Insurance UK

Featured

Snap July 4 Election Leaves Pension Reform In Disarray

The government's decision to call a snap general election for July 4 has left the U.K.'s pension sector in limbo, experts say, with uncertainty over whether the next administration will continue with an ambitious reform program.
June 28, 2024
EU Insurance Watchdog Warns Of Real Estate Risk Exposure

The European pensions and insurance industries are increasingly exposed to the possibility of a real estate collapse, the sector watchdog warned in a newly published report into the financial stability for the region.
June 28, 2024
Firms Face Increased Scrutiny Amid FCA Focus On Resilience

The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority have challenged two thirds of general insurance and investment firms about their ability to prevent disruption by threats like cyberattacks, according to an industry study.
June 28, 2024
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

This past week in London has seen Uber hit with claims from Addison Lee and the former CEO of the Kabbee app, animal by-product company Leo Group file a defamation claim against a local anti-odor campaigner, and a self-styled lord who claims to be the illegitimate son of the late Prince Phillip resume legal action against his cousins for a share in his late aunt's estate. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.
June 28, 2024
Addleshaw Goddard Guides Acquisitions Biz In £41.5M Deal

Marwyn Acquisition Company II Ltd. on Friday said it's subsidiary MAC II UK Ltd. has agreed to buy pensions services provider InvestAcc Group Ltd., for £41.5 million ($53 million), which would be mainly financed by a fundraising program, advised by Addleshaw Goddard LLP.
June 28, 2024
Fidelis Claims No Liability In $23M Stranded Jet Spat

Fidelis Underwriting Ltd. has hit back at another claim that it must pay out in a $23 million row over a leased plane stranded in Russia, arguing that no insured event has occurred, and that an Irish aviation lessor is not covered by the country's law.
June 27, 2024
DWF Buys Australian Claims Management Business

Private equity-backed DWF LLP said Thursday it has agreed to buy Australian claims management company Proclaim for an undisclosed amount to bolster its presence in the country.
June 27, 2024
Shell, Insurer Sue Oil Co. For $3.7M Over Cargo Failures

Shell Trading International Ltd. and its insurer have sued a Greek oil company for $3.7 million after claiming the near 30,000 metric tons of bitumen it bought from the European business did not comply with the agreed specification or quality.
June 27, 2024
Chubb Claims No Liability In $219M Stranded Jets Row

Chubb has denied that it owes a Bermuda-based subsidiary of a U.S. aircraft lessor in a $219 million row over a fleet of aircraft engines stranded in Russia and Ukraine because the planes are not lost and its policy does not cover war risk.
June 27, 2024
Insurance Biz DeadHappy Goes Under After Serial Killer Ads

Life insurance broker DeadHappy has fallen into administration, liquidators said Thursday, after bad taste adverts featuring a serial killer prompted its partners to pull the plug on new business.
June 27, 2024
R&Q Insurance Appoints Liquidators To Push $465M Sale

R&Q Insurance said Thursday that the Supreme Court of Bermuda has given it a green light to appoint three joint provisional liquidators to oversee the complete winding up of the troubled insurer.
June 27, 2024
Sackers Steers Bentley Trustee In £880M Pensions Deal

Luxury carmaker Bentley Motors Ltd. has passed £880 million ($1.1 billion) of the liabilities of its staff pension plan to Standard Life, the insurer said Thursday, in a deal steered by Sacker & Partners LLP, Travers Smith LLP and Eversheds Sutherland.
June 26, 2024
Fidelis Says Aircraft Lessors Not Covered Under Russian Law

Fidelis Underwriting Ltd. has said that the lessor and owners of three aircraft stranded in Russia after the country's invasion of Ukraine cannot reclaim $77.2 million for the planes from the reinsurer because they are not insured parties under Russian law.
June 26, 2024
Britain's Phoenix Group Plans Sale Of SunLife

Life insurance heavyweight Phoenix Group said Wednesday that it is planning to sell its SunLife Ltd. subsidiary that provides financial services to over 50s in the U.K.
June 26, 2024
FCA Warns Insurers Over Consumer Protection Failings

The City watchdog warned insurers on Wednesday over a failure to properly monitor clients who suffer financial harm from their products, following a sweeping review of consumer protection regulation.
June 26, 2024
Aviva Sees 39% Rise In Insurance Fraud Claims

Insurance giant Aviva on Wednesday said it spotted 39% more instances of fraud in 2023 than it did in the year previous, despite the value of fraudulent claims being lower than 2022.
June 26, 2024
Eversheds Steers £33M Pension Deal For Metal Recycling Co.

A global scrap metal company has offloaded £33 million ($42 million) of its U.K. staff pension liabilities to insurer Aviva PLC, advisers said Wednesday, in a deal steered by Eversheds Sutherland.
June 26, 2024
Consultancy Broadstone Warns Insurers Of Geopolitical Risks

Insurers could risk a reduction in business, higher claims frequency, and investment and operational losses due to the world's major geopolitical upheavals, a consultancy warned Wednesday.
June 26, 2024
Zurich To Acquire AIG's Travel Insurance Biz For $600M

Zurich Insurance Group said Wednesday that it will buy the personal travel insurance business from U.S. financial group AIG for $600 million to help the Swiss insurer to become a leading provider of holiday cover in the U.S.
June 25, 2024
BBC Fights For Ability To Cut Costs Of £20B Pension Scheme

The British Broadcasting Corporation launched an appeal Tuesday in a case that will decide whether it is able to reduce future benefits for members of its £19.8 billion ($25 billion) pension scheme.
June 25, 2024
Insurtech Body Calls For Regulatory Shakeup To Fuel Growth

The next government must create a "positive, enabling policy environment" that allows more insurance technology firms to enter the market and facilitates better funding to drive growth in the sector, a trade body said Tuesday.
June 25, 2024
Disability Care May Leave Parents' Pension Funds Short

Employers must create more flexible workplace cultures to ensure parents can balance caring and working after research shows that those with disabled children could be worse off in retirement because of caring responsibilities, People's Partnership said Tuesday.
June 25, 2024
Chubb Relies On War Exclusion In $180M Russian Planes Suit

Chubb has denied claims that it owes several Irish lessors for two jets insured for over $180 million stranded in Russia, saying the aircraft are not physically lost and would be excluded as a war risk from the reinsurance policy.
June 25, 2024
Squire Patton Guides PE Shop's Insurance Platform Deal

European private equity shop Perwyn has said it will acquire specialist insurance platform Atec Group from rival buyout business Kester Capital to strengthen its stable of niche and non-standard products.
June 24, 2024
Herbert Smith Launches ESG Regulations Monitoring Tool

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP on Monday launched a tool designed to help businesses stay up to date with the evolving landscape of environmental, social and governance regulations and reporting requirements.
June 24, 2024
Retired Judges Lose Appeal In Pension Row With MoJ

An appeals tribunal ruled Monday that the Ministry of Justice did not discriminate against three judges when it switched their pension schemes, ruling that their new judicial posts — rather than their part-time worker status — caused the change.

Editor's Picks

Top Court Ruling In 'Whiplash' Test Case Could Hit Premiums

Personal injury claimants could get higher payouts from their motor insurance as a result of a test case ruling at Britain's highest court on Tuesday, although analysts warn that insurers could respond with higher premiums to cover the cost of bigger claims.
FCA Begins Crackdown On Poor-Value Insurance Products

The move by the Financial Conduct Authority to restrict sales of guaranteed asset protection insurance is a sign of a faster approach to market intervention, and could lead the regulator to scrutinize other underperforming products, consultants say.
Post-Election UK Pension Changes Could Be In The Fine Print

Regulatory lawyers are not expecting radical overhaul in pension policies if the government changes after this year's general election. But lawyers say that signals in the opposition Labour Party's policy language could hint at possible shifts in investment priorities for retirement savings.

Expert Analysis

Exploring The EU's Draft Standards On Crypto Authorization

The European Securities and Markets Authority’s recently published draft standards aim to promote fair competition and a safer environment for crypto providers and investors, detailing precisely the information to be provided to national authorities in charge of screening the acquisitions of a qualifying holding, says Mathieu de Korvin at Norton Rose.
How FCA Guidance Aligns With Global Cyberattack Measures

The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority’s recent guidance on preparing for cyberattacks aligns with the global move by financial regulators to focus on operational resilience, highlighting the importance of proactive strategies and robust resilience frameworks to mitigate disruptions, while observing a disappointing level of engagement by the industry, say Alix Prentice and Grace Ncube at Cadwalader.
EU Anti-Greenwashing Guide Analyzed For Fund Managers

Anna Maleva-Otto and Matthew Dow at Schulte Roth explain how the European Securities and Markets Authority’s new guidelines on sustainability-related terms in fund names aim to protect European Union investors from unsubstantiated claims, and how they provide quantifiable criteria for determining which terms can be used to promote their funds.
How Law Firms Can Handle Challenges Of Mass Claims

With a wave of volume litigation possibly about to hit the U.K. courts, firms developing mass claim practices should ensure they heed the Solicitors Regulation Authority's May warning and adopt strategies to ensure regulatory compliance and fair client representation, says Claire Van der Zant at Shieldpay.
FCA Doubles Down On New Priorities With Target ID Plan

Respondents to the Financial Conduct Authority’s recent consultation on its plan to publicly name subjects under investigation are concerned that the regulator’s cost-benefit analysis has not adequately considered the risks, but the FCA is holding firm, and it seems likely the changes will be implemented, says James Tyler at Peters & Peters.
Insurance Ruling Stresses High Hurdle To Fix Policy Wording

In Project Angel v. Axis, the Court of Appeal recently refused to rewrite the exclusion clause of an insurance policy, reminding parties in the warranty and indemnity market to carefully word clauses, as there is a high threshold before courts will intervene to amend policies, say Joseph Moore and Laura McCann at Travers Smith.
Examining Senior Managers' Accountability For AI Use

With the Financial Conduct Authority's artificial intelligence update and the Prudential Regulation Authority’s letter to the government offering key guidance on the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, Senior Managers in these organizations need to show they have taken steps to prevent breaching requirements in order not to be held personally accountable, says Jennifer Holyoake at DLA Piper.
What Cos. Should Know About The EU Greenwashing Rules

The EU's recently proposed Green Claims Directive introduces new rules to improve the transparency and honesty of environmental claims in advertising, which will help ensure that consumers receive accurate and reliable information to make informed purchasing decisions, says Daja Apetz-Dreier at Morgan Lewis.
The Art Of Corporate Apologies: Crafting An Effective Strategy

Public relations challenges often stop companies from apologizing amid alleged wrongdoing, but a recent U.K. government consultation seeks to make this easier, highlighting the importance of corporate apologies and measures to help companies balance the benefits against the potential legal ramifications, says Dina Hudson at Byfield Consultancy.
Dissecting Recent Developments Against The Misuse Of NDAs

The U.K. government's recent plans to nullify nondisclosure agreements that prevent victims from reporting crimes should remind lawyers to proactively consider the necessity of such agreements, especially in light of the Solicitors Regulation Authority's warning notice on drafting improper NDAs, say Clare Davis and Macaela Joyes at RPC.
What To Know About The Russia-Stranded Plane Ruling

The High Court's recent decision in Zephyrus Capital Aviation v. Fidelis Underwriting, rejecting reinsurers' U.K. jurisdiction challenges in claims over stranded planes in Russia, has broad implications for cross-border litigation involving exclusive jurisdiction clauses, says Samantha Zaozirny at Browne Jacobson.
3 Notable Pensions Reforms In Spring Budget

The U.K. government’s spring budget introduced reforms to improve pension outcomes through the value for money framework and the lifetime provider model, as well as to encourage investments in Britain — three interlinked areas that could pressure trustees and providers to rethink how they approach investments, say Liz Ramsaran and Marcus Fink at DWF.
UK Arbitration Ruling Offers Tips On Quelling Bias Concerns

An English court's recent decision in H1 v. W to remove an arbitrator because of impartiality concerns offers several lessons on mitigating bias, including striking a balance between arbitration experience and knowledge of a particular industry, and highlights the importance of careful arbitrator appointment, says Paul-Raphael Shehadeh at Duane Morris.
Bias Ruling Offers Guidance On Disqualifying Arbitrators

An English court's recent decision in H1 v. W, removing an arbitrator due to bias concerns, reaffirms practical considerations when assessing an arbitrator's impartiality, and highlights how ill-chosen language by an arbitrator can clear the high bar for disqualification, say Andrew Connelly and Ian Meredith at K&L Gates.
Insurance Policy Takeaways From UK Lockdown Loss Ruling

An English court's recent decision in Unipolsai v. Covea, determining that insurers' losses from COVID-19 lockdowns were covered by reinsurance, highlights key issues on insurance policy wordings, including how to define a "catastrophe" in the context of the pandemic, says Daniel Healy at Brown Rudnick.