A.M. BestTV: Mergers & Acquisitions Narrow the Ranks of London-Centric Insurers, Says A.M. Best Senior Director

Business Wire

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In this ^A.M.BestTV episode, Catherine Thomas, senior director, analytics, A.M. Best, discusses hot-button issues impacting the U.K. insurance market, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by insurers from Japan and elsewhere. Click on http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ukmarket817 to view the entire program.

“There has been increased consolidation, particularly in the London market, and as companies increasingly recognize the importance of scale, maintaining relevance and diversification, in an increasingly competitive environment,” said Thomas. Thomas added that the heavy M&A activity has left a smaller pool of potential targets, and that those remaining have become less attractive since they are trading at higher values.

Thomas also reviewed other London issues, including Brexit and the Ogden rate cut.

On Brexit, Thomas said, “Companies, through organizations such as the London Market Association, are lobbying the government on key issues that are important to the insurance sector. For example, continued access to single markets, pushing for a transitional period so that they can become accustomed to the implications of a final deal, as well as potentially looking for regulator equivalence in the EU to ease those transitions.”

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^A.M.BestTV covers exclusive A.M. Best information and reports, targeted topics and key developments in the (re)insurance industry every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sign up for alerts of episodes at http://www.ambest.com/multimedia/ambtvsignup.html. View ^A.M.BestTV episodes at http://www.ambest.tv.