Insight
First Underwriting launches real estate product range
First Underwriting has added real estate expertise to its team and launched real estate product lines as it seeks to expand from its core motor proposition.
Verlingue reports £121,807 costs after cyber attack
Verlingue UK’s Companies House filing for last year has shown that an attempted cyber attack in November 2021 cost the business £121,807.
GRP achieves deal century with Woodward Markwell Insurance Brokers buy
Global Risk Partners has reached its 100th deal and purchased the GI book of Ipswich-based Woodward Markwell Insurance Brokers for an undisclosed sum.
UK General up for sale again
UK General’s latest filing at Companies House has revealed the personal lines specialist, which lost £9.13m in nine months up to 30 March 2021, is up for sale.
Bill to mandate landlord insurance commission disclosure before Lords
The House of Lords is reviewing an amendment to the Leasehold Reform (Disclosure and Insurance Commissions) Bill which states that landlords should disclose any insurance commission they make to tenants.
Romero sells Booking Protect to Cover Genius
Romero Group has sold its global refund protection specialist Booking Protect to Cover Genius, the insurtech for embedded insurance.
Concern raised over low rate of conduct reporting for GI staff
GI businesses in the UK reported just 662 staff, including three senior managers, to the regulator for conduct breaches in 2021 according to a Freedom of Information request by Sicsic Advisory.
Movo buys into insurtech Durell
Movo Investment Group, the investment arm of Movo Group which includes appointed representative network Movo Partnership, has bought a 50% stake in insurtech Durell, Insurance Age can reveal.
Ripe Thinking ready to strike first buy
Ripe Thinking is gearing up to make its first acquisition having grown to more than 280,000 policyholders organically since being founded in 1997.
GRP-owned Newstead buys Crendon Insurance Brokers
Birmingham-headquartered Newstead Insurance has purchased local commercial competitor Crendon Insurance Brokers.
Beazley delivers improved COR but profits down on investment returns
Beazley has reported an improved combined operating ratio of 87% for the first half of 2022, from 94% delivered in the same period last year.
People Moves: 18-22 July 2022
Stay informed of the top personnel changes in insurance.
Car insurance premiums up 6% in the last 12 months
The cost of comprehensive car insurance rose by £32 in the last 12 months, according to research by Confused and WTW.
FCA reveals D&I progress and strengthened targets
The Financial Conduct Authority has revealed progress towards its diversity and inclusion goals in its Annual Report & Accounts for 2021/22.
FCA warns of Borland Insurance clone
The Financial Conduct Authority has warned of a clone which is fraudulently using the logo of Assured Partners broker, Borland Insurance.
Broking Success: Targeting growth
Neal Lowe, managing director of Needham Insurance Services, tells Insurance Age about striking deals and serving local communities as the broker targets £20m of gross written premium by 2025.
FCA fails to hit target for over half of AR applications
The Financial Conduct Authority only met its processing speed target for 44.7% of appointed representative notifications in 2021/22, the watchdog has revealed.
Editor's letter: July 2022
Invest in facilities for your teams. Businesses need to make coming into the office more enticing.
Allianz names Ashish Patel as COO
Allianz Holdings has appointed Ashish Patel as chief operating officer after Stephanie Smith left at the end of 2021.
FSB flags small firms' concerns on price of insurance
Small firms are encountering widespread problems in their dealings with the insurance market and rising premium costs, a new report has found.
Consumers rank broker knowledge equal with price
There remains an untapped well of potential clients for brokers made up of consumers valuing knowledge on a par with product price, according to the findings of exclusive research for Insurance Age.
Drop in insurance pricing complaints at FOS
The Financial Ombudsman Service has highlighted a 33.4% fall in complaints about insurance pricing in 2021/22.
Endsleigh – returning to its roots
Alison Meckiffe, CEO of broker Endsleigh, has taken the business back to its roots focusing on education, students and not-for-profits.
GRP strikes first deal after Brown & Brown takeover
Global Risk Partners has bought Maidstone-based First Insurance Solutions in its first deal since the takeover by Brown & Brown completed earlier this month.