Company results
R&Q to dispose of more businesses in 2016, focuses on cost-management
Randall and Quilter will look to dispose of more businesses this year as part of a simplification of the firm’s business model.
R&Q jumps to profit following strong legacy acquisitions contribution
Randall & Quilter reported a rise in pre-tax profit to £2.8m in 2015, from a loss of £1.6m the previous year.
London market insurers will struggle with investment returns in 2016
Investment income will remain a sticking point for London market insurers as reserves are hit by low rates in popular short-term investments, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.
Quiz of the week - 8 April
Test your knowledge of the week's insurance news with the Post insurance quiz of the week.
Covéa Insurance hails ‘fantastic progress’ as COR and GWP improve
Covéa's UK insurance arm reported an improved gross written premium of £473m (2014: £445m) and combined operating ratio of 96.9% (2014: 97.8%) in its 2015 results.
Ongoing losses forecast for Co-op Insurance as transformation continues
Co-operative Insurance expects 2016 to be another loss-making year due to continuing investment in its transformation programme, as the business this week reported a £66.1m statutory loss.
Co-op says impact of December floods causes £13m GI profit loss in 2015
The Co-operative group today posted a £13m profit loss for its general insurance division in 2015, marking a significant drop from £1m the previous year.
AA sees insurance service revenue fall amid flat group revenue
Revenue in insurance services at the AA fell to £131m (2015: £142m) with an increase in customer churn due to higher motor premiums the cause, according to the company’s results for the year ended 31 January 2016.
Gallagher's international bosses praised in wake of Towergate defections
Arthur J Gallagher has attributed the "underperformance" of its UK arm in 2015 to the departure of its former management team in a proxy statement released this week ahead of its annual general meeting on 17 May.
Gable expects losses of £7-8m for 2015 as it updates on Solvency II compliance
Gable Holdings has confirmed its regulator the Financial Market Authority Liechtenstein has approved its funding arrangements announced in December, whereby its subsidiary Gable Insurance AG has a two-year transitional period to meet the Solvency Capital…
FM Global blames dollar strength for premium decline as combined ratio rises
FM Global said its financial results for 2015 were ‘outstanding’ despite a drop in its gross in-force premium and an increase in its combined ratio.
AIG Europe reports growth in net premiums, slight COR improvement
AIG's European arm posted stable results for the year ended 30 November 2015, including a slightly stronger combined ratio of 98.2% (2014: 98.4%) and 2% growth in net premiums.
Lowest investment returns since 2001 'biggest reason' for Lloyd’s profit fall
Lloyd’s finance director John Parry said the market’s lowest investment returns in 14 years was the main factor behind its £900m profit plunge in 2015.
Towergate's Ross takes acquisitions off table for at least 12 months
Towergate will not look to make any acquisitions for at least 12 months and then only if it can genuinely make those firms better, according to CEO David Ross.
Lloyd’s posts £900m profit plunge in 'undeniably tougher' market
Lloyd’s has reported a drop in pre-tax profit to £2.1bn for 2015, from £3bn the previous year.
Towergate sells majority interest in Broker Network for £46m as broker posts £36.4m EBITDA loss
Towergate has agreed to sell a majority interest in Broker Network to its backer Highbridge for £46m, while reporting what CEO David Ross called a 'robust' income of £353m.
Interview: Richard Pryce - Keeping discipline
QBE European Operations CEO Richard Pryce talks about maintaining underwriting discipline in light of a heavily criticised sales email and contingency planning ahead of the EU referendum this summer
Budget 2016: Corporate tax changes aimed at banks could impact insurers offsetting losses
Insurers hit by rises in claims as a result of the recent floods and increases in insurance premium taxes will also now face corporate tax changes that will affect them offsetting losses.
NFU Mutual shrugs off £50m flood loss to post 83% 2015 underwriting profit
Rural insurer NFU Mutual delivered an 83.7% increase in underwriting profit to £281m in 2015 (FY 2014: £153m) despite suffering a £50m loss caused by flood claims at the tail end of last year.
VIG plans for growth as €172m preliminary profit announced for 2015
Vienna Insurance Group has targeted at least 10% growth in Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia over the medium term as the company announced a €172m (£134m) preliminary profit before tax for 2015.
Ecclesiastical achieves biggest underwriting profit in six years
Ecclesiastical CEO Mark Hews has heralded “a set of extremely positive results” after the insurer recorded an 11% rise in pre-tax profits to £53.6m in 2015 (FY 2014: £48.2m) alongside its biggest underwriting profit since 2009.
BGL's Minster Law reports £35m loss as IPO talks ongoing
BGL Group's legal services business recorded a £35m loss in the financial year ended 30 June 2015 as group profit before tax fell to £70.4m (2014: £82.7m).
Ping An's profits climbed 38% in 2015
Chinese financial services giant Ping An has reported a 38% rise in profits in 2015 to 54.2bn yuan (£5.88bn) compared with 39.3bn yuan in 2014.
IPT rise would not have ‘significant impact’ on Hastings
A speculated insurance premium tax hike in the 16 March Budget would not disadvantage Hastings Insurance Group due to the company’s high market share from comparison websites, according to its chief financial officer, but customers would be worse off.