Insurance UK

Gov't Growth Priority Forces FCA To Reassess Consumer Risk

Moves by the U.K. government to force the financial watchdog to back economic growth with more relaxed regulatory controls could expose consumers to harm, leaving regulators with no clear idea of what risk levels would be politically tolerable.

The Biggest Developments In Insurance In 2024

The financial watchdog has come under pressure this year from the Labour government to tackle the cost of insurance, which has soared because of rising claims caused by the ongoing repercussions from Brexit and the war in Ukraine.

FCA's 2024 Consumer Focus Still Has Firms Guessing

The Financial Conduct Authority shifted further toward results-based financial regulation in 2024 by requiring regulated companies to comply better with its Consumer Duty, forcing managers to make individual interpretations of the regime's often ambiguous requirements where more specific rules are missing.

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.

March 24, 2025
A&O Dials In £10B Longevity Risk Pension Deals For BT Plan

One of the U.K.'s largest private-sector pension funds said it had offloaded £10 billion ($13 billion) in longevity risk to two reinsurers, in a deal steered by A&O Shearman and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.
March 24, 2025
EU To Ease Financial Benchmark Rules For Administrators

European Union negotiators approved on Monday an amended regulation on financial benchmarks to ease the burden on small and medium-sized firms that operate as administrators.
March 24, 2025
Global M&A Rebound Drives Insurance Boom, UK Broker Says

Insurers are seeing growing demand from businesses for protection from risk connected to mergers and acquisitions, amid a global recovery in deal making in 2024, a survey by Marsh McLennan has found.
March 24, 2025
Schroders Wins £740M Pension Management Contract

Schroders' pension investment and advisory arm has confirmed its appointment as fiduciary manager of a pension scheme linked to Aga Rangemaster and will oversee £740 million ($958 million) worth of assets on behalf of the kitchen appliance brand scheme.
March 24, 2025
UK Car Insurance Premiums Drop 17% Amid Lower Claims

U.K. motorists are now paying £777 ($1,005) on average for their car insurance, a 17% year-on-year fall, broker WTW said Monday.
March 24, 2025
UK Pension Deal Market Hit £47.6B In 2024

The total value of pension deals carried out last year hit a near-record £47.6 billion ($61.6 billion) — a level that could prove to be a new norm for the market, a consultancy said.
March 21, 2025
Spanish Lottery Co. Accused Of Tax Insurance Market Breach

Spain's competition authority said Friday it is investigating a lottery company on suspicion of suppressing the marketing of tax insurance coverage for lottery winners.
March 21, 2025
Insurers Provide £14.9B Of Cover With Post-Grenfell Program

The insurance industry has provided cover worth £14.9 billion ($19.2 billion) for more than 680 high-risk buildings during the nine months of a program designed to expand insurance capacity for properties with combustible cladding, a trade body has said.
March 21, 2025
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

This past week in London has seen a sub-postmaster sue the Post Office and Fujitsu, Russian insurer Ingosstrakh hit the Financial Times with a defamation claim, and Britvic-owned Robinsons Soft Drinks file a passing off claim against Aldi. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.
March 21, 2025
Insurance Giant Howden Buys Scotland Broker SKB

Insurance broking giant Howden Group said it has bought Scotland-based SKB Independent Insurance Brokers.
March 21, 2025
Insurer MS Amlin To Write €110M For Ukraine War Facility

Lloyd's of London insurer MS Amlin said Friday that it has committed up to €110 million ($119 million) in reinsurance over five years to support war-risk policies underwritten by three Ukrainian insurers.
March 21, 2025
FCA Probes Commission 'Concerns' Over Life Insurance Sales

The financial watchdog said that Friday it is launching a probe into whether insurance cover for critical illness or death in a family represents fair value to consumers, amid concerns over the sales of overpriced or unsuitable products.
March 21, 2025
Underwriter Ignite Launches Litigation Cover In Europe

Insurance business Ignite Specialty Risk said it will start offering litigation cover in the European Economic Area, following new legislation on class action.
March 20, 2025
Gallagher Hits Back At Former CEO's £1.5M Claim For Losses

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.'s benefits and consulting arm denies that it owes a former chief executive of a company it acquired £1.55 million ($2 million) on his claim that it failed to manage the business correctly, as legal wrangling over the acquisition continues.
March 20, 2025
Audit Watchdog Pledges Support For Gov't Growth Priority

The audit watchdog said Thursday it will adjust priorities to support U.K. economic growth better in its new three-year strategy, in line with government priorities.
March 20, 2025
Gowling, Sackers Steer £785M Pension Deal For Crops Biz

An agricultural giant has offloaded £785 million ($1 billion) of its pension liabilities to Legal & General Assurance Society Ltd., the insurer said Thursday, in a deal guided by Gowling WLG, Sacker & Partners LLP and Clifford Chance LLP.
March 20, 2025
Firms Still See Pension Schemes As Risk, Despite Surplus

Most company bosses see their pension scheme as a financial risk, despite planned reform that will allow excess funding to be reinvested in the business, a professional services firm warned.
March 20, 2025
MPs Urged To Block FCA Email Deletion Policy

Lawmakers should prevent the Financial Conduct Authority from going ahead with its "draconian and opaque" policy to delete staff emails after a year, consumer groups and advocates said Thursday.
March 19, 2025
Group Status Prohibits VAT, Prudential Tells UK Top Court

Prudential disputed a value-added tax claim on £9.3 million ($12.1 million) in performance fees at the U.K. Supreme Court on Wednesday on the grounds that the business providing the services was a part of the same group as Prudential for tax purposes.
March 19, 2025
Freshfields Guides €3.5B Sale Of Life Insurer Viridium

A consortium that includes German insurer Allianz said Wednesday that it would buy a controlling stake in European life insurance consolidator Viridium Group from Cinven Group Ltd, a private equity firm, for €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion).
March 19, 2025
UK Regulator OKs Aegon Unit's First Long-Term Asset Fund

Aegon Asset Management said Wednesday that the Financial Conduct Authority had greenlighted its plan to launch its open-ended fund vehicle to offer investors regulated access to illiquid assets.
March 19, 2025
Pressure Grows On State Pension As Life Expectancy Rises

Life expectancy for the U.K. grew for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic between 2021 and 2023, according to official data, suggesting further strain on taxpayers footing expected state pension cost increases.
March 19, 2025
Swiss Bank Accused Of Ignoring $1B Kuwaiti Bribery Scheme

A Swiss bank turned a blind eye to a scheme of corrupt payments orchestrated by the former director of Kuwait's pensions authority by failing to make reasonable inquiries into suspicious accounts, lawyers for the body told a court on Wednesday.
March 19, 2025
FCA Urged To Act As Insurance Finance Rates Still High

The Financial Conduct Authority must be prepared to take tough action against insurers on premium finance, a consumer group warned, as it revealed that interest charged on monthly repayments was still above 30% despite repeated warnings from the regulator.
March 19, 2025
European Insurance M&A Deals Hit Record 20% In 2024

The number of deals involving European insurance businesses rose by 20% in 2024, largely driven by an increase in consolidation among brokers and service providers, a consultancy said Wednesday.

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

What's Next After FCA Drops Troubled 'Name And Shame' Plan

A closer look at the Financial Conduct Authority's recent decision to toss its widely unpopular proposal changing the test for announcing enforcement investigations may reveal how we got here, why the regulator changed course, and where it’s headed next, say lawyers at Hogan Lovells.
New UK Order Offers Welcome Clarity To Crypto Staking Rules

The recently effective Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Amendment Order clarifies that arrangements for qualifying crypto-asset staking do not amount to a collective investment scheme, and by addressing an issue that curtailed staking activities in the U.K., facilitates the use of that practice, says Andrew Henderson at Goodwin.
How EU's Anticoercion Tool May Counter New US Tariffs

The never-before-used anticoercion instrument could allow the European Union to respond to the imposition of U.S. tariffs, potentially effective March 12, and gives EU companies a voice in the process as it provides for consultation with economic operators at different steps throughout the procedure, say lawyers at Crowell & Moring.
What To Know About Compliance As EU AI Act Takes Effect

Raj Shah at Mishcon de Reya explains how recently effective provisions of the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act, which concern prohibited AI practices and AI literacy, will affect both providers and users of AI systems, and suggests steps that companies can take now to plug any compliance gaps.
Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises

“No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.
Market Infrastructure Regs Aim To Reinvigorate EU Trading

The recently amended European Market Infrastructure Regulation, imposing a requirement on certain financial and nonfinancial institutions to maintain an active EU counterparty account, hopes to incentivize the central clearing of trades, although there are concerns that higher compliance costs will lead to a decrease in competitiveness, say lawyers at McDermott.
Important Changes To Note In Accountant Ethics Code Update

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales' forthcoming code of ethics will bring a number of significant updates to raise standards within the profession, but also risks of professional indemnity claims that could lead to challenges for firms, say lawyers at RPC.
What 2025 Holds For UK, EU Restructuring And Insolvency

European Union and U.K. restructuring developments in 2024, with a new era of director accountability, the use of cramdown tools and the emergence of aggressive liability management exercises, mean greater consideration of creditors' interests and earlier engagement in restructuring discussions can be expected this year, says Inga West at Ashurst.
How GCs Can Protect Cos. From Geopolitical Headwinds

Geopolitical uncertainty is perceived by corporate leaders as the biggest short-term threat to global business, but many of the potential crises are navigable if general counsel focus on what is being said about a company and what the company is doing, says Juliet Young at Schillings.
Navigating PRA's Data Request For Crypto-Asset Exposure

The Prudential Regulation Authority’s recent data request for details on financial institutions' crypto-asset exposures should be used as an opportunity for firms to update their compliance procedures, and consider the future use of crypto-assets and related services, says James Wickes at RPC.
Key Points From FCA Financial Crime Guide Updates

The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent updates to its financial crime guide reflect the regulator’s learnings on sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting and clarifying consumer duty, anti-money laundering and other compliance expectations, say lawyers at Womble Bond.
Why Nonfinancial Misconduct Should Be On Firms' Radar

Following a recent Financial Conduct Authority survey showing an increase in nonfinancial misconduct, the regulator has made clear that it expects firms to have systems in place to identify and mitigate risks, says Charlotte Pope-Williams at 3 Hare Court.
Insider Info Compliance Highlights From New FCA Guidance

The Financial Conduct Authority's recent guidance to companies on identifying inside information clarifies the regulator's expectation of case-by-case assessment, helpfully highlighting that abuse of U.K.-regulated markets can arise earlier than some might think, say lawyers at Sullivan & Cromwell.
Interpreting Newly Released Consumer Fraud Complaints Data

The Financial Ombudsman Service’s latest complaint data focuses on scams and customer service, and demonstrates that as fraud is becoming rapidly more complex, financial regulators need to acknowledge that technology is here to stay and work together with firms to protect consumers, say lawyers at RPC.
Anticipating The UK's Top M&A Trends In 2025

Conversations with market participants are focusing on five key questions about 2025's transactional markets, ranging from issues of artificial intelligence, to the boom in takeovers and increased regulatory scrutiny, says Layla D’Monte at King & Spalding.