insurancepeople
News
Major property owners’ account forAXA
A
XA Commercial Lines has been appointed as property owners’ insurer for Bruntwood, one of the largest commercial property owners in the north of England. It builds on a partnership AXA Commercial Lines’ Manchester branch has with local broker Bridge Insurance Brokers. The company’s MD
intermediary, Matthew Reed, describes it as a “flagship new business win” and goes on, “Delivered by Simon Hodgin and his team in our Manchester branch, in conjunction with one of
Victor Millwell rewarded for innovation
M otor caravan
insurance specialist Victor Millwell has won the “innovation” category at the 27th Dockland Business Club and East London Chamber of Commerce annual awards, at a gala dinner at Canary Wharf. Expressing delight that the company’s continuing commitment to innovation has been recognised, Peter Cue, managing director, says, “It demonstrates that smaller companies can have national reach, leading the way by
embracing technology and innovation, so it works for themselves and their clients.”
28 insurancepeople NOVEMBER 2011
HastingsGWPup 52% A
Matthew Reed
their major broker partners, it shows local
empowerment in action.” Bruntwood has a
portfolio of 101 buildings, housing more than 1,000 companies across Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham.
nnouncing results for the year to June 30, 2011, Hastings Insurance Group reports gross written premiums up 52% to £310 million (2010, £204m); customer numbers up over 40% to 795,000 (over 850,000 by the end of September 2011); and a combined ratio of 95% (99% in 2010). It also reports that over 90% of its 1,150 staff are now shareholders. Neil Utley, chairman of Hastings, describes it as a year of significant progress in a challenging and rapidly changing market. He adds: “Current trading at Hastings remains strong and we are confident about the future prospects for the
Supreme Court judgement “disappointing”, says ABI
O
n October 12, the Supreme Court ruled that the Scottish
parliament acted within its powers in passing the Damages (Asbestos Related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009, which made pleural plaques compensatable in Scotland.
The ABI director of general insurance and health, Nick Starling, underlining insurers’ commitment to
compensate those with asbestos related conditions, comments:
“The insurers brought this case because they believe that The Damages Act is
fundamentally flawed in that it ignores
overwhelming medical evidence that pleural plaques are
symptomless, and the well-established legal principle that
compensation is payable only when there is physical harm. We are very disappointed that the court has not found in our favour on this important principle of law.”
business. We have
previously stated our desire to list Hastings on the public markets, but we will only proceed when market conditions are favourable, as there are no internal or external pressures to drive a process. Our priority is, as it has been, to continue to develop the excellent business we have created.”
Neil Utley
Vauxhall/Ageas insurance partnership
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geas (Insurance UK) has launched a new insurance partnership with Vauxhall, providing fully branded motor insurance products in the UK to Vauxhall customers.
Under the five-year deal Ageas will manage all customer sales, service administration and claims service on behalf of Vauxhall from its growing office in Stoke on Trent. Andy Watson,
managing director of Ageas Retail, comments, “We pride ourselves on
partnering with some of the UK’s strongest brands, and Vauxhall is a fantastic addition.”
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