Insight
Brown & Brown makes ‘first significant’ European retail investment outside UK & Ireland
Brown & Brown has signed up to buy Netherlands firm Quintes Holding from Aquiline Capital Partners as it moves forwards with its European retail push.
Markerstudy to buy Northern Ireland broker Hughes Insurance
Markerstudy Group has confirmed plans to buy Hughes Insurance, just a month after completing its deal with Atlanta.
BMS buys DR&P as Inflexion exits
European mid-market private equity house Inflexion has agreed to sell its investment in David Roberts & Partners to BMS Group, having first taken a stake in 2021.
Lycetts grows turnover and operating profit in 2023
Newcastle-headquartered Lycetts grew turnover by 15.8% to £25.1m and operating profits by 20.7% to £3.77m in 2023.
Richard Hodson joins Onda
Former Oval, Gallagher and UKGlobal cyber expert Richard Hodson has joined Onda as UK business development director.
Gallagher holds steady on organic growth in Q2
Gallagher achieved 7% organic revenue growth in its UK and Ireland retail division in the second quarter of 2024, up from 6% in Q1.
Zurich invests $60m in cyber provider Cowbell
Zurich Insurance Group has invested $60m (£46.65m) in Cowbell, a provider of cyber insurance for SMEs.
Dual eyes up Bristol and Manchester for new regional offices
Dual is targeting Bristol and Manchester for the two regional offices previously promised this year, Insurance Age can reveal.
People Moves: 22 – 26 July 2024
Keep up to date with the latest insurance personnel moves.
Cyber outage insured losses estimated at up to $1.5bn
CyberCube has estimated preliminary global insured losses for the standalone cyber insurance market from the CrowdStrike IT outage last week at between $400m (£310m) and $1.5bn (£1.16bn).
Ghost broker sentenced for £17,000 Instagram insurance scam
Wahidullah Usmani, 22, of Prayle Grove, Cricklewood, has been sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, for making £17,618 by selling invalid car insurance policies on Instagram.
Charles Manchester: Reflections on a career in insurance
Charles Manchester shares his reflections on the challenges and achievements during his time in the market as well as the outlook for MGAs and opportunities for the sector.
The Broker Investment Group ups stake in Glowsure to 49%
The Broker Investment Group has increased its stake in Droxford-based Glowsure Insurance Brokers to 49%, having first invested in 2017.
Which? finds 48% of people making claims experience at least one problem
Which? has called on the Financial Conduct Authority to take tough action against firms over claims handling failures, arguing consumers are suffering from “significant harm”.
UK pricing continues down – Marsh
Insurance rates in the UK fell 3% in the second quarter of 2024, continuing on the downwards trajectory from the previous three months, according to the latest research by Marsh.
IFB warns of increasing danger as ghost broking rises 6%
UK insurers reported a 6% rise in ghost broking activity on social media last year, according to the Insurance Fraud Bureau as it warned the threat of people being duped would continue to increase with the growth of financial strain.
Clear buys book and assets of Maynard Milton Insurance Services
Clear Group has bought the book and assets of £4.9m gross written premium Southend-on-Sea based broker Maynard Milton Insurance Services.
Whistleblowing to FCA slips back
The Financial Conduct Authority received 253 reports from whistleblowers between April and June, down on the same period of last year and the first quarter of 2024.
SRG adds second acquisition to its MGA this year
Specialist Risk Group has agreed to buy Trilogy Underwriting, a specialist property and casualty managing general agent, to add to its MX underwriting pillar.
Acturis continues personal lines push with Covéa
Acturis has partnered with Covéa to make the insurer’s Home IHP product available on its platform, adding to the previously rolled out motor offering.
OneAdvent partners with Bridgehaven in capacity deal
OneAdvent has struck a deal with Bridghaven Specialty UK that will see the hybrid fronting insurer provide A-rated capacity to managing general agent Criterion to underwrite waste management and recycling risks.
Voyager Insurance Services sold to Caledon Group
Recently-formed investment group Caledon has bought travel and wedding insurance broker Voyager Insurance Services for an undisclosed sum.
Interview: Tim Smyth, Bspoke
Bspoke Group CEO Tim Smyth tells Insurance Age about reaching profitability and expanding with brokers through organic growth, hires and new products as well as acquisitions.
Clarke starts at WTW as president of risk and broking
WTW has confirmed the arrival of Lucy Clarke as president of risk and broking, with Adam Garrard taking on the new role of chairman of risk and broking.