Insurance Special - Taking Cover

If lightning strikes, is your business toast?

Caroline James Disasters like bushfires, floods and hail storms can all destroy an unprepared business.

QBE under Moody's review for ratings upgrade

Ruth Liew Ratings house Moody's Investors Service has placed QBE Insurance Group's debt ratings under reviews for a potential upgrade.

Stop meddling in Far North Queensland insurance: Suncorp

Ruth Liew Suncorp Group has posted a net profit of $1.13 billion for the year to June – an increase from last year's $730 million despite the insurance giant recording its worst year for natural disaster events.

QBE gives top ranks another shuffle

Ruth Liew QBE Insurance Group has named Tim Plant as the group's new head of Australia and New Zealand, after incumbent boss Colin Fagen was unveiled as the global insurer's new group chief strategy officer.

Suncorp slams door on vehicle repairs

Ruth Liew Suncorp is shutting 10 of its vehicle repair centres as it seeks to streamline its smash repair businesses, in a strategy that will probably lead to redundancies as the insurance giant slashes costs and increases efficiencies.

Lack of life cover hits the economy: AIA

Ruth Liew Life insurers need to better engage the federal government over the costs of underinsurance to the economy, the head of Australia's third-largest life insurer says.

Life insurance commissions will plunge: Cain

Ruth Liew Life insurance advisers could see their business revenue sourced from controversial advance commissions plunge to just 36.4 per cent of the value of the premiums they sell, says Russell Cain, boss of Life Insurance Direct.

Austbrokers appoints new CFO

Ruth Liew Former The Trust Company finance boss Jodie Blackledge is the new chief financial officer of Austbrokers, following the retirement of Steve Rouvray after a decade in the post.

Berkshire Hathaway, IAG deal splits analysts

Ruth Liew Insurance analysts remain split over who came up on top in the $500 million deal that will give one of the world's most powerful investors a stake in Australia's biggest insurer.

Entrepreneurial Greenstone founders undeterred in bid to raise $1b

Ruth Liew Entrepreneurs Gavin Donnelly and Richard Enthoven are looking forward to going public with their insurance business, Greenstone

Claims for Suncorp snowball into $200m

Ruth Liew Suncorp Group will weather a $200 million hit from severe storms and hail that hammered NSW in April after the insurance giant fielded 25,000 claims from affected customers.

Sydney weather: Premiums stay flat despite massive claims bill

Ruth Liew Insurance claims from storms that saturated New South Wales earlier this week would hit over $500 million, but customers' premiums are not expected to increase due to heated competition among insurers.

COMMENT

Are you cyclone ready?

Warren Turner With savage storms expected to smash the east coast this weekend businesses have been warned to prepare or face the consequences.

COMMENT

Don't burn out in the summer heat

Leigh Smith What can you do to reduce the risk of an insurance claim as the weather heats up?

How well do you really drive?

Adam Courtenay An ingenious, formula one inspired device can confirm whether or not you're a hoon.

COMMENT

Surviving death in a small business

Ursula Hogben The death of a business partner can spell the end of a small business for a range of reasons. What legal agreements and insurance can help the business survive?