Association of British Insurers (ABI) News

UK Government Pushes Forward With Long-Awaited Insurer Reforms

After years of fraught debate between regulators, insurers and the Treasury, Jeremy Hunt confirmed Thursday that the government would push forward with reforms to a corner of the City of London that’s intended to release billions of pounds of investment …

Parties Scrapped, Bells Toll as UK Financial Services Sector Pays Respect to the Queen

Britain’s financial industry is dialing down activities in the run-up to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth next Monday, canceling events and paring business, as a nation in mourning prepares to bid farewell to Britain’s longest-serving monarch. Post-summer parties have been …

UK’s Solvency II Reforms Could Open Door to Share-Buyback Bonanza for Insurers

Insurers would potentially be able to use billions of pounds of expected gains from a relaxation of capital rules for share buybacks and to pay dividends, under plans by both candidates to succeed Boris Johnson as UK prime minister. Foreign …

UK Government Chaos Sparks Fears in City of London of More Post-Brexit Limbo

City of London executives have expressed anxiety that the turmoil rocking the UK government may delay or derail post-Brexit reforms aimed at boosting competition and growth. The resignations of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and John Glen, economic secretary to the Treasury, …

Insurers Must Be Better Prepared for Impact of Climate Change: BoE

Insurers need to plug data gaps to be better prepared for the impact of climate change on their operations and further work may be needed on how much capital they should hold, the Bank of England (BoE) said on Wednesday. …

IMF Warns Britain About Relaxing High Regulatory Standards for Insurers, Banks

A push to make London more attractive as a global financial center after Brexit must not threaten high standards of solvency and behavior at banks, insurers and markets, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday. The IMF said in its …

UK to Ease Solvency II Insurance Capital Rules to Unlock ‘Billions of Pounds’

Britain will unlock “tens of billions of pounds” of insurance sector capital that should boost the economy through infrastructure investment, financial services minister John Glen said on Monday. The six-year-old “Solvency II” capital requirements were inherited from the European Union …

Cost of UK Auto Insurance in 2021 at 6-Year Low, but Cost Pressures Begin to Bite: ABI

The average price paid by motorists for their motor insurance in 2021 fell to its lowest level in six years according to the ABI’s latest Motor Insurance Premium Tracker. However, there is evidence that sustained cost pressures are beginning to …

UK Regulator to Review ‘Crippling’ Post-Grenfell Property Insurance Costs

Property insurers have forced “crippling costs” onto residents of apartment blocks in the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster, the U.K. government said as it requested a review of the market. Some residents in medium- and high-rise buildings have seen their …

Insurers Face Disputes with Their Reinsurers over UK COVID-19 Business Income Claims

Top insurance companies, ordered by Britain’s highest court to pay thousands of small businesses millions of pounds in claims for COVID-19 disruption, are facing a battle with reinsurers over who should foot the bill, industry sources said. Bars, beauty parlors, …