Vero makes life easier for brokers
23 March 2009
Vero has consolidated online systems used to quote and bind products within the Vero Corporate Portfolio in a bid to make life a little easier for brokers...
Corporate
Willis staff asked to take unpaid leave
23 March 2009
Willis Chairman and CEO Joe Plumeri has asked staff of the global broker to take unpaid leave as the latest in a range of cost-cutting measures...
Assetinsure deal safe from bank’s administrators
16 March 2009
Commercial underwriter Assetinsure says the appointment of administrators to Babcock & Brown will not affect the sale of the investment bank’s 50% stake...
Funding venture earns bank accolades
16 March 2009
Macquarie Bank is so pleased with its Steadfast premium funding joint venture that it’s now looking at similar opportunities around the world...
Aon offers cover against insurer insolvency
16 March 2009
A nervous marketplace has prompted Aon Risk Services to launch a corporate product protecting against insurer insolvency...
TIO sacks 20 as part of ‘restructure’
16 March 2009
NT Government-owned insurer TIO is sacking 20 people and closing two branches to deal with economic challenges...
QBE pulls out of Burma
16 March 2009
QBE has decided to cut its ties with dictator-led Burma’s insurance market...
Spotlight stays on Suncorp
09 March 2009
Suncorp is the subject of renewed curiosity following spirited trading in its shares late last week and a rating downgrade by Moody’s...
Two more foreign insurers get the tick from APRA
09 March 2009
Two direct offshore foreign insurers have been granted authority by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to conduct new or renewal insurance business in Australia...
Zurich calls for better risk management
09 March 2009
Zurich Financial Services claims the credit crisis highlights the need for greatly improved risk management, and says firms must better prepare for extreme events...
JLT: Global economy may limit hardening market
09 March 2009
The Australasian retail businesses of international broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson have shown a rise of 13.6% to achieve a profit of $40.7 million...
Centrepoint Alliance focuses on premium funding
09 March 2009
Finance company Centrepoint Alliance intends to concentrate on premium funding after blaming an interim loss of $565,000 on unprofitable commercial finance units dragging the overall result...
QBE profits down but still remarkable: O’Halloran
02 March 2009
QBE has exceeded market expectations to post a 3.5% drop in its annual net profit of $1.86 billion. But CEO Frank O’Halloran – while signalling he’s still on the acquisition trail – predicts a tougher year ahead...
IAG on course despite slim pickings: Wilkins
02 March 2009
IAG CEO Mike Wilkins says the group’s corporate restructuring has “laid the platform for future success” after he reported slim first-half takings last week...
Nothing wrong with our model, says Suncorp chairman
02 March 2009
Suncorp Chairman John Story has reaffirmed the group’s faith in its insurance/banking/wealth management allfinanz model but stopped short of ruling out a demerger...
Austbrokers profit climbs 14%
02 March 2009
The buoyant broker market was well illustrated last week when Austbrokers announced a $6.7 million half-year net profit – up 14% thanks to organic growth and the contribution of new acquisitions...
Calliden profit up by 600%
02 March 2009
Calliden Group is flexing new muscles with a 600% boost in net profit for 2008, strong growth in gross written premium and a mission to take on the big boys...
Tough times prompt conservative measures at IAG
23 February 2009
The word “sensible” set the tone for a media briefing by IAG CEO Michael Wilkins about the group’s first-half performance forecast and capital-raising...
Assetinsure replaces Babcock & Brown’s 50%
23 February 2009
Commercial insurance underwriter Assetinsure has severed ties with troubled investment firm Babcock & Brown which has sold its 50% stake in the insurer...
Top Suncorp man jumps ship to join Lumley
23 February 2009
Suncorp’s EGM Corporate Portfolio, Commercial Insurance John Nagle will join Lumley as COO Intermediary Partners, starting in May...