Lloyd’s chief: City firms owe it to younger employees to get back to office September 10, 2021 The City of London has a duty to get employees back to the office so that younger staff don’t miss out on career development and learning from their seniors, the Lloyd’s of London chief executive has said. John Neal, who heads up the insurance giant, called for more people to return to the Square Mile [...]
Insurtech Marshmallow reaches $1.25bn valuation and becomes UK’s second black-founded unicorn September 8, 2021 Digital car insurance provider Marshmallow has smashed the $1bn threshold after its latest Series B funding round, making it the second UK unicorn with founders of Black heritage. Marshmallow’s latest cash injection of $85m values the insurtech at over $1.25bn (£907m), joining the ranks of other recent UK unicorns Starling Bank, Gousto, Zepz and Zego. [...]
Allianz under investigation by German regulator September 7, 2021 An investigation into insurance giant Allianz has been launched by regulators in Germany, after the loss of some of its US investment funds last year, according to Reuters who first reported the news. The German insurance company is one of the largest money managers globally and has €2.4 trillion ($2.9 trillion) in assets under management [...]
Royal London insurance moves head office to EightyFen in heart of the City August 19, 2021 Mutual life insurance company Royal London has this morning announced it has taken up 55,000 sq ft of office space at 80 Fenchurch Street for its new headquarters in the City. The largest mutual life insurance company in the UK, with assets under management of £153bn, will enjoy panoramic views across London from the top [...]
Insurance payouts for Covid business interruption near £1bn August 17, 2021 Insurers have paid out almost £1bn in claims to businesses that were forced shut during nationwide lockdowns, according to the latest figures released by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) this week. Insurance companies paid out £637m in full settlements to policyholders with cover for business interruption since January as well as over £309m in interim payments, brining the total to £946m. But the total payments for claims could be higher still, as more than 38 [...]
Willis Towers Watson names investment head Carl Hess as next CEO August 16, 2021 Insurance giant Willis Towers Watson today named company insider Carl Hess as its next CEO and president, three weeks after the collapse of its planned $30bn (£22.9bn) mega-merger with rival Aon. Hess, who currently heads up the firm’s investment, risk and reinsurance segment, will step into current CEO John Haley’s shoes immediately upon his retirement [...]
US insurance giant Gallagher snaps up Willis reinsurance arm in $3.25bn deal August 13, 2021 US insurance giant Arthur J. Gallagher has announced it will buy the treaty reinsurance brokerage arm of Willis Towers Watson for a proposed cash consideration of $3.25bn (£2.35bn). It comes just over a fortnight after Willis agreed to terminate a $30bn (£22.9bn) merger agreement with Aon, in what would have created the world’s largest insurance [...]
The latest British unicorn? Insurtech Marshmallow is waiting in the wings August 11, 2021 Marshmallow Financial Services is soon to announce its latest fundraising round that will bring its valuation to $1.2bn (£869m), joining the ranks of other recent UK unicorns Starling Bank, Gousto and Zego. Its latest cash injections is fuelled largely by existing investors, according to reports in Sky News citing “city insiders” with knowledge of the [...]
Fine dining restaurant planned for the top of Lloyd’s of London August 10, 2021 Lloyd’s of London is considering adding a Michelin-starred restaurant to the top of its headquarters as part of a revamp of the insurance marketplace’s iconic building spaces. The creation of a high-end restaurant with enviable views of London is being considered as a way to create ‘destination style’ experiences, and attract more clients and members of [...]
Aon and Willis Towers Watson call off $30bn insurance mega-merger over monopoly concerns July 27, 2021 Insurance giant Aon and Willis Towers Watson have agreed to terminate their $30bn (£22.9bn) merger agreement in what would have created the world’s largest insurance broker, and have blamed U.S. regulators’ objections for unacceptable delays and uncertainty. Aon cited an “impasse” with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as the reason behind the decision to [...]