Axa UK and Ireland has created a new general insurance business – Axa Insurance UK – which combines its UK commercial and retail units into a single entity under a single leadership structure. Jon Walker becomes CEO of Axa Insurance UK. Previously, he was CEO of Axa Commercial and had been acting as CEO of Axa Retail since the end of last year.

Managing general agent Amiga Specialty has agreed a capacity deal with Axa XL to support its financial institutions proposition and help it grow its international portfolio across directors’ and officers’ liability, professional liability, and crime.

EY has forecast the UK home insurance market will return a net combined ratio of 103% this year, following the 98% it achieved in 2025. It said competitive pressures would push premiums down by 3%, making an average policy £10 cheaper at £320. This compares to £330 in 2025 and £329 in 2024.

Manchester-based Principal Insurance has acquired Bristol-based Europa Group, which includes the MotorCycle Direct brand and Europa Underwriting, which trades under the Ridersure wholesale brand. Principal said it had financed the deal through shareholder funds.

Specialty insurer HDI Global UK and Ireland has launched a motor fleet portal which it says will provide a one-stop-shop for fleet operators and brokers. The portal provides fleet operators with data on drivers at both a depot and individual level enabling them to spot high-risk behaviours and target further training. The insurer said brokers can also access real-time data on fleet performance enabling them to support clients better.

Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc has reported a profit before tax of £84.6m for the year ended 31st December 2025. This was up by 2.5% on the previous year. Gross written premium increased by 2.1% to £653.7m. The carrier said its Solvency II coverage ratio was 252%.

The Financial Conduct Authority has warned of a fraudulent firm operating as a clone of JL Insurance Solutions Ltd, which is an appointed representative of the Gauntlet network. The genuine business does not have a website, but fraudsters have created an online presence that claims to be the real firm’s site. The FCA warned that the website for Limitless Cover was also fake, despite it claiming to be a trading name of JL Insurance Solutions Ltd.

Premium Credit says it has enhanced its application process for regulated firms seeking to secure a financing option for their Financial Conduct Authority fees. Premium Credit said firms whose fees were more than £50,000 would receive two invoices and that half of the total was normally due in April. It offers a monthly payment option, typically spread over 10 months.

Lloyd’s achieved a combined ratio of 87.6% in 2025, a deterioration of 0.7 percentage points on the previous year. The market said its gross written premium was up by 4.2% on the previous year at £57.9bn and that profits before tax were up by 10.1% at £10.6bn.

Granite Underwriting has launched a new product for taxi fleets with more than 25 vehicles. The product covers both private and public hire vehicles and caters for non-standard and complex risks, including drivers with multiple motoring convictions and high-risk postcodes.

Intermediary platform ANV Group Holdings has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Iris Insurance Brokers Ltd, which comprises distribution division Blink Intermediary Solutions and managing general agent incubator Vivid Underwriters. London-based Iris was established in 2000 and is a Lloyd’s registered broker that specialises in providing binders, facilities and reinsurance solutions to brokers, insurers, managing general agents and Lloyd’s coverholders.

Sodalis Capital has acquired managing general agent Amiga Specialty Holdings Ltd, which will become its MGA platform for specialty lines. Colin Thompson launched Sodalis last year with backing from Alliant and BP Marsh. BP Marsh has also backed Amiga, but will withdraw as a shareholder following the deal, although it remains involved through its continued support for Sodalis.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has confirmed that the Financial Conduct Authority will join it later this year when it takes to the road to meet members and discuss regulatory matters with firms. This will be the third year that the regulator has joined BIBA’s regional tour, which is scheduled to visit 11 locations.

MoneySuperMarket has done a deal with Blue Light Card, which is a rewards service for the frontline community, to make it easier for its 4 million members to find the cover they need and to secure deals on car and home insurance. Under the deal, Blue Light Card members will receive a retail gift card to redeeem when they buy a home or motor insurance policy.

Seventeen Group has acquired Smith England Insurance Brokers and Citrus Healthcare, which it will integrate into James Hallam, its UK retail division. Cheadle-based Smith England targets corporate clients that put a focus on risk management. Citrus Healthcare is a private medical brokerage based in Kent.

Alan Tate-Smith has launched AMB Rural and Commercial Ltd. The independent broker is based in Honiton, Devon and seeks to support clients across the South West and beyond. It will focus on offering farm and estate insurance, agricultural contracting cover, commercial combined policies, property owners’ insurance and specialist cover for diversified rural enterprises.