QBE ratings affirmed in the US
05 October 2009
Credit ratings agency AM Best has affirmed the various financial strength ratings of QBE Americas, citing adequate capitalisation and a sound operating performance…
Corporate
Ex-CGU chief goes to Guild
30 September 2009
Former CGU chief Mario Pirone has been appointed MD of the Guild Group, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s specialised insurance, financial, and professional services company…
ANZ shakes up life market with ING buyout
28 September 2009
ANZ Bank is set to become Australia’s third-largest life insurer after negotiating a $1.87 billion buyout of its joint venture with ING Group…
QBE on track for growth in Europe
28 September 2009
QBE’s profile in Europe continues to grow, with a lucrative new deal in France and reported plans to stay firmly on the acquisition trail…
Speculation mounts over IAG Chairman’s exit
28 September 2009
Speculation is rising that IAG Chairman James Strong is preparing to depart the business…
Wesfarmers goes carbon-neutral
28 September 2009
Wesfarmers Insurance is claiming a local industry “first” by making its businesses carbon-neutral…
Vero to roll over truck business to NTI
21 September 2009
Suncorp subsidiary Vero will hand its truck business over to its National Transport Insurance joint venture with CGU…
ANZIIF in Saudi Arabian education initiative
21 September 2009
The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance has teamed with a local provider to deliver broking and loss adjusting education in Saudi Arabia…
Centrepoint Alliance open for business
21 September 2009
Premium funder Centrepoint Alliance is using a “strong presence” at this week’s National Insurance Brokers Association Convention in Sydney to confirm it is open for business after a turbulent year…
NZ insurance scheme targets identity theft
21 September 2009
New Zealanders will be able to protect their identity against theft, with a credit agency and a local insurer joining forces in a regional first…
UK advisers to scrutinise Suncorp
14 September 2009
Suncorp isn’t yet prepared to name the four advisers being brought in from the UK to help new CEO Patrick Snowball get a handle on the group’s operations…
Car insurance market stagnant, says Virgin
14 September 2009
Competition in the increasingly congested car insurance market is becoming increasingly aggressive, with new entrant Virgin Money accusing its rivals of “taking Australian motorists for a ride”…
Lumley unveils new online product
14 September 2009
Lumley Insurance will introduce a new end-to-end online insurance product for business insurance at the National Insurance Brokers Association Convention next weekend…
Chinese bank takes stake in CBA insurance joint venture
14 September 2009
China’s Bank of Communications has received approval from Chinese regulators to buy a 51% stake in the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s insurance joint venture in China…
Trident sells marine portfolio to QBE
14 September 2009
Trident Insurance Group has sold its QBE-underwritten intermediated pleasurecraft and charter boat business to the insurer…
Insurer Australia Post deal set to boost underwriter’s growth
07 September 2009
High-profile contracts with Australia Post and Virgin Money have underlined the growth potential of the “white label” insurance market, according to underwriter Auto & General Insurance Services…
Suncorp ditches its corporate agents
07 September 2009
Suncorp has decided to pull the plug on its corporate agent model, with around 80 Queensland agents expected to decide their future within a year…
McAvenna moves to AIMS
07 September 2009
Austbrokers Holdings has announced an executive reshuffle, including the appointment of Martin McAvenna as GM of Austbrokers and IBNA Member Services…
Ace quits affinity business
07 September 2009
Ace Australia has quit the affinity market, blaming a lack of profitability…
Disciplined QBE turns around US reinsurance outfit
07 September 2009
QBE’s US reinsurance operations are showing more than a hint of the underwriting discipline that is helping the group outperform its competitors in Australia…