Brexit
Analysis: Is the era of offshore capacity over, or is it poised for a comeback?
High profile casualties such as Gibraltar-based Enterprise Insurance Company (2016), and Danish providers Alpha (2018) and Gefion (2021) meant offshore capacity came under scrutiny at the end of the last decade. Today there appears to be less noise about similar players which begs the question are these overseas carriers no longer a factor? Or are they on the comeback trail? Saxon East investigate
Insurance industry needs to improve communication on motor premium costs – Colm Holmes
At the Association of British Insurers Annual Conference today, Allianz UK CEO Colm Holmes claimed the insurance industry is doing a “poor job” of explaining the reasons for costs of premiums.
News analysis: If PIB has reached an end game with Carlyle and Apax, what next?
As speculation mounts that PIB’s backers Carlyle and Apax want to cash in on their investments, content director Jonathan Swift explores how the broker’s strategy of overseas hubs and specialisms might dictate its value to new investors.
Lebecq to join Miller after SRG exit
Miller has appointed Clare Lebecq as chief operating officer following her departure from Specialist Risk Group in September.
Meet the MGA: Altea
Carly Matson, CEO of Altea Insurance, outlines how her MGA is helping healthcare professionals and organisations fulfil their insurance requirements against a backdrop of hard rates and frustrations around regulation/licensing.
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.
Former broker Tracey loses seat as ex-Erskine Murray boss unsuccessful in bid to be MP
Former insurance broker and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance and Financial Services, Craig Tracey, has lost his seat at the 2024 General Election.
Meet the MGA: Phoenix Specialty
A new entrant into the construction insurance market, Tim James, managing director at Phoenix, explains how it is responding to the wide variety of risks that exist within the market in the UK today, with eyes on global expansion in the future.
Are Northern Ireland brokers feeling the personal lines capacity squeeze more than most?
With prices rising faster in personal motor and household than other parts of the UK, brokers in Northern Ireland have good reason to be worried about remaining competitive. Siân Barton gets to the root of the issue and explores what is being done to…
The stats: Hard market remains - but for how much longer?
Property and fleet rates remain stubbornly high as shown by the latest Q4 figures from the Acturis Commercial Lines Index, Rachel Gordon reports.
Blog: How brokers can help clients prepare for the next wave of cybersecurity regulation
Brokers can’t afford to be mere bystanders in understanding the upgraded cyber rules of GDPR, and the benefits and process involved in being SOC 2 compliant. Simon Hughes, VP and general manager at Cowbell, explains.
UK brokers given unique access to Swiss market with new agreement
The Government has signed a joint financial services agreement with the Swiss authorities that will allow UK insurance brokers to continue to trade in Switzerland without the need to establish a base there.
Meet the MGA: Corin Underwriting
Andy Hurrell, the managing director and head of underwriting at Corin, outlines his plans for a business that has made Lloyd’s-on-Sea its home with a strategy that aims to embrace everything good about being a virtual insurer and a recognised MGA.
Opinion: How SME brokers can seize the opportunity of the regulators’ post-Brexit regime
The post-Brexit insurance regime has flushed out the unstable offshore insurers that once passported into the UK through Europe. Some of the hard-to-place risks will have less options, so brokers must now step up and show their worth.
Swiss insurance group gets green light to open UK branch
Helvetia Global Solutions has received confirmation from UK regulators that its authorisation to underwrite non-life insurance business in the UK has been approved and comes into effect on 1 November 2023.
What can MGAs learn from the latest turbulence among capacity providers?
The problems at Accredited and Vesttoo highlight the need for managing general agencies to have good risk management in place on their capacity arrangements.
Could regulators stymie the growth of the fronter market in the UK?
The failure of Vesttoo in the US has only increased scrutiny on fronters in the UK. But as Saxon East discovers the emergence of Bridgehaven and continued growth of the MGAs, mean that they still have a potentially bright future.
With Atlanta sold, what will Ardonagh do with the funds it pockets?
Jonathan Swift looks at Ardonagh’s recent growth, and suspects that a larger percentage of the £820m windfall from the Atlanta sale is going to be spent overseas rather than at home.
Blog: PIB’s Brendan McManus on the future of insurance broking M&A
Fragmentation, low market maturity, employee benefit opportunities and lower pricing make Europe ripe for broking consolidation, according to PIB Group CEO Brendan McManus.
Graeme Trudgill on taking up the reins at Biba
Graeme Trudgill has committed to fighting strongly for brokers and to getting even more access to the Financial Conduct Authority for members as he takes up the role of CEO of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association.
Broking success: Retaining independence and recruiting fresh talent
Richard Ingleby, managing director of Castlemead Insurance Brokers, highlights the importance of independent intermediaries and the need for more younger employees to infiltrate the sector.