Zurich underwriters hit the streets
22 October 2012
Zurich’s Australasian General Insurance CEO Daniel Fogarty is sending his state-based underwriting teams onto the streets to re-engage with the broking world…
Corporate
SLE Group raises capacity to $20 million
22 October 2012
Specialist underwriter SLE Group has doubled capacity for its property portfolio, with Ace Insurance agreeing to a $10 million facility…
QBE Europe forecasts competitive markets in 2013
22 October 2012
QBE Europe expects markets to remain competitive next year…
Chartis warns brokers over cyber crime
22 October 2012
The costs of cyber crime are “enormous and growing”, Chartis has warned brokers…
Shareholders back Aviva’s Centrepoint exit
22 October 2012
Listed premium funder Centrepoint Alliance has secured the exit of Aviva from its share register, after shareholders agreed to swap the British insurer’s 7.6% holding for Centrepoint’s 81% stake…
PSC joins Breeze brand
22 October 2012
PSC Underwriting has rebranded as Breeze Underwriting (Australia) to further develop its partnership with the established British agency of the same name…
Steadfast reveals new look
15 October 2012
Broker group Steadfast has revitalised its brand before its planned Australian Securities Exchange listing next May…
Slash goodwill, analyst tells QBE
15 October 2012
QBE should cut $2.5 billion from the value of its goodwill to raise returns, according to Ross Curran, an insurance analyst with the Commonwealth Bank’s CommSec broking house…
SUA expands with iConstruct deal
15 October 2012
Brisbane-based Specialist Underwriting Agencies has struck a deal to buy construction industry niche underwriter iConstruct…
WR Berkley shakes up team before expansion
15 October 2012
WR Berkley’s new CEO Tony Wheatley has revamped the company’s management structure to position it for expansion geographically and into new lines…
QBE plays down US force-placed insurance risks
15 October 2012
QBE says it expects “moderate price reductions” in its controversial North American force-placed insurance business…
Australian Reliance moves into Brisbane
15 October 2012
Australian Reliance has moved into Queensland, opening an office in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley…
Agency downgrades Genworth Australasia outlook
15 October 2012
Standard & Poor’s has downgraded the outlook for Genworth’s Australian and New Zealand mortgage insurance businesses…
AIG confirms All Blacks sponsorship
15 October 2012
AIG is to become a jersey sponsor for the All Blacks and five other teams in a deal with New Zealand Rugby Union…
AIG reveals ‘revitalised’ new look
08 October 2012
AIG has unveiled a new logo as its general insurer Chartis and life and retirement business SunAmerica Financial Group prepare to rejoin the parent brand…
New Willis chief concentrates on growth
08 October 2012
New Willis Australasia Chairman Roger Wilkinson says he will be concentrating on “building our bench strength” at the top end of the market and in specialisations…
Allianz to hold course under new boss
08 October 2012
Allianz Australia’s new MD Niran Peiris plans a “steady as she goes” approach when he takes over from Terry Towell on January 1…
Reinsurance pushes up NZ premiums
08 October 2012
New Zealand home insurance premiums are rising sharply on the back of higher reinsurance costs, according to Tower MD Rob Flannagan…
‘Turbulent times’ push Calliden out of builder market
08 October 2012
Calliden is to adjust its exposure to the construction industry by quitting the licensed builder insurance market at the end of the year…
Rural insurance merger on cards
08 October 2012
A three-way rural insurance tie-up may be on the horizon, with agricultural supply business Ruralco offering to merge with fellow industry player Elders…