Articles by Martin Friel
Legal expenses provider loses two senior directors
ULR has announced that two senior directors have left the company.
Ageas increases profit four fold in first half of the year
Ageas has delivered a remarkable turnaround in its profits for the first half of the year but its combined ratio remains stubbornly above 100%.
Towergate Perth makes corporate push with Giles hire
Towergate Insurance in Perth has snapped up a corporate specialist from rival broker Giles.
FSA threatens action against small brokers over add-ons
Small brokers are not treating their customers fairly and are not even sure whether they are conducting an advised or non-advised sale when selling add-ons according to a report from the regulator.
Editor’s letter - August 2011
“My guess is that although there will be further high-profile examples made, this type of practice will continue unfettered”
Prime Professions wins PI contract in problem area
Prime Professions has won the contract to manage the Council for Licensed Conveyancers’ (CLC) Master Policy Scheme from fellow broker CJ Coleman.
New combined product for motor trade market
MMA Insurance has expanded its motor trade range of products with the introduction of a combined offering.
Insurance Age blog: Why broker is best ...
I've got a confession to make. It's got nothing to do with phone hacking or corrupting police officers but nonetheless it is a pretty shameful admission for the editor of an insurance title to make.
Confidence in insurance sector drops as losses, regulation and soft market bite
The latest ICAEW/Grant Thornton UK Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) has revealed that a year of catastrophic losses, on-going soft pricing and regulatory uncertainty has hit confidence in the insurance sector hard.
Regulator puts TCF on the backburner
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has cancelled its programme of regional workshops on treating customers fairly to concentrate its resources on the move to the new regulatory restructure and the RDR.
FSA chiefs claimed over £60K in expenses last year
Financial Services Authority (FSA) bosses Hector Sants, Adair Turner and Margaret Cole claimed over £60,000 of expenses in 2010.
Chubb juggles personal lines underwriting team
Chubb Insurance has announced four new underwriting appointments in its personal lines team.
Torrance says legal protection business must change
Allianz UK’s chief executive, Andrew Torrance, has confirmed that the insurer’s legal protection business will have to change “significantly” as he reported flat profit levels in the first half of the year despite a £50m increase in gross written…
Brit warns brokers to stick to current claims notification deadlines
Brit Insurance has issued a reminder to its brokers of the need for policyholders to comply with policy requirements in relation to the notification of claims.
Travelers Insurance pulls out of Irish private motor market
Travelers has announced that it is to exit the Irish private motor market as of 1 October 2011.
Cost of riots unlikely to affect market rates
Fitch Ratings has predicted that the losses from the recent rioting across the UK will have no impact on UK insurers' ratings.
Riot claim period could be extended to 42 days
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has moved to reassure homeowners and businesses that claims for riot damage will be paid out and has urged the Home Secretary to extend the claims period to the police compensation scheme to 42 days.
Reich makes second acquisition in as many months
Reich Insurance has completed its second acquisition in two months, with the purchase of Glasgow-based Surenet Agency.
Network Spotlight day six: Confidence is growing, says Muir at 1 Answer Networks
In his Network Spotlight interview Paul Muir, managing director of 1 Answer Network, says that he sees an increase in the confidence of the personal lines network’s members.
Ageas to be grilled by IIB over Toba changes
The Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB) is to hold discussions with Ageas in response to member complaints over recent amendments the insurer has made to its terms of business agreements (Tobas).
Brokers will see more of new RSA chief
Adrian Brown has predicted that brokers will see more of Andy Haste’s successor than they see of the current chief executive.
Axa points to referral fees to explain continued rise in costs
Axa UK has reported an improved combined ratio for the first half of 2011 but is still at a break even point of 100% while the total UK and Ireland property and casualty revenues came in at £2bn.
RSA UK's personal lines performance takes up commercial lines slack
RSA UK has reported a 7% increase in premiums to over £1.5bn and has improved its combined operating ratio (COR) slightly to 98.5%.
RSA's chief executive to leave the company
RSA’s group chief executive, Andy Haste, is to leave the company by the end of the year.