Aviva’s profit soars ahead of merger with Direct Line insurance Aviva posted a profit jump for the first half of the year after strong growth across its wealth and insurance divisions. The company’s operating profit climbed 22 per cent to just north of £1bn – topping the £875m netted in the first half of 2024. This comes after Aviva completed its £3.7bn takeover of rival [...]
Aviva’s £3.7bn takeover of Direct Line approved by UK watchdog insurance Aviva’s acquisition of smaller insurance peer Direct Line has been approved by the competitions watchdog, paving the way for the formation of Britain’s biggest home and motor insurer. The £3.7bn takeover will not be subject to a phase-two investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Tuesday, after a preliminary probe to assess whether [...]
Direct Line bosses out ahead of £3.7bn Aviva deal after bumper bonus revolt insurance The chief executive and chief financial officer of Direct Line are to step down when its £3.7bn sale to Aviva is complete, it has been announced. CEO Adam Winslow and CFO Jane Poole will leave their roles when the deal is finalised next month. In a statement, the company said a leadership team for Direct [...]
Aviva: Direct Line buyout ‘firmly on track’ despite CMA investigation May 15, 2025 Aviva expects its £3.7bn acquisition of Direct Line to be completed by the middle of this year despite a new investigation by the competition watchdog into the deal. In a trading update, the insurance giant’s CEO, Amanda Blanc, said the acquisition was “firmly on track,” and cash to pay for the takeover had been ring-fenced. Yesterday, the Competition [...]
Direct Line suffers shareholder revolt over CEO’s huge pay day May 14, 2025 The group behind Direct Line has suffered a huge revolt by its shareholders over its chief executive being handed a huge pay day ahead of its planned £3.7bn takeover by Aviva. In March, City AM reported that Adam Winslow took home a pay packet of more than £7.8m for the insurance giant’s latest financial year. [...]
CMA to investigate Aviva’s £3.7bn Direct Line deal May 14, 2025 The UK’s competition watchdog has begun an investigation into insurance giant Aviva’s proposed £3.7bn acquisition of Direct Line. The Competition and Markets Authority said it had commenced its phase one inquiry to establish whether the deal would result in a “realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition.” The CMA has invited comment on the [...]
Direct Line boss gets huge pay day ahead of Aviva’s £3.7bn takeover March 11, 2025 The chief executive of Direct Line Group has received a huge pay day ahead of its £3.7bn takeover by Aviva. Adam Winslow took home a pay packet of more than £7.8m for the insurance giant’s latest financial year, according to its annual report. The CEO’s pay was significantly boosted by a £5.8m payment from Direct [...]
Aviva beats profit expectations amidst Direct Line takeover February 27, 2025 Aviva Plc smashed expectations in its annual profit results amidst its landmark takeover of fellow insurer Direct Line. The FTSE 100 giant posted a 20 per cent increase in operating profit to £1.77bn in 2024. The target surpassed Bloomberg analyst expectations of £1.71bn. Shares in Aviva have returned 11 per cent so far this year, [...]
Direct Line agrees £3.7bn Aviva takeover December 23, 2024 Direct Line’s board has agreed to accept Aviva’s £3.7bn takeover of the insurer, bringing to an end the firm’s run as an independent company. In a stock exchange announcement this morning, Direct Line’s board endorsed Aviva’s latest £3.7bn offer for the business. Under the terms of the deal, shareholders will receive 0.2867 Aviva shares, along [...]
Car insurers set to return to profit following record losses December 16, 2024 A report from accountancy giant EY estimates car insurers paid out 93p in claims and expenses for every £1 made in premiums in 2024.