RSA commercial lines broker club
Royal & Sun Alliance is considering establishing a broker club for its commercial lines brokers. Duncan Boyle, the new head of UK Commercial, hinted this week that this was an option under consideration. Boyle, who has just arrived from heading RSA's Australian operation, said:"It's far too early to draw any conclusions yet, but I have seen it work well in Australia. We found it was very popular with brokers."
CGU pays £56m for Canada GAN
CGU Group Canada, a subsidiary of CGU plc, is buying the GAN Company of Canada from Groupama for £56m.
Clinicare set for marketing push
Health provider Clinicare is set for a marketing push after its brand name was acquired by its underwriter, French insurer Starsbourgeoise, from the Medical Insurance Agency (MIA). The MIA will continue to provide third party administration for Clinicare.
The switch in brand ownership will enable Strasbourgeoise to build Clinicare's market share. Clinicare will target the small business private medical insurance market.
Recruitment drive by BUPA
New members joining BUPA are promised a free return flight to Paris.
The health insurer has teamed up with Air Miles to offer each new PMI member 500 free air miles if they sign up before December 31.
The recruitment campaign is
likely to be extended to BUPA's other products, including critical illness, income protection and cash plan schemes. Stephen Flanagan, BUPA sales director, said the attractions of the air miles customer loyalty scheme is that it is one of the biggest in the UK and has a similar customer profile to that of BUPA.
Donns secures £2.7m contract
Manchester personal injury specialists Donns solicitors has landed what is thought to be the largest single contract awarded by an insurance intermediary.
The £2.7 million contract will create 45 new jobs at Donns' Manchester headquarters, ranging from solicitors to filing clerks, to handle more than 13,000 motor claims on behalf of a subsidiary of Bennetts (GB), one of the UK's biggest intermediaries.
Household survey call
Insurance Times is to publish its annual Household Insurance Survey in its October Property Supplement. Questionnaires have already been sent out and any company that has not yet received one should call Alison Boyle on 0171 618 3494.
Crawford-THG on Floyd alert
Crawford-THG was readying itself for the onslaught of Hurricane Floyd which looked set to hit the Bahamas this week. The loss adjuster was closely monitoring the progress of the Hurricane as the islands Eleuthera, Abaco, Grand Bahamas and New Providence braced themselves for the storm's destructive arrival. The firm has also forecast that if the Hurricane Floyd continued its path, the US mainland well also be affected. Crawford-THG's Nassau and Freeport offices have been placed on alert and extra resources have been drafted in, including property assessors, surveyors and engineers.
VBRA unveils new package
The Vehicle Builders' and Repairers' Association has launched a new computer programme that helps repairers and insurers to arrive at more precise costings for repair work.
Miller buys part of Spanish firm
One of the UK's top 20 brokers, The Miller Insurance Group, has bought 20% of a leading Spanish broker based in Madrid.
The Spanish broker will now be called Brunzon & Miller Correduria de Seguros y Reaseguros SA.
Export guide from Gee
Brokers and Lloyd's underwriters teamed up to raise £1,000 towards the cost of a coach for underprivileged children.
Team members in a golf day at Sunbridge Park, Bromley, paid to fines for minor misdemeanours totalling £750.
One West Country broker forfeited £10 for departing before event organiser Terry Wellard, chairman of Edgar Hamilton, finished his end of day speech.
Another £250 was donated in exchange for footballer Tony Cottee's current Leicester City shirt.
80% have e-mail says Columbus
Travel insurer Columbus Direct has found that 80% of its customers now have e-mail and the internet.
Its survey reveals that 25% of these customers surf the web three times a day and 17% four times a day or more.
Shopping on the internet is becoming so popular that 91% of policyholders who bought travel cover on-line, have also bought other products.
Julie Philpott of Columbus, said: "Our web site went live over a year ago and already ten per cent of our customers are booking on-line."
Brunsdon wins BIBA award
Gloucester broker the Brunsdon Group has won an award for selling the most BIBA-backed travel insurance policies.
Partner Godfrey Cromwell ascribed his success to the product's quality and the hard work of his office manager Julie Neville. His prize is a holiday in Rome.
"The AssItalia policy is simply the best on the market. One attractive feature is that AssItalia does not seek to reclaim baggage losses on claimants' home insurance," Cromwell said.
Velo predicts car crime rise
Vehicle accidents and crime rates are set to soar as the winter approaches, according to research from vehicle accident management firm, VELO.
Crime and accident rates have just passed their lowest yearly point - less than seven per cent in August - and are now likely to rise to above 9.5% in December.
The figures, which form part of VELO's 1999 Fleet Insurance Review, are based on data from some of the 50,000 vehicles the company manages.
Steve Rattle, managing director of VELO Motor Accident, said: "Our analyses show what a potentially dangerous time of year the autumn and winter months can be."
First-e may sell general insurance
The first pan-European internet-only bank, First-e bank, has not ruled out selling insurance products alongside its banking facilities.
A First-e spokesman refused to disclose further details of services or products until it launches on September 21.
A web site soliciting deposits went live last week, promising to pay interest at 5.75% gross on any sum of £1 or more.
First-e, owned by Dublin-based company Enba, will reveal a second tranche of venture capital financing next week. Initial financing of £10 million was raised in February.
