We cherry pick the stories of the week

Talk

Esure and Direct Line founder Peter Wood has revealed he would like to add website GoCompare to his empire. He already owns 50% and says he wants to buy out partner Hayley Parsons.

Spender

Antur is in takeover talks with a number of local brokers, chairman John Knox has announced.

Idea

Telematics continues to win new fans, with Swinton chief executive Peter Halpin’s revelation that the insurer is looking into the technology.

Bureaucracy

Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance is rolling the underwriting arms of Direct Line, Churchill and NIG into UKI to save costs ahead of Solvency II. The move will mean RBSI can cut out red tape and save administrative expenses, it said.

Strop

An angry motor claimant barricaded Aviva’s office in York by parking a digger outside it.

Goodbye

As we revealed online this week, AXA has finally agreed terms with outgoing chief exec Philippe Maso – five months after his departure. Expect his return to the UK market soon.