“The first two weeks are when investigations should identify high-severity, high-complexity risks,” Ellis said. “Those claims need different workflows, involving top adjusters, experienced defense counsel, and tools like jury consultants, mock trials, and focus groups, even before litigation starts.”
In the final 2025 edition of the Big Question series, experts from across the market delved into the regulatory actions they have been most pleased with and disappointed with, during the last 12 months. This is your chance to hear the views of Carpenters Group, Claims Consortium Group, the LMA, LIIBA, BIBA, OneAdvent, Sedgwick, iCAN, Acies MGU, Konsileo, WTW Networks and ALPS Ltd.
Net investment income for the quarter was US$44.6 million, compared with US$46 million a year earlier. Net realised and unrealised investment gains reached US$6.7 million, including US$4.5 million in net unrealised gains from a hedge fund portfolio established in late 2024. The annualised operating return on average equity was 2.3%, down from 10% in the prior-year quarter.
Demand for active assailant insurance is growing across sectors, with education, retail, and hospitality among the most vulnerable. Schools, in particular, face new scrutiny, with incidents involving knives on the rise. Offices and hotels are also heightening physical and behavioural security measures.
The Insurance Solutions division works with Lloyd’s syndicates, MGAs, brokers, insurers, reinsurers, and captive owners. Its services include underwriting and broking management, outsourced operations, and risk transfer, as well as support for regulatory, legal, and operational requirements and distribution development.
The report said operating conditions have also been affected by shifting political environments, with restrictions in some countries limiting activity. Recent scandals have further heightened concerns over potential reputational and financial harm if trust from the public, stakeholders, or governments is lost.
IB asked what’s key to improving that insurer-broker dynamic? Horton said, across his international firm, QBE has changed the way it trades with brokers. “Historically, we tended to look at the three divisions [North America, International and Australia-Pacific] separately and now [they are] much more joined up,” he said. “So, we’re more joined up in how we look at the relationship across the three divisions with each of our major broker partners.”
The FOS reported that it processed 68,000 complaints between April and June 2025, down from 74,600 in the same period last year. A large portion of the drop was driven by a decline in complaints submitted by claims management companies (CMCs) and legal firms, which fell to 30,800 from 36,600. This follows the FOS’s decision in April to begin charging representatives £250 per case after the first 10 annually, reduced to £75 if the claim is upheld.
According to CEO Kevin Strain (pictured above), the quarter’s results reflected underlying net income growth in Asia, bancassurance sales growth of 15% in markets including Hong Kong, India, and the Philippines, and continued momentum in SLC Management flows.
“As for broader property cat exposure, we’ve seen rates soften. That doesn’t mean it’s unattractive, but the upcoming January 1 renewals will be critical. If we don’t see adequate return, we’ll reallocate capital. We’ve demonstrated we can do that, and we will again if necessary. But we also value long-term relationships, and our partners trust us. Still, we have to keep one eye on the market.”
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