Business interruption
Hiscox denies it 'refused' arbitration with £47m BI claim action group
Hiscox has denied that it 'refused' to participate in expedited arbitration proceedings launched by a group of businesses challenging the rejection of lockdown-related business interruption claims.
Analysis: The wordings under the magnifying glass in the FCA's BI test case
As preparations continue for a July test case to determine whether business interruption policies cover coronavirus lockdown losses, Post delves into the “representative sample” of wordings on which the court will be adjudicating.
Blog: Learning lessons from Covid-19
The Covid-19 crisis is unprecedented in the modern era and it is at such times that we tend to take stock and think differently about the world. Alex Kirykowicz, manager at Frontier Economics, reflects on the role that insurance markets have played and…
Briefing: FCA’s business interruption test case – misreading the room
Reactions to Tuesday’s Financial Conduct Authority business interruption hearing suggest that insurers – or at least their lawyers – may be misreading the room.
Blog: Covid-19 and its impact on Italy's insurance industry
The impact of Covid-19 has been felt across the global insurance industry and, for Italy's insurance industry more specifically, the largest and most direct impact will be from the high rates of hospitalisation in the country during the pandemic and the…
FCA disputes BI ‘conflict of interest’ allegations
The Financial Conduct Authority has today denied there is any conflict of interest in relation to the law firm engaged on its business interruption test case.
Liiba chief calls for greater role for brokers in provision of SME BI cover
Christopher Croft, CEO of the London and International Insurance Brokers’ Association has called for brokers to play a more active role in the sale of business interruption insurance to small and medium businesses.
Aston Lark's Peter Blanc on why a hard market is an opportunity for brokers
It always seems that when brokers want to be able to provide clients with reductions in costs to help see them through challenging times, the underwriters in the market are facing their own harsh realities and are forced to start insisting on rate…
Insurers and FCA butt heads on pandemic spread analysis in BI case
Insurers’ counsel have decried the Financial Conduct Authority’s intention to use the “controversial” Cambridge analysis of Covid-19 spread in its business interruption test case, as representatives warned another trial might be needed to iron out…
Hiscox plots comparison between Sweden and ‘draconian’ UK in BI test case
Hiscox could look to an analysis of the Covid-19 economic impact on Sweden versus the UK, which its counsel said has faced “draconian” lockdown measures, as a defence in the Financial Conduct Authority’s business interruption test case.
Analysis: Loss adjusters gear up civil unrest pandemic preparations
With Black Lives Matter supporters and far-right activists expected to take to the streets over the weekend and Brexit tensions threatening to resurface this year, loss adjusters say the potential for claims due to civil unrest will largely depend on how…
Explainer: 'Contra proferentem' in insurance
The Financial Conduct Authority has said if necessary it will argue 'contra proferentem' in its business interruption High Court test case. Post explores what this means.
Insurers' intent with regards pandemics 'not relevant or admissible', FCA will argue in High Court test case
Insurers’ contentions that wordings in business interruption policies are not designed to and do not provide cover in the event of pandemics will be disputed by the Financial Conduct Authority when it brings a test case before the High Court next month.
In numbers: The FCA’s business interruption insurance test case
Updated: The Financial Conduct Authority has received 105 letters from MPs concerned about business interruption insurance, 51 relating to RSA’s Cottagesure policies, according a representative of the regulator, who revealed several key stats in his…
Brokers flagged concerns to FCA over ‘long-term’ damage to industry due to BI claims handling
Insurers have been accused of mis-steps in claims handling on four counts by brokers, according to a witness statement from Financial Conduct Authority director of general insurance and conduct specialists Matthew Brewis.
NI Assembly committee rails against insurer Covid-19 BI payouts as ABI grilled
There is a “real perception of intransigence from the insurance industry … [and] lack of willingness to engage and support business” during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Caoimhe Archibald, chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Economy…
Blog: Covid-19 - why the insurance industry needs to act as one voice
The 1998 romantic comedy, Sliding Doors, starring Gwyneth Paltrow alternates between between two storylines, depending on whether or not she catches a train. It is essentially a ‘what if’ tale, like much of our lives at the present time, writes Ashwin…
HAG issues £52m claim against Hiscox as its lawyers draw up dentists' claim against QBE
The Hiscox Action Group has issued a £52m claim against Hiscox for unpaid business interruption claims related to losses incurred during the coronavirus lockdown.
Axa forecasts €1.5bn coronavirus hit and halves dividend
Axa has estimated it will face €1.2bn (£1.07bn) in property and casualty coronavirus related costs along with spending €300m on ‘solidarity measures’.
Briefing: Business interruption insurance – reported ‘u-turns’ have yet to prove significant
Some insurers have now decided to pay up on business interruption policies, the regulator has said, but just how much of an impact do these 'u-turns' really have on the BI situation and consumer confidence?
FCA BI test case gives law firms and businesses pause for thought
The Financial Conduct Authority's test case may be driving some law firms to revise their roles in slated business interruption legal battles, but lawyers argue they will still have a part to play quantifying losses and settling disputes.
FCA names eight insurers to take part in BI test case
Eight insurers will participate in a High Court test case being prepared by the Financial Conduct Authority to rule on whether the wordings of business interruption policies provide cover to businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Former Home Secretary to head Pandemic Re working group
Amber Rudd, former Home Secretary, will lead one of six working groups set up by the Pandemic Re steering group.
Businesses urged to wait for FCA test case to streamline BI legal storm
Action group members challenging insurers over rejected coronavirus-related business interruption claims would be better off waiting for the outcome of the Financial Conduct Authority's test case before embarking on proceedings, an expert advising…