Personal
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
Partners& snaps up two in employee wellbeing and healthcare push
Partners& has bought Nottingham-based Halo Consulting and Chester-based Personal Healthcare Management.
Ecclesiastical urges insurer climate credentials be part of broker-client conversation
The majority of brokers are not talking to clients about insurers’ climate credentials, according to research from Ecclesiastical, Insurance Age can reveal.
Ageas here for brokers Beckett promises as connected personal lines flourishes
“We are here for the broker today, and we will very much be here for them tomorrow. There’ll be no change in that strategy,” Ageas chief distribution officer Adam Beckett tells Insurance Age.
Interview: Addept Group managing director Richard Finan
Addept MD Richard Finan gives Insurance Age the lowdown on his return to the market; his thoughts on changes to the MGA market in the wake of Consumer Duty; and the challenges of creating ancillary products in a post-FCA GAP intervention world.
Car premiums drop for second quarter in a row
Comprehensive car insurance premiums fell by 6% (£59) between April and June 2024, the second quarter of decreases according to the latest research by Confused/WTW.
UK Broker Awards 2024 shortlist announced
Today Insurance Age can reveal the shortlist for the 2024 UK Broker Awards.
Government starts discount rate review
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed the start of the 2024 review of the personal injury discount rate in England and Wales with a decision due no later than 11 January 2025.
Addept looks to go live in Q4 as it finalises capacity deals
Wholesaler Addept Insurance Services has revealed it plans to sell its first product in the fourth quarter, as it strives to hit a target of £5m net written premium by year three.
Academy turnover dipped in run-up to Blixt buy
Academy Insurance Services’ turnover and profitability fell in the run-up to being bought by private equity house Blixt, according to a filing at Companies House.
Underinsurance concerns mount as HNW clients cut cover – Ecclesiastical
Follow-up research among brokers by Ecclesiastical has pinpointed growing worries of high-net-worth underinsurance with a quarter of clients having reduced cover during the past year.
EY records worst motor performance since 2011 with 112.8% NCR
The UK motor insurance market experienced its worst performing year since 2011 last year, recording a loss-making net combined ratio of 112.8%, according to EY’s latest UK Motor Insurance Results.
Underinsurance: The silent threat to UK homeowners and how brokers can help combat it
Insurance brokers are well-positioned to collaborate with insurers to combat the underinsurance gap in the property market. Stuart Heath, head of delegated property at Tokio Marine HCC offers his four point plan as to how they can do this.
Somerset Bridge swings to Ebitda profit as turnover doubles in 2023
Arch Reinsurance-owned Somerset Bridge Group trimmed post-tax losses in 2023 to £13m from £32m the year before, as it moved into positive Ebitda territory.
PIB reveals costs of record 26 deals in 2023
PIB spent £331.9m on a record 26 deals in 2023 as the consolidator expanded in the UK and across Europe.
Munich Re MGA put into run-off
Munich Re has put GrovesJohnWestrup, its high-net-worth managing general agent, into run-off.
Brown & Brown’s PCG buys Advo Group
Brown & Brown Europe-owned Premier Choice Group has bought employee benefits intermediary Advo Group.
Partners& acquires Switch Health
Partners& has acquired Cheltenham-based Switch Health to enhance its private medical insurance proposition for clients.
AbbeyAutoline buys Martin Carey Insurance book
AbbeyAutoline has bought the customer book of business of Lisnaskea-based Martin Carey Insurance.
Jukes strengthens presence in the Midlands with latest buy
Worcestershire-based Jukes Insurance Brokers has purchased SO Insurance Services, based in Solihull, growing its presence in the Midlands.