Commercial
Market watch - commercial motor: Has commercial motor gone flat?
Though the economy continues to be troublesome and commercial motor is still highly competitive with small margins, there are some areas of improvement and growth, writes Fiona Nicolson.
Broking success - Sydney Packett & Sons: Prized Packett
Emmanuel Kenning meets a family-owned broker with an illustrious past and bright future specialising in small and medium-sized enterprise, charity and training insurance.
Prime Professions' profits rise by 400%
Prime Professions has announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March 2010.
Halliwells files second notice to avoid administration
Halliwells has filed a second notice of intention to appoint an administrator in an effort to extend discussions on the sale of the firm without entering into administration.
APC moves in to Ireland
APC has launched its first product in the Republic of Ireland aimed at shopkeepers.
The British Insurance Awards 2010 - winners round up
1800 people saw Allianz become general insurer of the year at the annual British Insurance Awards.
NIG launches property owners product
NIG aims to be "first choice" for brokers with its new Premier Property Owners product.
Towergate launches new web platform for affiliates
Towergate today announced the launch of Towergateaffiliates.com - a new service aimed at providing website owners and online introducers with the ability to promote Towergate eInsurance product offerings online.
Dual moves into property and casualty market
Dual Corporate Risks has launched a new property and casualty division with initial capacity to be provided by Amlin.
News review: June 2010
Online marketplace Ebay was poised to seek a raft of insurance partners as it geared up to launch a financial services offering. Insurance Age's sister title Post learnt that Ebay agreed a partnership with Staffordshire-based intermediary Autonet to help…
Reportage: Sole searching
The recession has led to an increase in sole traders and with such an array to cater for, insurers are struggling to meet their needs. Louise Meeson explores how brokers can identify and service these micro businesses
Reportage - SME aggregators: See you later, aggregator?
As issues of trading SME business through the aggregator channel are brought to light, Edward Murray asks whether it is too complex a sector to ever be successfully sold in bulk.
Regional power hour - Bristol: When it rains, it pours
This month's power hour, sponsored by Ecclesiastical and held in Bristol, looks at the growing impact of climate change on the industry - particularly that of flooding. Martin Friel reports.
Agenda: Pricing strategies
The UK commercial insurance market is worth about £15bn and there has been little change in its overall size since 2002. In 2001-2002, the market increased by 75% reversing years of losses into a platform for a long period of profitability. In the…
E-commerce: LFC Shield plans to double broker base with online quote system
Underwriting agency LFC Shield has launched a new online commercial business quote system, which it hopes will help double its broker base to 400 over the coming year.
E-commerce: Non-intermediaries set to muscle in on micro market
Brokers that fail to embrace technology-savvy trading risk losing their majority share of the micro commercial market.
Product launches: Aviva reviews policy wording
Aviva has enhanced its commercial policy documentation to extend the cover and make it more broker friendly.
Second Insurance 360 insight study about to kick off
This summer, Insurance 360 - Insurance Age's sister industry insight unit - is conducting its second annual study of commercial insurers' performance on service to their brokers.
Talent search is trigger for top staff moving roles in industry
The corporate merry-go-round at the top of the country's insurers is being driven by the need to secure 'top talent' in an attempt to stave off the worst effects of the recession.
Rate increases stifled by 'fragile' global economy
Commercial rates remained flat during the first quarter of 2010, according to global professional services company Towers Watson.
Leaked Brit takeover offer sparks FSA investigation
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has launched an investigation into the private equity bid for Brit Insurance after details of the approach were leaked before the stock exchange was informed.
Light at the end of the FSCS levy tunnel?
It remains unclear whether brokers left reeling by huge increases in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme will be able to seek a retrospective reduction from the regulator.
MMA grows micro offering
Broker-only insurer MMA is adding a series of new products to the remit of its micro underwriting team as part of a first year review.
Emergency Budget 2010: PMI costs set to soar due to IPT rise, claims Healix
Healix has warned that the increase in insurance premium tax (IPT) will result in even higher costs for employers offering private medical insurance (PMI) or health cash plans to their staff.