MS Amlin partners with MSI on UAE political risk reinsurance
MS Amlin launches a political risk reinsurance partnership with Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance in the UAE, expanding contract frustration cover via Dubai
đŹđ§ UK Insurance News
Cyber reinsurance rates drop 32% at Jan 2026 amid capacity glut
Gallagher Re reports a 32% fall in risk-adjusted cyber aggregate excess of loss rates at 1 Jan 2026 renewals as excess capacity and softer terms reshape the market
Willis adds Dubai and Madrid to global D&F reinsurance placement hub network
Willis expands its direct and facultative placement network with new hubs in Dubai and Madrid, extending global market access through a single coordinated platform
Aviva launches private clients unit via Lloydâs of London market expansion
Aviva enters a new high-net-worth phase by launching Aviva Private Clients through Lloydâs, enabling cross-border cover, multi-currency policies, and bespoke underwriting
FCA urges insurers to rebuild trust as 66% of đŹđ§ UK consumers remain sceptical
FCA deputy chief executive Sarah Pritchard says insurers must fix trust gaps as new data shows 66% of UK consumers distrust the sector despite high claims payouts
Radian completes $1.67 bn acquisition of Lloydâs re/insurer Inigo
Radian closed its $1.67 bn purchase of Inigo, reshaping the group into a global specialty insurer and lifting EPS and ROE expectations for 2026
Reinsurance cycle looks steadier as capacity builds and T&Cs tighten
Autonomous sees a more rational reinsurance cycle, though rising capacity and softer pricing are expected to pressure terms and conditions through 2026
Artificial Labs raises $45 mn Series B to scale insurance tech
Artificial Labs closed a $45 mn Series B led by CommerzVentures to scale digital broking and underwriting technology and expand into the US in 2026.
Tokio Marine Kiln hires Ben Sitki to strengthen cyber reinsurance team
Tokio Marine Kiln appoints Ben Sitki as underwriter in its Cyber Reinsurance Solutions unit, adding MEA cyber expertise as the platform expands
ILS market targets another record year after $24 bn issuance
Strong investor demand, reinvestment flows, and maturing cat bonds position the ILS market for another high-volume issuance year in 2026
Health and Safety tops global D&O risk rankings as climate and AI concerns fade
Health and safety is the leading risk for directors and officers worldwide for a second year running, according to the Global D&O Survey
Plum adds embedded travel insurance via insurtech Qover to Max subscription
UK fintech Plum partners with Qover to bundle worldwide travel protection into its Max plan, expanding embedded insurance within its money management app
PERILS sets final Windstorm Ăowyn insured loss at EUR 765 mn
PERILS issues its final estimate for Windstorm Ăowyn, putting insured property losses across the UK and Ireland at EUR 765 mn after limited loss development
Pace secures $10 mn Series A led by Sequoia to scale agentic AI replacing insurance BPO work
Pace secures $10 mn Series A led by Sequoia to scale agentic AI replacing insurance BPO work across submissions, claims, and policy servicing
Sanctions sideline 79 Russian oil tankers and drive up insurance costs
More than 79 sanctioned tankers involved in transporting Russian oil halted operations in 2025, while freight and vessel insurance costs jumped by 40-50%
Atrium Underwriters expands InsurX tie-up as smart follow GWP tops $100 mn
Atrium Underwriters deepens its InsurX partnership, adding independent smart follow capacity as algorithmic property placements pass $100 mn.
Willis returns to light aviation insurance after 30-year exit
Willis re-enters the light and recreational aviation market after three decades, driven by the arrival of the London-based Crispin Speers team
Insurers brace for Arctic tension, regime shifts, nuclear risk in 2026
BMIâs Yoel Sano flags Arctic disputes, regime change, and nuclear uncertainty as top political risks insurers face heading into 2026 and beyond
Brit renews US hospital liability consortium 7882 with $10 mn capacity
Brit Group renews its US hospital professional liability Consortium 7882 for 2026, offering $10 mn of Lloydâs-backed capacity amid tighter market conditions
FCA studies long-term AI effects on UK insurance and retail finance
The FCA launches a forward-looking review on AI in insurance and retail finance, weighing innovation, fraud risks, and regulatory readiness
Ascension Ventures secures ÂŁ10 mn to back UK pre-seed founders
Ascension Ventures receives up to ÂŁ10m from the British Business Bank to expand regional access to pre-seed and seed capital across the UK
Armilla AI expands standalone AI liability cover to $25 mn limits
Armilla AI increases AI liability limits to $25m with all-risks coverage as insurers add generative AI exclusions across cyber, E&O, and liability policies
Defaqto acquires the Market Pricing Business of Pearson Ham in ÂŁ11 mn deal
Defaqto strengthens UK insurance data capabilities with a ÂŁ11m acquisition of Pearson Ham Groupâs Market Pricing Business via parent company Fintel
Marsh Risk expands Nimbus data center insurance to $2.7 bn capacity
Marsh Risk increases Nimbus facility limits to $2.7bn for large-scale data center construction projects across major global markets
Insurtech Mantas raises $1.8 mn to insure cloud outages with parametric cover
Digital risk startup Mantas exits stealth with $1.77m seed funding to launch parametric insurance for cloud outages across MENA and North America
Lloydâs Patriotic Fund rebrands as Lloydâs Veterans Charity
Lloydâs Patriotic Fund adopts the name Lloydâs Veterans Charity, clarifying its mission to support military veterans and families across the Lloydâs market
Willis expands Synthetik partnership for terrorism risk modelling
Willis broadens its partnership with Synthetik, deploying advanced political violence and terrorism models across client advisory and risk quantification
Lloydâs appoints Jim Bichard as CFO, PwC insurance chief joins in 2026
Lloydâs names PwC global insurance head Jim Bichard as CFO from April 2026, replacing Alexandra Cliff, subject to UK regulatory approval
SCOR and Axa launch Lloydâs consortium for ecological restoration risk
Scor and Axa form a Lloydâs consortium to insure ecological restoration projects, aiming to reduce investment risk and scale nature recovery efforts globally
Optio Group takes full control of Italian MGA Heca
Optio Group acquires the remaining stake in Italian MGA Heca, marking its fifth deal in a year as it accelerates European expansion
Zurich Insurance launches ÂŁ7.7 bn cash bid for Beazley after year-long pursuit
Zurich Insurance goes public with a ÂŁ7.67bn offer for Beazley, proposing a 56% premium as it seeks scale in specialty insurance
UK lawmakers warn regulators lag on AI risks in insurance & financial services
UK MPs urge FCA and Bank of England to tighten oversight of AI in finance, warning of consumer harm and market instability as adoption accelerates
Helios Underwriting trims Lloydâs capacity to ÂŁ467 mn for 2026
Helios Underwriting expects ÂŁ467m of managed Lloydâs capacity for 2026, down 5%, with higher freehold exposure and portfolio adjustments
Allianz invests in UK insurtech Wrisk in ÂŁ12 mn Series B round
UK insurtech Wrisk secures investment from Allianz as part of its ÂŁ12m Series B, backing data-driven insurance for automotive OEMs
Sedgwick launches London-based global specialty platform for complex losses
Sedgwick rolled out a global specialty platform in London to handle large, complex losses, expanding marine and energy capabilities with senior hires and 100+ adjusters
Santam launches Lloydâs policy administration system with Alchemy and Buckhill
Santam, Alchemy Technology Services, and Buckhill delivered a new Lloydâs PAS for Syndicate 1918 in under three months, replacing legacy systems with a cloud-based, ecosystem-led model.
Nuclera adds $12 mn to Series C as investors back AI-ready protein platforms
Cambridge-based biotech lifts total Series C to âŹ74 mn, expanding antibody expression and validation inside its benchtop discovery system.
War insurance rates spike for Black Sea shipping after tanker drone attacks
Premiums for vessels heading to Russian and Ukrainian ports jump toward 1% of ship value as insurers reassess rapidly escalating risks in the region
Insurtech Kita launches NPI cover for carbon and natural capital finance
Kita expands carbon insurance with a Lloydâs-backed non-payment policy targeting lenders funding carbon and nature-based projects
Brit Re launches property D&F underwriting in Bermuda market
Brit Group starts writing US and global property direct and facultative risks from Bermuda via Brit Re, targeting complex industrial and realty exposures
Polo Managing Agency launches three new Lloydâs syndicates for 2026
Polo Managing Agency brings three new Lloydâs syndicates live in 2026, spanning trade credit, reinsurance, and retrocession busines
Statera Managing Agency wins Lloydâs approval to run Syndicates 4242 and 1416
Statera Managing Agency secures Lloydâs approval, bringing Syndicates 4242 and 1416 fully in-house under Octave Ventures
BioTech Engitix lands âŹ21 mn extension to push ECM cancer therapies
London-based Engitix secures a âŹ21mn Series A extension to advance ECM-targeted oncology and fibrosis drug programs
InsureVision launched TeslaStick and FleetVision, video-based underwriting AI tools
InsureVision debuts video-based underwriting tools at CES 2026, targeting personal auto and fleet losses with contextual driving risk AI
SaaS startup MotorK raises extra âŹ3 mn debt from Atempo to bolster balance sheet
Milan-based MotorK secures an additional âŹ3 mn tranche from Atempo Growth, extending existing debt to support liquidity and corporate needs
London Bridge 2 drives fresh ILS capital into Lloydâs market
London Bridge 2 PCC channels $660 mn of new capital into Lloydâs in Q4 2025, emerging as a preferred ILS route for syndicates and investors
Lockton Re launches LNAPS unit to back North American MGAs
Lockton Re opens a London-based North America portfolio solutions team, naming Henrietta Butcher to lead capacity sourcing for MGAs
JAB Insurance to buy Utmost UK life and pensions platform
JAB Insurance agrees to acquire Utmostâs UK life and pensions arm, gaining ÂŁ5bn in assets and a foothold in the bulk annuity market
Getlink secures âŹ55 mn insurance payout for ElecLink outage
Getlink agrees âŹ55mn insurance settlement covering ElecLink losses after a 2024â2025 shutdown of the Channel Tunnel power interconnector
Pinpoint UK gains Lloydâs coverholder status in London Market
Pinpoint UK Solutions secures Lloydâs approval as a coverholder, gaining delegated underwriting authority and direct access to the London Market
UK probes cyber incident amid claims of China-linked data access
UK officials investigate cyber incidents at the FCDO and London councils as reports raise concerns over China-linked hacking and public service disruption
AIG launches Lloydâs SPV Syndicate 2479 with Blackstone, Amwins
AIG sets up Lloydâs Syndicate 2479 with Blackstone and Amwins, using London Bridge 2 and Palantir AI to support a $300 mn, third-party-backed portfolio
Millions of UK travellers hide medical conditions on travel insurance
One in four UK travellers conceal medical conditions to cut travel insurance costs, risking rejected claims and massive overseas medical bills
Insurtech incubator Lloydâs Lab celebrates Cohort 15 and opens Cohort 16
Lloydâs Lab marked Demo Day for Cohort 15, showcasing 12 InsurTechs, and opened applications for Cohort 16 with a new Ireland-focused theme
London dental insurance fraud trio avoid immediate jail
A struck-off dentist and her two children were convicted over a ÂŁ350k dental insurance fraud in North London but received suspended sentences
Ageas UK and Saga launch 20-year insurance partnership for over-50s
Ageas UK and Saga plc roll out a 20-year affinity deal, launching motor insurance now and home cover in early 2026 for over-50s customers
Aviva partners with Percayso to deepen vehicle data analytics
Aviva signs a multi-year deal with Percayso Inform to enhance vehicle data enrichment across pricing, underwriting, and claims in UK personal and commercial lines
Fitch sets neutral 2026 outlook for global insurance sector
Fitch Ratings assigns a neutral 2026 outlook for global insurance, citing resilience overall but weaker margins in reinsurance, London Market, and US Health
Canada Life UK completes ÂŁ330m buy-in with Comet Pension Scheme
Canada Life UK secures benefits for 4,500 members through a ÂŁ330m full-scheme buy-in with the Comet Pension Scheme backed by Fnac Darty
FCA moves to simplify insurance rules, faces London market pushback
The FCA eases insurance rules to cut costs and boost flexibility, but Lloydâs and London Market leaders say reforms stop short of real change
The EU delayed parts of the AI Act as US AI funding surged, widening Europe's gap in capital, compute, talent and data for startups
The global insurance sector outlook remains âneutralâ at 2026, as business conditions have been resilient across most markets to the more challenging macroeconomic environment
The US P&C insurance industry recorded a $16.3 bn net underwriting gain in the first three months of 2026, up significantly from a $1 bn loss recorded in the prior-year period
Aerospace and defense M&A reached 532 deals in 2025, as business aviation attracts private equity, family offices, and growth investors