Direct Line Group
Editor's comment: Anti-climaxes and last laughs
Based on the column inches of coverage generated by alternative business structures since their advent was announced, the revelation that a mere seven firms have secured such status in a full six months smacks of anticlimax.
Post magazine - 28 June 2012
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Flotation deemed 'only option' for Direct Line Group divestment
Analysts have rubbished recent claims that Direct Line Group could be bought by a private equity house, stating that the insurer has to go ahead with the planned initial public offering to obtain the best price and appease UK taxpayers and the European…
Police to investigate Autofocus employees
City of London Police is said to be investigating seven former Autofocus employees who allegedly "doctored" credit hire rating evidence and lied about it in court.
DLG signs new home insurance deal with Nationwide
Direct Line Group's partnerships division, Brand Partners, has renegotiated its contract with Nationwide handling the building society's new household claims and post home insurance sales and service.
Churchill profit jumps 246% to £77.6m
Direct Line Group-owned Churchill Insurance posted £77.6m profit in 2011, a vast improvement on the 2010 £53.3m loss, while personal motor premiums fell by £1bn.
NIG reports 103% combined ratio and £494m income in 2011
Annual results for NIG for 2011 have revealed that net earned premium revenue fell by £235.8m to £413.1m compared with 2010.
Claims Awards 2012: The winners
A full list of the winners and runners up at the 2012 Claims Awards.
Direct Line rolls out telematics offering
Following a pilot with sister firm Tracker to test the use of telematics in retail motor insurance, Direct Line is offering a telematics product to customers.
DLG latest firm to support OFT's credit hire referral
The Direct Line Group has become the latest insurer to back the Office of Fair Trading's decision to provisionally refer the study into vehicle repair services to the Competition Commission.
Analytics: Cultivating customers with tailored data
Customers need to be offered more than just a cheap deal to persuade them to stay with an insurer, and tailored data can help achieve an increase in retention rates.
Next phase of DLG float underway as UBS appointed to advise
UBS has been appointed to advise on RBS' sale of its Direct Line Group insurance arm, with the bank acting as joint bookrunners with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
The AA and Direct Line provide 'poor' online customer experience, survey finds
UK home and motor insurers like Direct Line and The AA are potentially ruining opportunities to acquire new customers because of a poor online user experience, a survey has found.
Insurers told to improve online user experience or risk losing customers
Home and motor insurers have been accused of potentially ruining opportunities to acquire new customers by providing a poor online user experience, following research conducted by online customer experience insights firm Global Reviews.
Direct Line Group to pay shareholders £500m dividend
Direct Line Group directors have declared an interim dividend in an aggregate amount of £500m.
Benign weather and rate rises result in record reported profits for insurers
Insurers have reaped the rewards of benign weather and rate rises in catastrophe hit regions, but analysts warn the worst could be yet to come.
Friend or Foe: Q&A with Accident Exchange CEO Steve Evans
Steve Evans has spent four years bringing the activities of rate surveyor Autofocus to light, making him an unpopular figure in insurance circles.
NFU and Ageas pay Accident Exchange undisclosed settlements
NFU Mutual and Ageas have reached settlement agreements with credit hirer Accident Exchange over their use of Autofocus evidence.
Geddes eyes imminent job function separation as RBS divestment gathers momentum
Direct Line Group chief executive Paul Geddes remains confident that group separation will be achieved on schedule after announcing that job functions at the business will be operating on a standalone basis by the summer.
DLG records steady Q1 improvement as separation 'progresses well'
Direct Line Group has increased its Q1 operating profit by 25% on the same period last year to £84m, thanks to prior year reserve releases and higher investment income.
Market moves: Liberty and Garwyn lead the pack
Insurer Liberty Mutual and loss adjuster Garwyn were the main movers and shakers this week, with LMI officially opening its new office in Leeds and recruiting four new members of staff.
Market divided as to favourability of current conditions for IPOs
Market players credited with an interest in launching initial public offerings inside the next two years have been warned against attempting to float amid unfavourable conditions, where value is at rock bottom.
Private bidder eyes up Direct Line Group
The FT has reported that Edi Truell's new bid vehicle Tungsten has made an informal expression of interest to buy Direct Line Group, which analysts estimate could sell for up to £4bn.
Helphire cuts debt as drop in hires slows
Helphire said in a trading update it had reduced net debt by £7.9m, from £132.4m to £124.5m, in the first three months of the year.