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 [...]
Zurich posts highest first-half profits since 2008 financial crash August 11, 2022 Swiss insurance company Zurich today posted its highest first-half profits since the financial crash of 2008 and its second highest profits ever. The insurer said its business operating profits increased 25 per cent compared to last year to long-term highs of $3.393bn. The uptick in Zurich’s profits, which saw it second best results ever, came [...]
Insurers grapple with transition to a greener world August 10, 2022 Last week, a coalition of thirteen of the UK’s major insurers vowed to cut their supply chain emissions as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s (SMI’s) sustainable supply chain pledge. In signing the SMI pledge, the 13 insurers and brokers – including Axa, Phoenix, Lloyd’s, and Direct Line – vowed to work with their suppliers [...]
Aviva hikes dividend and assures £400m takeover nearly over August 10, 2022 Insurance giant Aviva has sought to soothe investor concerns today, confirming that the nearly £400m takeover of Succession Wealth will be completed later this year. The deal is expected to be wrap up in the second half. While its interim dividend for this year has jumped 40 per cent to 10.3p per share – up [...]
WH Smith de-risks pensions scheme via Standard Life insurance policy August 8, 2022 WH Smith on Monday said it had taken out a bulk annuity insurance policy with Standard Life, through which the Phoenix Group subsidiary will cover the costs of the retailer’s £1bn pension scheme. The high-street bookseller’s insurance policy will see Standard Life pay the pensions of the almost 13,000 members of WH Smith’s defined [...]