argued.
Analysis: Closing the natural catastrophe protection gap
Though losses from natural catastrophes fell in 2019, the proportion of losses that were uninsured rose to a three-year high. Post investigates why.
Pool Re development a 'massive change': Biba
Graeme Trudgill, executive director at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, has pledged to support Pool Re during consultations about the future of the mutual reinsurer.
ABI flags 'potentially serious implications' as Pool Re classified part of government
The Office for National Statistics has judged that Pool Re should be classified as part of the central government subsector in a surprise move that has raised questions about the future of the mutual reinsurer.
This week: Ups and downs
It's been a swings and roundabouts kind of week.