Financial Analysis
Briefing: Intangible asset underinsurance offers post-pandemic opportunity
The Covid-19 spotlight has illuminated the protection gap around intangible assets – this is a wake-up call the sector can’t ignore
Aston Lark boss Peter Blanc on mission to ‘build best broker’ amid acquisition spree
With ten acquisitions completed this year and counting, Aston Lark boss Peter Blanc tells Insurance Times the motives behind the broker’s spending spree and how he envisions the business developing
Briefing: Covid, capacity and poor insurer service continues to pose problems for brokers
Recent research compiled by Insurance Times and Close Brothers Premium Finance reveals what major challenges brokers are watching right now
Sabre has ‘been able to hold our nerve’ during pandemic lockdowns
The insurer’s chief executive says that putting prices up year-on-year was the ‘right stuff’, enabling the firm to now ‘stand still’ as its competitors scramble to implement price increases to mitigate Covid discounts
Regulation ‘bigger threat’ to brokers’ business than Covid-19
Brokers react as the FSCS supplementary levy turned the dial on increasing costs amid a landscape strewn with professional indemnity struggles and Covid-caused complications
Briefing: Pandemic impact on financial results is not over yet
Insurers’ 2020 full-year financial results show an economic landscape strewn with losses and colossal Covid claims costs. This will undoubtedly carry over into 2021 in some capacity, wrecking further trouble on balance sheets
Opinion: Root causes need to be wormed out if levy growth is to be stunted
Editor Katie Scott discusses brokers’ financial tight spot - escalating FSCS levy costs partnered with pandemic and Brexit uncertainty leaves many businesses between a rock and a hard place
Briefing: Goldman Sachs gives Aston Lark big firepower
Bank backing is unusual in the broker market, as private equity remains the dominant source of capital
D&O demand set to soar as UK audit regime puts directors in the spotlight
Sweeping new reforms for Britain’s biggest businesses are set to place greater responsibility on directors and officers to ensure the accuracy of their firms’ financial reporting – or face harsh penalties
Ardonagh ‘on cusp’ of solving BI issue before FCA test case halted project
In a call with media this morning, Ardonagh’s chief executive David Ross spoke about how an industry working group was ’on the cusp’ of finalising a solution for business interruption claims, but the FCA Supreme Court case put a stop to this
Capital gains tax fears sparks M&A broker boom
Briefing: Intact is excellent, but faces big challenge with RSA buy
More deals on the horizon beyond Brightside says Markerstudy’s Humphreys
Covid-19 pandemic exacerbates fine art insurance’s hard market conditions
Briefing: FCA could be setting sector up to fail with four-month pricing implementation period
Brexit unlocks opportunities for solvency II reform
The Insurance Times Premium Finance Report 2021 is now available
Esure swings back to profit as insurer aims to ‘leapfrog’ rivals
Briefing: Amanda Blanc’s strong Aviva start buys herself time
‘Broken’ insurance industry must find fire insurance solution following Grenfell
GRP to supercharge growth of Marsh UK Networks amid acquisition spree
Briefing: Will cyber insurance be the casualty of the next ‘black swan’ event?
The Big Question March 2021: How do the current market conditions compare to previous ones for professional liability classes?
General insurance market faces ‘fundamental changes’ – EY’s Tony Sault
A-Plan and Howden Group partnership ‘is very much around growth opportunity’
Financial News
Brokers target growth strategies post-Covid - GlobalData
UK brokers are hoping to use upselling, acquisitions and marketing to boost business growth
Insurers have paid £600m in interim and final BI claims payments
Around 13,670 BI policyholders out of the 35,438 who have had claims accepted have received at least an interim payment
Saga seeks transformation with strategic turnaround plan
Group chief executive believes the plan will boost growth for the business, while driving sustainable returns for its investors
Covid clauses creating new D&O concerns
Recent moves by insurers to include broad Covid-19 exclusion clauses may have significant ramifications for the D&O sector
