Insurer
S&P maintains negative watch on Groupama S.A.
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has reaffirmed its negative watch on Groupama S.A. and maintained its rating for the group at BBB-.
Omega posts 134% COR
Omega Insurance Holdings has reported a $94.7m (£60.1m) loss before tax for 2011, more than double the $42.9m it lost in the previous year.
Ecclesiastical loses broker director as part of restructure
Ecclesiastical has parted company with Ian Wainwright, broker sales director, as part of a managerial restructure.
Rural expands reach with three new deals
Rural Insurance has signed deals with Coversure and the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW), and renewed its partnership agreement with Broker Network to distribute agricultural motor, equine and farm risks until the end of December 2014.
Amlin chairman set to retire as results show near £200m loss
Amlin has reported pre-tax losses of £193.8m for 2011, compared to a profit of £259.2m for 2010.
QBE snares RSA's SME boss for senior role
QBE has turned to two of its largest rivals to secure a brace of senior hires.
Axa Commercial takes new approach to schemes business
Axa Commercial Lines is to implement a new approach to its schemes business which it believes will allow brokers and insurers greater control of schemes.
Markel targets fine art market with MGA acquisition
Markel International has acquired Quay Underwriting (QU).
Aviva to attack corporate risk market with regional underwriting
Aviva will attempt to snatch a 20% share of the corporate risks market by increasing underwriting authority at a regional level.
Editor’s letter - March 2012
“Read between the lines and you will detect some belief that the worst of the bad times may be over”
Life’s little knock-for-knocks
A recent accident has highlighted everything that is wrong with the current motor claims process, explains Tony Cornell
Underwriters' role will have diminished by 2022 according to report
The overwhelming majority of SME business (80%) will be traded automatically or direct in ten years’ time and there will be less emphasis on underwriters’ experience and judgment according to a report from the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII).
Reportage: Personal targets
Personal lines brokers are seeing massive changes in the motor, household and travel sectors. With no let-up in sight, where do the opportunities lie in the months and years ahead? Edward Murray reports
Axa details new products in e-traded Simple range
Axa has launched six new products in the first wave of its multi-channel distribution strategy for brokers.
Ai Claims sees slip in profit and revenue
Ai Claims Solutions has reported a fall in profit to £858,000 in the six months to December 2011 compared to £1.2m in the same period of 2010.
Axa makes further addition to regional network
Axa Commercial is set to open its 11th regional trading office with the establishment of a new branch in Maidstone.
Free to compete
The advent of real-time pricing could free brokers’ hands and create a more level playing field
FSA on tour
The FSA is touring the regions to ensure regulated firms are up-to-speed with governance and risk awareness, explains Barry Woodward
Products: La Playa tests its new research and development product in the lab
La Playa has produced a new product designed specifically for start-up, early stage and SME research and development businesses.
Products: NIG fills a gap in its property owners insurance range
NIG has launched Essential Property Owners (EPO) cover, an SME-focused version of its Premium Property Owners (PPO) product.
Market moves: Mad for it
Last month things went a bit mad in Manchester, with two insurers and an MGA creating brand new teams in the city. There were numerous other appointments across the insurance spectrum, and what most of them had in common was the city that gave us Oasis.
The Broker Business Club: Meeting of minds
Insurance Age has once again teamed up with Zurich Insurance to hold a series of Broker Business Clubs where some of the most influential insurers, brokers and stakeholders address and tackle the issues that matter to the modern insurance market. The…
Brokers on the brink?
Administrations, threatened product pull-outs and agency culls have sparked brokers’ fears over the future of the market
Commercial faces long road to hardening rates
Despite insurers announcing improved profitability last year, the commercial market still faces tough trading conditions