An initial judgement has been handed down in the Court case involving the FCA and a number of insurers regarding Business Interruption claims arising from the COVID-19 lockdown.
The good news for some policyholders who have a policy that was captured by the test case is that the judgement was largely (but not completely) in favour of them.
Those who lodged a claim where the outcome will be influenced by the judgement should have already received a letter or communication on or before 15th July 2020 from their insurer advising them of a “potentially affected claim”. These insurers will now update each policyholder within the next seven days regarding what they intend to do next, and we will monitor such activity. It is important to note that insurers may wish to appeal part or all of the judgement and if this is permitted by the Court, there will be a further delay before all claims are finalised.
Claimants who did not receive a communication that said they have a “potentially affected claim”, can infer that the judgement will not affect the earlier decision to decline and will not be reconsidered.
It is fair to reflect that almost all insurers were united in declaring that their policies were never intended to cover losses arising from an unforeseen pandemic and that they had not charged for such in their premiums. However, some insurers’ policy wordings were ambiguous and it was these policies that the financial regulator tested in this court process. Many other policies were clear and transparently worded and the FCA made it known that these policies and their associated claims would not be affected by the outcome of the case.
We will keep you advised of relevant developments.
WPS hallam Insurance Brokers have strengthened their team with 4 significant appointments. Stephen King who will be based out of Exeter specialises in Corporate and Commercial insurance and has spent most of his 30 year career working in the broking sector here in the South West.
Stephen has particular expertise across the commercial sector with specialisms ranging from the professional services to manufacturing, healthcare, construction and advanced technologies. Joining Stephen as a Senior Account Executive is Jerry Knight. Jerry is well known in the Cornish business community and will be based out of Truro. A Cornishman through and through Jerry has in excess of 20 years Commercial broking experience with particular core areas including transportation, hospitality and leisure facilities and professional industries.
Steve Harvey, Sales and Marketing Director at WPS hallam, commented “we are delighted to welcome both Steve and Jerry to the team. Both are extremely well known in the local business community and are focused to delivering an exceptional local broking and Risk Management service to businesses here in the South West and beyond. They are fully aware of the challenges that businesses now face and recognize that to be able to provide a local professional service will be of paramount importance going forward.
WPS hallam are one of the few remaining independent and British owned commercial Insurance Brokers in the South West and are uniquely placed with being able to provide a full placement facility to the UK insurance market coupled with direct access to Lloyds and London schemes. WPS hallam also provide exclusive services to their South West clients with the provision of Risk Management and one to one claims provision through their dedicated office in Plymouth.
The internal broking team has been further strengthened with the addition of Tricia Buick and Lisa Evans to their Commercial team. Tricia and Lisa bring a wealth of experience having been in the industry for many years and will look to provide service to clients both new and old on a day to day basis.
Seventeen Group announce a 12.5% increase in revenue from £16,369,740 to £18,450,559.
An expected reduced profit before tax at Group level being entirely due to the increased amortisation charges incurred following acquisitions.
In terms of revenue growth £1.3M related to acquisitions made in 2018 the most significant of which were Rupert Burgoyne Limited in February 2018, and specialist marine broker Everard Insurance Brokers Limited, in July 2018.
The balance was organic with significant new business across James Hallam and Touchstone Underwriting. Touchstone is now writing over £27 ,00 0,000 gross premium.
A new financing partner in 2019 has seen the Group continue to expand, with the recent acquisitions of Graybrook Insurance Brokers Limited and WPS being testimony to the company’s ambitious long term development plans.
Commenting on the results, Group CEO Paul Anscombe said “2018 represented a very solid performance by the Group. The acquisitions made in 2018 and earlier years have integrated exceptionally well and feel very much ‘part of the family’. Now with annualised revenues in excess of £22 ,000,000 Seventeen Group is seeing an increasing number of opportunities to grow and we are in an excellent position to capitalise upon this as a long established and completely independent insurance business”.
Leading London-based intelligence and security company Blackstone Consultancy will trek the Sahara Desert to raise money for the Children’s Air Ambulance.
The six-day trek in November will see the team battle daily temperatures up to 38 degrees and camping out in the desert with night-time temperatures of just minus four. The team want to raise £20,000 for the Children’s Air Ambulance. The charity flies critically ill children across the UK to the specialist care they need. Blackstone Consultancy’s aim is to raise enough money to buy a new incubator. This device sits in the rear of the helicopter and gives the greatest possible chance of survival to the critically ill child.
The trek will see the team start in M’Hamid-El-Rhozlane, walk over the cliffs of the southern Drâa towards the first dunes of Ait Oumir, before trekking along the banks of the Drâa catching sight of L’erg Zaher, the highest dunes in this region.
The team will comprise of Simon Giddins, Rob Bates, Tom Tahany and Rufus Caldecott, as well as Simon Bennett from Cloud Ten. The team have kindly been sponsored by Cigna, Ecclesiastical, Geos360, The London Resolution, Pella Resources, James Hallam, Graphite Capital, Edenfells and Hampden & Co.
Managing Director Simon Giddins said the trek would be ‘challenging’ but for a worthy cause.
He explained that the team annually complete the ‘Blackstone Consultancy challenge’ raising both awareness for good causes.
He added: “Each challenge represents a new charitable cause, our intention is to rotate from veterans’ charitable concerns, to children and finally women’s charities. The charities we choose reflect us and our core values. Veterans causes is for our background as former soldiers, children’s charities because we are all fathers or uncles and women’s charities because we are all husbands and sons.
“These are charities and causes we feel incredibly strongly about. Business is doing well, and we feel that it is important to give something back, not only is it part of us being a socially responsible company, but it feels good to do something good as well.”
Plans are already underway for the team’s 2020 challenge in support of Breast Cancer Now, Britain’s biggest breast cancer research charity.
Seventeen Group has acquired Plymouth based Walker Persson & Spargo Ltd effective from 28th June 2019 for an undisclosed sum. WPS was established in 1968 and are a leading independent broker in the South West. They are Chartered Insurance Brokers and members of the UNA Broking Alliance. In addition to handling corporate and personal lines business on both a regional and national level, WPS handles schemes and affinity based clients across a number of sectors.
The business employs over 40 staff and generate a Gross Written Premium of £17million. WPS is led by Directors Steve Rowlands, Steve Harvey and Colin Watts, all of whom are remaining with the business along with the wider WPS team. The business will continue to trade as WPS from the existing Plymouth premises.
Speaking on behalf of WPS, Steve Rowlands Managing Director comments: “We are very proud of the business we have built in Plymouth and have received fantastic support from our staff, clients and insurers over the years. It was therefore of paramount importance to us that we identified a purchaser for our business who were committed independent brokers and ambitious to continue our growth plans in the South West. We have known James Hallam and Seventeen Group for many years and are confident that we can offer an exciting future for our clients, staff and trading partners.”
Seventeen Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Anscombe adds: “WPS are a highly respected firm whom we know well. I have been truly impressed by their desire throughout our negotiations to grow their presence in the South West and to maintain their focus on client service. There are significant opportunities for Seventeen Group to develop our specialist sectors into the South West and to invest in the existing strengths of WPS. The joint opportunities will be in broking, underwriting and risk management.
Seventeen Group were supported by Beechbrook Capital in this acquisition. Beechbrook Capital is a specialist lender providing innovative and flexible financing solutions to support fast growing SMEs across northern Europe.
Tim Johnston, Investor Director at Beechbrook comments: “We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Seventeen Group and we are delighted to be the new funding partner for this market-leading business. We very much look forward to supporting the group with its further growth plans over the coming years.”
James Hallam Limited, the broking subsidiary of Seventeen Group, has announced the appointment of Roy Standish as Director of Partnerships with effect from 22nd July.
The role aims to strategically direct James Hallam’s Partnership programme for Authorised Representatives (‘AR’s’) and to develop new Partnership opportunities for the future.
Seventeen Group CEO Paul Anscombe comments: “We see a growing demand for entrepreneurial insurance professionals to create new ventures and to take control of their futures. With the UK broking market undergoing an unprecedented level of consolidation, there is a significant opportunity to build capital value in insurance with the support of James Hallam, which is a long established UK broker committed to independence. Roy is uniquely placed to develop Partnerships given his extensive knowledge of the UK broker market.”
Roy Standish has spent his entire 30 year plus career with Eagle Star/Zurich, having latterly been Sales & Distribution Director. Speaking about his appointment Roy adds: “After a long and happy career at Zurich I was determined to plot a new course in insurance which both used my skills and offered the prospect of enjoyment in supporting a wide variety of business opportunities within the insurance sector. I have known Seventeen Group for many years and so it is a very natural fit for me. I know that a number of high calibre insurance individuals and firms are seeking greater support to achieve their objectives and we will be well placed to assist them.”
Seventeen Group has announced that, effective 18th June 2019, it has acquired Graybrook Insurance Brokers Limited based in Essex for an undisclosed sum.
Formed in 1972 by founder Bill Hulse, Graybrook is a specialist medical malpractice and Professional Indemnity broker focusing on schemes for clinical organisations and associations.
Seventeen Group is a privately owned insurance Group which includes James Hallam insurance brokers, Touchstone Underwriting and 4Sight Risk Management. As part of James Hallam is a specialist team within the healthcare sector, ‘Pro Med’, headed by Charly Winder. Graybrook and ProMed will integrate to create a leading medical sector insurance team within the UK and international market.
Commenting on the deal, Bill Hulse highlights that “joining forces with James Hallam was a natural step for Graybrook given the many similarities between the two organisations. We care passionately about our clients and are now able to offer a broader range of services as part of James Hallam and Seventeen Group. All of my team will remain with the business and we look forward to working with ProMed and the wider James Hallam team in the coming years.
Seventeen Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Anscombe adds “We are delighted to welcome Graybrook into our Group. It is rare to see the level of knowledge and care that Bill and the team have achieved and the acquisition gives us a wonderful opportunity to bring together two highly experienced medical malpractice teams under one roof”.
Seventeen Group were supported by Beechbrook Capital in this acquisition.
Beechbrook Capital is a specialist lender providing innovative and flexible financing solutions to support fast growing SMEs across northern Europe. Tim Johnston, Investor Director at Beechbrook comments: “We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Seventeen Group and we are delighted to be the new funding partner for this market-leading business. We very much look forward to supporting the group with its further growth plans over the coming years.”
