Gary Boome has launched Bournemouth-based Renata Group Ltd, which will provide commercial and personal lines solutions for clients. The new broker is an appointed representative of Momentum Broker Solutions, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

According to Pearson Ham’s Pet Insurance Pricing Index for Q3, premiums were up by 0.9% on the previous quarter, although they are down by 3.5% on an annualised based. Pearson Ham said this was largely due to the 4.5% drop recorded last November.

Best Insurance will support British military veterans with six discounted products that are now available on the armed services veterans’ platform, weServed. The products are accident, sickness, unemployment, pet, gadget and home contents insurance.

Manchester-based Principal Insurance Limited has bought Peart Performance Marque Limited’s book of business following its entry into administration on 30th October this year. Peart was established in 1984 and the sale of the high-risk vehicle and home insurance broker’s portfolio was arranged by joint administrators Dean Watson and Paul Stanley of Begbies Traynor.

Commercial insurance specialist Clear Group has penned a multi-year contract with premium finance provider Premium Credit, which will cover operations at its UK and Irish businesses. The deal builds on an existing arrangement and comes on the back of a market review.

Managing general agent Alps has launched a new GAP product for fleet risks which is available via brokers. Aimed to support organisations operating commercial fleets, the product is delivered in partnership with AMS Insurance Services Ltd, which will manage claims. This is the third GAP product Alps has launched with AMS.

Within six months of launch, Addept Insurance Services is covering almost 69,000 Police Federation members with its officers’ legal protection policy. This means it has exceeded a 50% penetration rate of the police officers in England and Wales who subscribe to Police Federation Group Insurance schemes.

Phelan Caswell Insurances has rebranded to Clear Insurance Ireland following its acquisition by the Clear Group in 2024. Founded in 1998 Phelan Caswell Insurances was previously known as BHP Insurances and has a client base of more than 2,500 people. Prior to becoming part of the Clear Group, it had acquired EBIB Insurances (2023) and Sweeney Walsh and Associates’ book of business (2024).

Acies MGU has launched Subscribe MGA, which is a Lloyd’s backed managing general agent with a focus on financial lines including professional indemnity, management liability, and directors and officers coverage. Subscribe will target SME and mid-corporate clients in both the UK and international markets.

The Chartered Insurance Institute has published a report entitled Crypto Confidence: How can the London Market demystify digital asset insurance? The publication came about as part of the CII’s New Generation Programme and was promoted at an event held at Lloyd’s. The event explored the intersection of insurance and the digital asset market, which has seen its market capitalisation grow from approximately £10.5bn in 2016 to around £1.2tn in 2024.

The Financial Conduct Authority has published a warning about an unauthorised firm – closebrotherswm.com – purporting to be Close Brothers Limited. In its warning, the FCA reiterated the fact that customers using an unregulated firm will not be protected by the Financial Service Compensation Scheme.

Allianz UK has penned a five-year partnership deal with managing general agent Ticker, which specialises in connected motor insurance. From 1st November, Allianz will provide claims and underwriting support across Ticker’s portfolio of products. Ticker offers products for drivers of cars and vans with different age profiles as well as those with convictions. It also offers a per mile product.

The Auto-Cycle Union has appointed Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance as its new insurance provider with effect from 1st November. The deal comes on the back of a two-year review by the ACU of safety management and insurance arrangements, which led to it updating its risk assessments to align with guidelines from the Health and Safety Executive. The ACU said it had also forged a closer working relationship with its longstanding broker, Lockton.

Toyota is offering retail customers who buy a new car between 1st November and 31st January insurance cover with a fixed premium for three years. Available from Toyota Insurance Services, the deal means a new Aygo X can be insured for £300 a year while cover for other models, such as the Yaris hatchback and Yaris Cross hybrids will carry a premium of £450. The most expensive premium of £1,080 is for the RAV4 plug-in hybrid.

The Ministry of Justice has launched a post-implementation review of the Whiplash Reform Programme that was implemented on 31st May 2021 and has issued a call for evidence with an eight-week window and a deadline of 22nd December.

Ageas has selected RAC Legal Services to provide legal expenses insurance to motor, van and home insurance customers across both its Ageas and Rias brands. RAC already is already Ageas’ breakdown assistance partner.