Broker Verlingue has opened an office in Bristol, which it says will enhance its ability to support clients across the South West. The office becomes Verlingue’s ninth in the UK. The broker is part of Verlingue Group, which also has a specialist London market division.

Defaqto has published a report that says motor insurers are not doing enough to ensure customers understand the financial implications of the choices they make during the online quote-and-buy process. It says this makes it difficult for customers to make informed decisions and for carriers to fulfil the Consumer Duty.

Lloyd’s has announced the 10 firms that will form the 17th cohort of its Lloyd’s Lab Accelerator initiative, after 15 businesses pitched for a place on the 10-week programme. The participants were chosen in respect of three specific themes: operational efficiency in the Lloyd's market, new products for the Lloyd's market and experimental innovation.

Managing general agent Ripe has launched a product to cover classic, modern classic and collectible cars. Specialist motor insurer ERS will underwrite the new product, which is called Ripe Classic Cars. It adds to Ripe’s niche caravan and motorhome covers in the motor market and to its overall portfolio of more than 20 consumer and SME products.

Zurich is set to take ownership of Beazley on 1st October following joint confirmation that they have secured the necessary regulatory approvals for the transaction to go ahead. Zurich first went public with an offer for Beazley in January this year, which it subsequently increased to approximately £8.1bn.

Hybrid insurer Bridgehaven Specialty UK Limited has agreed a deal with managing general agent Amulet Real Estate Limited to provide capacity to underwrite a portfolio of specialist commercial property and liability insurance. Amulet, which is backed by capital partner Mission, was established earlier this year.

The International Underwriting Association says London insurance market companies generated premiums of £49.2bn in 2025, which was 0.1% down on the previous year. The IUA collected data from 80 different firms and has published its findings in its London Company Market Statistics Report.

Poor signposting is leaving many non-standard customers having to start their search for cover from scratch if their initial application for cover is declined, according to a poll of brokers commissioned by managing general agent Prestige Underwriting and conducted by Context Skythorn.

Clear Group has moved from its previous London base at Great Tower Street and is now operational at its new headquarters which are located at 24 Monument Street in the City. The new premises accommodate all Clear’s London colleagues on a single floor within the building.

The Financial Conduct Authority has cancelled Professional Liability Network’s Part 4a permission to carry on regulated activities. The watchdog says the firm has not engaged in communications with it since mid-June 2025 and has failed to be “open and co-operative in all its dealings with the Authority.”

The UK property sector is becoming an increasingly attractive target for cyber criminals, according to intermediary Karis Insurance. The firm says the amount and sensitivity of data routinely collected from buyers, sellers, landlord and tenants is behind the 17% uptick in cyber attacks experienced by the sector.

The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a consultation seeking views on two proposed minor changes it believes will reduce the reporting burden for insurers. The regulator is planning to scrap the need to disclose the amount that the top 2% of claim pay-outs are above as well as details of a firm’s 5 largest distribution arrangements for individual products.

Allianz UK has enhanced both its appetite for digitally traded financial lines risks as well as the data enrichment capabilities applied during the quote process. The carrier says this will make it easier for brokers to submit a wider range of risks online through QuoteSME and imarket.

Data from Defaqto’s latest quarterly van insurance price index shows that premiums fell by 4.5% in the three months to August this year. Premiums fell by 1.8% in June, 1.9% in July and 0.9% in August and are now down by 11% on an annualised basis.

Aviva has teamed up with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to support a five-year project that seeks to mitigate flood risk and make Bristol the first Ramsar-accredited wetland city in the UK. Data from Aviva shows that almost a third of homes in Bristol are at risk from river, coastal or surface water flooding.

Brown and Brown (Europe) Ltd has snapped up Alan R MacKay and Company Limited, trading as MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers, which has offices in Glasgow, Ayr and Aberdeen. The deal marks Brown and Brown’s first acquisition in Scotland.