Lloyd’s re/insurer MS Amlin and sister company Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company UK (Europe) have launched a new dual-stamp underwriting capability in a bid to expand their London Market footprint. The arrangement will enable underwriters to write risks across one or both capacity sources, initially for natural resources, trade credit and political risk and accident and health lines.

The Financial Conduct Authority has decided not to publish details of an investigation if a public interest test is meet, and to put its diversity and inclusion proposals on hold while it waits for the government to introduce associated legislation. The regulator detailed its position in a letter to the Treasury Select Committee.

PIB Group has acquired managing general agent Liticia, which focuses on providing cover for private and corporate clients involved in litigation or arbitration. The MGA is Lloyd’s coverholder and launched in London in 2019. It has since expanded its reach to Australia, the United States and Germany.

Liberty Specialty Markets is set to become an early adopter of WTW’s digital trading platform for complex specialty risks, Neuron. The platform connects brokers and insurers in real time and Liberty Specialty Markets said it would help it address the challenges of a digitising market.

Re/insurance managing general agent Rokstone is launching a mid-market aviation programme for the US which will be back with A-rated capacity from Lloyd’s insurer Tokio Marine Kiln. The move gives brokers in this sector easy access to Lloyd’s.

Lloyd’s achieved gross written premium of £55.5bn in 2024, an increase of 6.5% on the previous year. Publishing its preliminary 2024 full-year financial performance, it said the market’s combined ratio has increased by 2.9 percentage points to 86.9%. It achieved an underwriting profit of £5.3bn, down on the £5.9bn recorded in 2023.

The winners of the 2025 National Insurance Awards were announced last night at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square. Hosted by the brilliant Marcus Brigstocke, the fastest growing awards in the insurance industry highlight the very best in general insurance provision and management.

Allianz Trade has launched its standalone business fraud insurance in Ireland to cover firms with more than 20 employees. The product covers internal employee fraud such as bribery, embezzlement and misappropriation or theft. It also covers external fraud including robbery, burglary, intercepted payments, payments made for a fake order and impersonation fraud.

Inner London Crown Court has granted confiscation orders totalling £376,608 against Ikram Rafique and Mohammad Hamad. Rafique operated a ghost broker and charged more than 900 motorists up to £300 each for insurance policies. Hamad laundered the funds. City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department brought the proceedings.

The Financial Conduct Authority is encouraging vulnerable customers to speak up about difficulties they face after the regulator found that just 40% have disclosed their needs to their financial services provider.

Admiral Group plc has achieved profit before tax of £839.2m for 2024, up by 90% on the previous year. It said insurance revenue was up by 37% to £4.78bn and that UK insurance customer numbers rose by 19% to 8.8 million. The group’s combined ratio improved by 11.3 percentage points to 77.4%.

Aviva has published a report that found the average value of household items has increased by 38% in the past five years to hit £58,000. The ‘How We Live’ report said spending on technology items was a major factor and that the rise had outstripped cumulative inflation of 25% over the same period.

Specialist Risk Group has acquired Brentacre Insurance which has particular focus on providing insurance for classic, modified and performance vehicles. Brentacre was established in 1987. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.

The Association of Consumer Support Organisations wants the government to review its personal injury legal reforms as the Official Injury Claim portal approaches its fourth anniversary. It also wants the Financial Conduct Authority to report on progress made my insurers on promised premium refunds.

Direct Line Insurance Group plc has reported its results for the year ended 31st December 2024, ahead of its acquisition by Aviva later this year. It achieved an ongoing operating profit of £205m in contrast to the loss of £189.9m the previous year.

Beazley plc has reported a profit of approximately £1.1bn for the year ended 31st December 2024. This was up from £980m in the previous year. It said net insurance written premiums totalled £4.8bn, up from £4.4bn in 2023. The carrier said its undiscounted combined ratio for 2024 was 79%, a deterioration of five percentage points on the preceding year.