Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC)
Institutional investors testing the waters as Direct Line Group floats
Some institutional investors are taking a 'suck it and see' approach to the Direct Line Group float, assessing how issues facing the motor insurance sector affect the firm's share price before taking a slice for themselves, according to analysts.
RSA victory prompts rival rethink on repair strategy
RSA has seen off one potential dispute relating to its controversial motor repair model after signing a bilateral agreement with Groupama Insurances, although it is unclear whether this will survive the completion of Ageas' acquisition of Groupama.
Thai floods: Lessons learnt
The floods that hit Thailand last year devastated the country and its economy. They also hit insurers hard in the pocket. Now the industry must make sure it is not caught by surprise again.
Insurers report fall in profit and volume
General insurers have experienced a fall in business volumes and profitability over the past three months.
Motor insurance: Driving down cover costs
With two major indices reporting a fall in the cost of motor insurance, there are signs that the sector’s fortunes are improving. Can insurers afford to be optimistic, or should they proceed with caution?
Alternative Business Structures: a blueprint for change?
Despite the possibilities presented by Alternative Business Structures, there has been only a muted response from the insurance industry thus far.
Adjusters grow unattractive to private equity houses
Private equity houses are growing increasingly cautious about investing in loss adjusters, and one firm has already written down its investment in the market by millions, Post can reveal.
Miller non-exec joins Direct Line Group board
Clare Thompson, a non-executive director on Miller's partnership board, is to join Direct Line Group's board in a similar role.
Equality Act: Age concern
The Home Office has exempted the insurance industry from the Equality Act, allowing underwriters to continue using age as a risk factor. But will Europe intervene as it did with gender?
PWC: Eurozone crisis unlikely to cause widespread downgrades
The crisis in the Eurozone will not result in rating agencies downgrading general insurers en masse, according to PWC UK insurance leader Mark Stephen.
Outsourcing: Shall we take this outside?
The multi-billion pound business process outsourcing industry is gaining favour with the insurance industry - and it is about much more than just offshore call centres
Industry left dangling on key issues as parliaments take summer recess
The insurance industry has been left in limbo after the UK and European parliaments failed to address a list of key issues as they broke for summer recess.
Market moves: Another busy week for insurers
This week, once again, belonged to insurers, with a number of firms making significant management changes. While Aviva stole the limelight with another reshuffle, Zurich quietly added a new CEO and Mitsui Sumitomo at Lloyd's rejigged its risk management…
Solvency II report is progress, analysts say
Market analysts have praised the "encouraging" European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority's report on the benefits of current Solvency II templates.
Flooding underlines importance of Statement of Principles
PWC has warned at risk homeowners that the current flooding affecting the UK is a stark reminder of the challenges they may face when the Statement of Principles expires.
Mitsui Sumitomo appointments bolster risk team
Mitsui Sumitomo at Lloyd’s has appointed Martin Burke as chief risk officer.
Future flooding could spark rates hike as adjusters work around the clock
Claims teams called into action following extreme weather conditions across parts of the UK have vowed to continue focusing on the worst hit areas of Northern Ireland, Leicestershire and Newcastle.
Top five Asian news stories
The top five Asian stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Insurers starting to embrace change but still a way to go, says PwC
PwC's global insurance leader outlined what successful insurers of the future could look like, and discussed the forces re-shaping the insurance sector, when he spoke at the 2012 International Insurance Society Seminar in Rio de Janeiro today.
Insurance industry almost as innovative as technology and entertainment sectors
Insurance ranks high in business model innovation just behind technology, communications and entertainment, according to a PwC survey.
Opening the Takaful market
Initial forays into the Takaful market in the UK have so far met with failure. Despite this, there is still a conviction that a relevant Takaful market exists.
IAG mulls Equity Red Star sale as experts debate motor future at Lloyd's
With Insurance Australia Group toying with the idea of selling the largest Lloyd's motor underwriter Equity Red Star, and aggregators controlling more power in this area, the days of motor in the Lloyd's market could well be numbered.
Editor's comment: Slow demise or new dawn?
Six years ago, the Lloyd's Motor Underwriters Association was subsumed into the overall Lloyd's Market Association – a clear signal that a once powerful force in the car insurance arena had accepted its heyday was long behind it.
Bluefin boss joins campaign against mandatory commission disclosure
Bluefin boss Stuart Reid has thrown his weight behind a campaign to stop mandatory broker commission disclosure being forced on the industry by Eurocrats, claiming that just 50 of its clients have asked for commission disclosure in the past year.