Latest News – Page 1910
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Fitch: UK insurers are strongly capitalised
Prism results show insurers are well-positioned
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News
Decision time as FSA calls crunch meeting on commission disclosure
The insurance industry is braced for a decision on whether commission disclosure will be made mandatory next week, with the FSA calling major players in for a crunch meeting and its consultants preparing to publish their findings.Biba and IIB officials are among industry representatives invited to a briefing on commission ...
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Features
Straight-talking from the history man
Equity’s incoming chairman, David Pye, brings a wide knowledge of the industry and a track record of profitable underwrting, but he tells James Dean that it’s all down to a knowledge of history
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Comments/Letters
How to deliver on the promise
Michael Graham says that a joined-up approach is a must for quality customer service
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News
New members’ agent lures Names from Hampden
Alpha Insurance Analysts, soon to begin trading as the third Lloyd’s members’ agent, has poached clients worth £230m in capital from rival firm Hampden.Ex-CBS Private Capital employees James Sparrow and Emma Royds, now the top two at Alpha, have won over Names who were old clients of CBS – the ...
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Features
What does the future hold for brokers and insurers?
The insurance market has changed forever, according to Ernst & Young and the CII. A combination of events – soft market conditions, the availability of investment funds and an uncertain regulatory environment – are combining to accelerate the scale and pace of changes in distribution in the SME market, according ...
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Features
NU chief hits back at MPs who criticised flood record
Commons committee told that industry was trying to reduce risk to ‘acceptable level’
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News
Web news
Allianz in Lockton dealAllianz Engineering has announced a deal to provide Lockton’s computer covers on an exclusive basis. The three-year deal will generate over £1.5m in premium. First published 30 NovemberSyndicate launchedBarbican, a new £75m capacity syndicate, has been launched. The venture is supported by two US private investment funds, ...
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News
News in brief
Claims survey revisitedA survey of London market claims brokers, first taken in 2005, is being repeated in an effort to re-address claims issues. A “significant percentage” of the Lloyd’s market capacity has signed up to revisit the issues of service quality, reputation, and current issues such as electronic claims files ...
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News
THB set to buy PWS business
THB is set to acquire the Lloyd’s broking business of PWS International and the overseas interests of the PWS group.The two companies are in negotiations in the hope of reaching a deal by the end of the year. Acquisition terms are yet to be agreed and due diligence is being ...
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News
Oval makes 25th buy with South-West broker
Oval has made its 25th acquisition – and 15th of the year – with the purchase of South-West broker Tett Hamilton.Tett Hamilton, which specialises in commercial insurance, is one of the largest brokers in the region with a turnover of £2.6m. It has two offices in Somerset and employs 45 ...
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News
Shares continue to feel sub-prime heat
Despite experts’ predictions that London-based insurers are likely to escape heavy claims from sub-prime exposure in the US, fears among investors have led to falls in insurers’ share prices in recent weeks.Volatility will continue, analysts say, as the fallout from the crisis plays out.Brit Insurance has been hit hardest, with ...
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News
China insurer buys into Fortis
Chinese insurers have made further inroads into the European market after the country’s second largest life insurer, Ping An, paid $2.7bn (£1.3bn) for a 4.2% stake in Fortis Group.The move sees Ping An become a leading shareholder in the banking and insurance colossus. It follows the announcement by China’s largest ...
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News
Government must develop 25 year flood plan, says ABI
Report calls for stronger planning controls and greater investment in flood defence
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Backchat
It’s Orange for Bridget at the O2
Regular readers will remember that Royal & SunAlliance’s chief executive Bridget McIntyre recently made quite an impression on Arnold Schwarzenegger, but her celebrity encounters don’t stop there.Last week, at what must surely qualify as the press junket of the year, Bridget led a team of swooning female journalists and brokers ...
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Backchat
Santa told to belt up
Insurers have been accused of many things over the years, but ruining Christmas has not been one of them, until now.The Halesowen and Rowley Regis Rotary Club was given an early dose of festive cheer when its insurer declared that Santa, despite the collision-avoiding properties of his beard, was at ...
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Backchat
Protecting your festive identity
Following the news of late, Backchat was relieved to receive a warning letter regarding identity theft, but somewhat amused to find it deposited among a smouldering pile of junk mail.Credit report provider Callcredit has advised against “giving fraudsters an early Christmas present” by failing to protect their identity when shopping ...
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Backchat
No place like home
Backchat was comforted when it received a survey from BUPA International, the world’s largest expat insurer, claiming that nine out of ten expatriates would recommend a life abroad.As the early nights set in, the rain falls and the wind blows, it is reassuring to know that three in every four ...
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Backchat
Broker sets off on Sahara adventure
Brokers are notorious for taking part in wild activities, and Tim Bell is no different.The Manchester broker, a team leader at Caunce O’Hara, is swapping Salford for the Sahara in a three-week charity car rally to Mali with his dad this month.After a charity parachute jump last year, Bell will ...
