Generali snaps up Axa’s Malaysian operations in deal worth £130m August 30, 2022 Generali has acquired Axa’s Malaysian operations in line with plans to strengthen its position in the “high potential” Asian economy. The acquisition will see Generali buy Axa’s stakes in its two Malaysian joint venture operations – Axa Affin General Insurance and Axa Affin Life Insurance – for a combined sum of €150m (£131m). Alongside the [...]
Woman wins tribunal against Swiss Re over executive’s sexist comments August 25, 2022 A former underwriter at Swiss Re has won an employment tribunal against the world’s biggest reinsurance company, after a senior executive at the firm told her: “If I had breast like yours, I would be demanding too.” Julia Sommer, a political risk underwriter at the Swiss insurer, is now set to receive a payout, after [...]
Soaring inflation risks creating UK property ‘insurance gap’ August 25, 2022 SOARING inflation in the construction sector threatens to create a major “insurance gap” amongst UK policyholders, London headquartered insurer Chaucer has warned. Sharp increases in the costs of building materials could leave homes and businesses underinsured, as policies fail to cover the cost of repairing and rebuilding damaged properties, research carried out by the Lloyd’s of [...]
Prudential shares continue to slide as Covid hits insurer’s profits August 25, 2022 Shares in Asia-focused insurer Prudential continued to slip over the previous day as investors maintained their scepticism towards the firm’s claims its recent losses are simply the result of Covid. The London listed firm’s shares have lost more than 30 per cent of their value since the start of 2022, as stringent Covid policies across [...]
Ukraine: Insurers provide first policy for grain shipment out of war-torn country August 23, 2022 Lloyd’s of London broker Ascot and insurer Marsh have written their first insurance policy for a ship carrying Ukrainian grain out of the country’s Black Sea ports following the signing of Russia and Ukraine’s safe passage deal last month. The shipping insurance policy is set to reinforce the UN brokered deal to reopen Ukraine’s seaports [...]
Marsh launches world’s first dedicated hydrogen insurance fund August 22, 2022 Insurance broker Marsh today set out plans to launch the world’s first ever dedicated hydrogen insurance offering, to provide coverage for new and existing H2 energy projects. Marsh’s new fund will provide cover worth up to $300m per project in a bid to capitalise on a fast-growing sector that is set to see $150bn invested [...]
Lloyd’s of London tells insurers to halt covering state-backed cyberattacks August 18, 2022 Lloyd’s of London has said its insurers will be required to stop covering state-backed cyberattacks in their standard cyber insurance policies. The centuries-old insurance marketplace told its underwriters to make exclusions for cyberattacks launched by governments and state actors, over concerns such attacks could expose the market to unmanageable losses. “If not managed properly [a [...]
Ryan Howsam: Why Staysure boss bought Legends Tour and how it can be profitable August 17, 2022 Sports sponsorship usually follows a playbook – Brand X pays to be associated with Team Y or Competition Z – but Ryan Howsam, founder of insurer Staysure, has ripped it up with golf’s Legends Tour. Howsam, a keen golfer in his youth who played off a scratch handicap, got involved with the circuit formerly known [...]
Bulk annuity transactions set to hit record levels in 2022 August 15, 2022 The UK market for bulk annuity transactions is on track to hit record levels this year, pensions experts have said. The value of all UK bulk purchase annuities deals is already up by 50 per cent compared to last year, and could hit historic levels by the end of the year. The increase in [...]
Phoenix hikes dividend as pensions deals bolster insurer’s business August 15, 2022 Phoenix Group today upped its dividend after posting “record” financial results for the first half of 2022. The London insurer hiked its dividend by three per cent to heights of 24.8p a share after a series of pensions deals bolstered Phoenix’s revenues. The pensions deals, signed off in the first half of last year, saw [...]