QBE eyes bolt-ons – and exchange rate
11 April 2007
QBE CEO Frank O’Halloran says the group is on track to achieve 20% profit growth in 2007, but currency fluctuations could affect earnings…
Corporate
Wesfarmers’ NZ shopping spree continues
11 April 2007
With the ink barely dry on its Crombie Lockwood acquisition, Wesfarmers is adding more businesses to its broking interests in New Zealand…
Robinson goes to IOOF
11 April 2007
Former OAMPS CEO Tony Robinson has been appointed the new CEO of funds manager IOOF Holdings…
Vero buys landlord insurance specialist
03 April 2007
New Suncorp subsidiary Vero Insurance has acquired South Australia-based specialist landlord insurance broker Terri Scheer Insurance Brokers…
Suncorp completes its A+ merger
27 March 2007
It probably won’t generate positive returns for a while, but Suncorp’s merger with Promina is a good bet over the long term…
Axa raises bar on Asian operations
27 March 2007
Axa Asia Pacific has increased its Asian growth targets for 2008, and the diversified group is looking to build its Hong Kong assets to more than $47.9 billion by the end of next year…
CBA stalls on motor underwriting
27 March 2007
Commonwealth Bank’s insurance branch will announce by September whether it will underwrite motor vehicle insurance…
More acquisitions on the cards
20 March 2007
The Promina Insurance Group is technically no more…
Ansvar drops EIG in re-brand
20 March 2007
Australian-based EIG-Ansvar has dropped its precursor initials under a re-branding that is in line with the direction its UK parent company is taking…
Indian group opens Melbourne office
20 March 2007
Fire safety and security system specialist Firepro has opened a Melbourne office as the first step in a planned Asia-Pacific expansion…
Suncorp and Promina still competitors – for one more week
13 March 2007
The shareholder votes are in, and last night the Federal Court gave its approval to the proposed Suncorp and Promina merger…
QBE cracks top 10
13 March 2007
Insurance giant QBE has reached the upper echelons of local business after breaking into the top 10 Australian companies by market capitalisation…
Clarification
13 March 2007
Our tongue-in-cheek comment last week that Macquarie Bank has a “new-found interest in insurance brokers” has been disputed by the bank…
Macquarie buys insurance broking service
06 March 2007
Major Australian financial services giant Macquarie Group is joining in on the trend to tap into the insurance market with a unique Canadian acquisition, and has announced…
Growth to come from purchases: Austbrokers
06 March 2007
In this soft market, Austbrokers isn’t expecting revenue rises to come from its established members…
NTI appoints Acting CEO
06 March 2007
National Transport Insurance Chairman Bob Wagstaffe has announced the appointment of Tony Clark as Acting CEO…
Brokers provide drought aid
06 March 2007
Victoria’s Regional Insurance Brokers Association is chipping in to the drought relief effort, paying for the equivalent of a full tank of water for farmers as part of a drought relief…
QBE rides low-claim wave to profit record
27 February 2007
Strong investment returns, declining claims and premium rises have set up another bumper result for QBE, which has reported a 36% increase in net profit for the full year…
Overseas earnings will be key for IAG
27 February 2007
IAG has seen its second-half profit slump because of falling premiums and below-par investment returns…
Promina chief backs staff for merger
27 February 2007
Outgoing Promina CEO Michael Wilkins hopes the company’s management will be retained under a merged Suncorp group – and most industry observers say they’d be amazed…