Home insurance
Car and motorcycle insurance complaints stick in FOS top five
The number of car and motorcycle insurance complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service in the second quarter of 2024/25 dropped compared to the same period a year ago however the sector has remained in the top five.
Hood moves household book from RSA to Bspoke
Bspoke Group has teamed up with Hood Group to underwrite the Top 100 Broker and affinity insurance provider’s household portfolio.
Top 100 broker Hood Group completes PE-backed MBO
Southend-based Hood Group has completed a £10.7m management buyout with the support of Connection Capital, the private equity and alternative investment platform.
Policy Expert owner Qmetric swings back to operating profit
Qmetric, which trades as personal lines specialist Policy Expert, returned to operating profit and pushed Ebitda into the black last financial year with turnover and customer numbers rising.
Interview: Hiscox UK COO Cath Frost on delivering operational excellence for brokers
Having joined Hiscox this April UK COO Cath Frost has already seen operational improvements but there is more to come from the insurer she promises brokers.
Premium finance charges as high as 37% but dropping overall – report
Pearson Ham has found average premium finance costs for motor and home insurance fell over the last year but also revealed charges as high as 36.8%.
Home insurance stays in the red at 118% NCR with more losses to come – EY
The UK home insurance industry delivered a loss-making net combined ratio of 118% in 2023, worse than predicted with more red ink to follow in 2024, according to EY.
Across the board uplifts at Avantia
Avantia Insurance delivered double digit increases in turnover and post-tax profits in 2023, repeating the achievements of previous years.
FCA launches review into premium finance “fair value” and barriers to competition
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a review, known as a competition market study, to see whether people who borrow to pay for motor and home insurance are receiving fair, competitive deals.
Ageas and Saga in £207.5m deal talks
Ageas has entered exclusive negotiations with Saga on a 20-year affinity partnership and buying Acromas in a package worth up to £207.5m.
Allianz promotes to bolster personal lines broker team
The Allianz personal lines broker business has strengthened its leadership team and promoted Victoria Price to director of broker propositions.
Esure owner Bain eyeing up sale – report
Esure is possibly up for sale, as private equity firm Bain Capital has lined up advisors, according to Reuters.
Markerstudy-bound Hughes posts stable turnover and profit for 2023
Northern Ireland-based broker Hughes, currently in a sales process to Markerstudy Group, maintained post-tax profit at £2m in 2023 with turnover consistent of more than £13m.
Moody’s improves outlook for UK property and casualty insurers to stable
Moody’s has changed its outlook for UK property and casualty insurers to stable from negative, noting prices for personal lines cover, such as motor insurance, have risen sufficiently to absorb claims inflation.
Which? sounds the alarm again on “eye-watering” motor and home insurance interest rates
Research by Which? has revealed the average annual percentage rate for motor insurance on monthly premium finance at 22% and 20% for home policies.
Arc Legal and HB Underwriting team up to tackle employer’s liability gap
Arc Legal Group has partnered with HB Underwriting to cater for the latter’s policyholders who find themselves as employers because of their care needs.
Cinven buys half of Policy Expert
Private equity house Cinven has signed up to buy 50% of Policy Expert from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
Axa reveals 106.3% UK COR for 2023
Axa Insurance UK has posted an improved 106.3% combined operating ratio for 2023, trimming it from 109.8% the year before.
Ageas Retail revenue ticks up as profit rebounds
Ageas’ wholly owned broking subsidiary Ageas Retail grew post-tax profit by 20% in 2023 to £6.5m, switching back to growth after declining in 2022.
Loss adjusters in spotlight as FOS buildings insurance complaints hit 10-year high
The number of buildings insurance complaints filed to the Financial Ombudsman Service hit a record quarterly high of 2001 between April and June.
Motor FOS complaints stable in Q1 as ombudsman’s workload surges
Car and motorcycle insurance complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service rose fractionally to 3,940 in the first quarter of the financial year as the overall workload soared by 70%.