Aviva has penned a multi-year agreement with DQPro, which has now implemented its data validation software into Aviva’s global, corporate and specialty business division. Aviva says this will enable it to identify and resolve data issues more quickly and to reduce its compliance risk.

JMG Group says its annual gross written premium has now hit £500m and that it is targeting £1bn within the next five years. The consolidator has completed more than 70 acquisitions since 2020, the year in which CEO Nick Houghton led a management buyout of JM Glendinning with backing from private equity firm Synova. Last year, private equity firms GTCR and Synova LLP acquired JMG Group.

Ascend Insurance Holdings has secured authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority and has private equity backing of up to £200m to build a regional broking platform. Private equity firm Inflexion acquired Ascend Broking Group in January and the Essex-based broker says it has since had preliminary discussions with around 10 broker firms about joining its new platform.

Arc Legal Group has developed a rent guarantee insurance product with Markerstudy Distribution. The scheme will be available to landlord customers through Swinton Insurance, which is part of Markerstudy Distribution. It adds to the legal expenses cover that Arc Legal already provides to residential property owners through Swinton Insurance.

Broker Adrian Flux has renewed its premium finance partnership with Premium Credit, which dates back more than 20 years to 2004. Going forward, the firms say the focus will be on enabling a wider range of customers to secure quick and easy approvals for finance.

Digital broker Simply Business, which focuses on small business and landlords, has launched an app in ChatGPT, which connects the technology platform to Simply Business’s indicative pricing functionality. Users can now receive an indicative price for cover by submitting their trade, annual turnover, years in business and UK postcode.

Allianz UK has agreed a multi-year partnership that allows it to continue distributing home, motor and pet insurance under the LV= brand. Allianz acquired LV’s general insurance business in 2019 and rebranded LV= Broker to Allianz in 2024. It was expected the direct business would also be rebranded.

Lumley Insurance has marked its 25th anniversary by revamping its strategy and branding in a bid to build for the future. The firm specialises in providing insurance for private clients, high-value homes and luxury assets.

Insurance provider Bspoke Group has rolled out access to its quote-and-buy portal, Bspoke Online. The move follows the completion of a pilot project for selected product lines that began last summer. Bspoke says the platform has amassed 3,000 registered users.

Ageas UK and Saga plc have launched the home insurance offering for the over-50s that was previously announced as part of their 20-year affinity partnership agreement. Saga will lead on customer acquisition and proposition development while Ageas UK will manage price comparison website distribution, pricing and underwriting, claims handling and customer service. 

The Lloyd’s Market Association has teamed up with Barnett Waddingham to provide an AI adoption toolkit that helps managing agents create robust governance frameworks for their use of artificial intelligence. The LMA says the toolkit aims to enable users to be more structured in their adoption of the technology.

Intermediary Hood Group has signed a deal with Allianz Partners. Under the agreement, Allianz Partners will provide underwriting capacity for a selection of Hood Group’s travel insurance products. Hood was established in 1983 and is based in Southend-on-Sea and specialises in providing partners with white label and affinity insurance solutions.

London Market managing general agent BluNiche has launched a medical device recall insurance product to support medical device manufacturers, contract manufacturers, distributors and companies producing medical instruments, apparatus and appliances operating worldwide.

Managing general agent Alps has overhauled its breakdown product, Alps Road Rescue. It is underwritten by AmTrust Specialty Ltd and delivered by vehicle assistance provider Call Assist Ltd. The product offers four levels of cover: roadside assistance and local recovery; nationwide recovery; nationwide and home or base assist and European cover.

Ageas UK has joined First2Protect panel of household insurers and will offer three products – essentials, home (extra) and tenants cover – to support first-time buyers and rental tenants. First2Protect was founded in the early 1990s and has approximately 50,000 customers.

Personal lines broker Ceta has launched four new rent guarantee products in a bid to support landlords dealing with enhanced exposures created by the enactment of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Ceta expects rent guarantee claim durations to increase by 75% to 100% as the legislation increases the time taken by landlords to take possession of a property.