Fusion has hit back at its critics for spreading "misinformation" about the underwriting agent's protocols with its insurer partners.

Speculation had been rife about whether Fusion's partners, Norwich Union (NU), Royal & SunAlliance (R&SA), Allianz Cornhill and AXA, would provide quotes to non-Towergate brokers because of non-competition clauses.

Some had claimed that the panel members would not give competing quotes on Fusion-held business, nor would they provide quotes for business which Fusion had already quoted on.

Some regional brokers branded the practice "anti-competitive".

But, Fusion chief executive Kevin Pallett said the deal was "crystal clear", had been devised to allow the insurers to "support each other", and was in no way "anti-competitive."

He said: "There is an agreement with our insurance partners not to compete with business we already hold.

"Where you share the risk with the insurer, you don't compete with it because you already hold it."

On new business, panel members can provide a quote to a non-Towergate broker. But, Pallett said, this would only be done at the discretion of the insurer.