UK News

UK Auto Insurer Direct Line in Play as Private Equity Groups Circle

Direct Line, the UK’s largest motor [auto] insurer run by government-owned Royal Bank of Scotland, is a takeover target for private equity groups looking to pre-empt what would be one of the biggest initial public offerings in London this year. …

ABI Chides UK’s Riot Compensation Scheme for Shortchanging Londoners

A bulletin from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) indicates that “while insurers reacted quickly to help customers hit by last August’s riots, the riot compensation scheme has failed too many Londoners.” Presenting the figures at the London Assembly the …

June’s Severe Weather Losses Near $2 Billion in U.S.: Aon Benfield

U.S. severe weather insurance losses were close to $2 billion in June, according to Aon Benfield’s Global Catastrophe Report. Published by Aon’s Impact Forecasting, the report analyzes the natural disaster events that occurred across the United States and worldwide during …

UK Insurer Aviva Culls Units in Turnaround Drive

Aviva, the UK’s No.2 insurer, plans to sell or close more than a quarter of its businesses in a shake-up aimed at regaining the support of investors irked by the group’s flagging share price. The company, whose weak stock market …

PERILS Updates Windstorm Andrea Loss Estimate to $422 Million

Swiss-based consulting firm PERILS has issued its third loss report for windstorm Andrea, which affected the UK and Western Europe in January 2012. The updated property market loss estimate for Andrea is €337 million [$422 million], compared to the second …

UK Watchdog Reviewing Regulatory Supervision after Libor Scandal

The UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) is reviewing how wholesale markets are supervised following the interest rate-setting scandal, its chairman Adair Turner said on Tuesday. “There are no free lunches, and shoddy wholesale practice is not a victimless act, even …

RSA Inks Agreement w/ The Co-operative Insurance for Auto Claims

The UK’s RSA and The Co-operative Insurance have announced a bilateral agreement to settle outstanding motor recoveries. RSA said it is “designed to remove frictional costs, limit the need for claims handlers to get involved and to speed up the …

UK Banks Face New Scandal; Barclays Boss in Peril over LIBOR Rigging

Britain will expose on Friday a second scandal involving the country’s banks in as many days, as Barclays boss Bob Diamond clings to his job after regulators slapped a record fine on the lender for rigging interest rates. The Financial …

UK’s MI5 Chief Talks about Threats before Olympic Games

Britain has seen a credible terrorist attack plot about once a year since the Sept.11 attacks – a worrying pattern as security officials brace for an array of threats ahead of next month’s summer Olympics, the head of the country’s …

UK MGA’s Advised on Changes in Employers Liability, Public Liability Claims

Impending changes in UK laws governing claims for Employers Liability (EL) and Public Liability (PL) should be a priority membersof the UK’s Managing General Agents’ Association were told at a recent briefing in London. The MGAA’s bulletin warned that changes …