Motor
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%.
Market Movement Index: Smaller insurers gain market share from re-broking
New research from Broker Insights shows brokers are placing more business with smaller players, resulting in a changing landscape where competition can thrive. Rachel Gordon reports.
Ageas delivers 49% growth in UK premiums
Ageas boosted UK gross written premiums by 49% in the first half of 2024 to €992m (£835m) citing customer growth and rate increases primarily in motor with “solid underwriting profitability”.
Specialist Risk Group grows taxi book with latest buy
Specialist Risk Group has acquired the ongoing renewal rights of Morton Insurance Brokers, a specialist in private hire and taxi insurance across the UK since 1987.
MCE administration extended for a year
The administrators of MCE Insurance have revealed a 12-month extension to the process which is now set to close in July 2025.
How can the insurance industry bust ghost brokers for good?
With ghost broking a growing and persistent threat to the insurance industry, Rosie Simms asks whether technology is making the problem more prevalent – or easier for insurers to spot.
FCA warns it might repeat GAP intervention in other product sectors
The Financial Conduct Authority has said that it might need to repeat the intervention it has taken in the guaranteed asset protection [GAP] market in other sectors.
FCA: brokers struggling to marry remuneration with evidence of fair value assessment
Brokers are still struggling to provide adequate evidence they are appropriately assessing whether their remuneration is consistent with the fair value of the product they are selling.
Broker branches a key focus for Allianz in 2024, CEO Holmes promises
“I want to expand the amount of branches we have where we’re connecting with customers,” Allianz UK CEO Colm Holmes told Insurance Age.
Alps partners with AmTrust on motor book
Add-on insurance provider Alps has moved its entire motor book, under a full delegated authority agreement, to AmTrust International.
Halo founder launches insurtech Gigasure
Ernesto Suarez has launched insurtech managing general agent Gigasure offering travel, backpackers, and car hire excess insurance.
ABI measures 2% drop in motor premiums in Q2
The average motor insurance premium fell by 2% in April to June compared to the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers.
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.
Allianz updates motor trade product
Allianz has refreshed its motor trade product with the aim of reflecting the evolving needs of its customers and the technological changes that are affecting the sector.
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.
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.
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.
Former broker brand Kwik Fit resurfaces
UK automotive servicing and repair company Kwik Fit has launched insurance for car owners on its website.