CORE INSURANCE, COMPLIANCE
Napier and Utmost Group | February 01, 2023
On January 31st, 2023, Utmost Group, which offers insurance and savings solutions, enhanced its financial compliance capabilities in collaboration with Napier, a customizable anti-financial crime compliance provider.
Napier's client screening solution, which started operations in just 21 days, was implemented to bolster the company's existing compliance strategy and to facilitate future expansion. The Napier team met these stringent deployment deadlines to meet the time constraints imposed by the expiration of licenses held by the outgoing partner.
The Client Screening solution from the company will enhance existing systems by automatically screening clients against sanctions, PEP (Politically Exposed Persons) lists, and other essential watchlists at appropriate intervals. In addition, the AI capabilities will allow for faster screening and help lower the number of false alarms.
Paul Smith, Chief Risk Officer at Utmost International Isle of Man, shared, "We needed to rapidly migrate and then implement our existing screening protocols to the new system, so we were delighted that Napier was able to merge two legacy systems neatly into a single hosted instance while levelling up our capabilities. This really made the difference when managing the upgrade of systems that were being made end-of-life earlier than expected." He added, "Compliance requirements inevitably evolve over time as risks also change and criminals become more sophisticated, so we are delighted to have a robust system now in place that will keep us one step ahead of our obligations and enhance our overall services."
(Source – Business Wire)
About Napier
London-based Napier is a compliance technology specialist that operates a platform based on extensive experience and in-depth knowledge. Combining big data technologies with AI and machine learning, the company offers products that improve efficiency and reduce risk. Its strategy underpins the client's policy, process, and procedure, allowing them to concentrate on specific outcomes. The compliance platform is quick, scalable, easily configurable, and intuitive. It rapidly bolsters AML defense and trade compliance capabilities while achieving the compliance requirements and challenges of any industry.
About Utmost Group
Utmost Group, headquartered in London, is a leading insurance and savings solutions provider. The company offers innovative, adaptable solutions that help clients secure their financial futures. The main divisions of the Group are Utmost International, Utmost Life and Pensions. The key business lines of Utmost International consist of Utmost Corporate Solutions and Utmost Wealth Solutions. The Group has approximately £58 billion in AUA and 550,000 customers as of June 30th, 2022, with over 1,500 employees across all its businesses.
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CORE INSURANCE,RISK MANAGEMENT
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | December 21, 2022
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced an agreement to acquire the partnership interests of BCHR Holdings, L.P., dba Buck. The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2023, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Buck is a leading provider of retirement, HR and employee benefits consulting and administration services. The organization has a long history, dating back more than 100 years, with a diverse client base by both size and industry. With over 2,300 employees, including more than 220 credentialed actuaries, Buck primarily serves customers throughout the US, Canada and the UK.
"Providing a comprehensive suite of products and services that allows employers to attract, engage and retain talent is at the heart of Gallagher Benefit Services' mission and our global Gallagher Better Works value proposition, Through the complementary strengths of Buck's defined benefit offerings, investment consulting, digital employee engagement platform and international footprint, the acquisition will broaden, deepen and enhance our client offerings. I look forward to welcoming the 2,300 new colleagues joining us as part of this transaction to our growing Gallagher family of professionals."
-J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO
Benefits of the acquisition are expected to include:
Expanding Gallagher's value proposition within retirement, benefits & HR consulting, administration, and technology
Enhancing and deepening Gallagher's broad suite of professional services including: defined benefits consulting, plan administration, defined contribution and executive benefit consulting, investment consulting, benefits strategy, compliance, employee engagement consulting and total rewards optimization
Adding "bSuite," a leading, proprietary software platform for benefits administration and employee engagement
Potential cross-selling opportunities across current benefits and property & casualty clients
Combining similar sales cultures, both focused on outstanding client service, employee engagement and innovation
Deepening the employee benefits management team.
Financial Terms
Under the agreement, Gallagher will acquire the partnership interests of BCHR Holdings, L.P. and its subsidiaries, for a gross consideration of $660 million or approximately $585 million net of agreed seller funded expenses and net working capital. Gallagher expects to fund the transaction via free cash flow and short-term borrowings. The transaction is estimated to be approximately 2% accretive to adjusted diluted earnings per share over the trailing twelve month period ended September 30, 2022, assuming expense synergies discussed below.
Prior to expected expense synergies of approximately $20 million, Buck's pro forma adjusted trailing twelve month revenues and EBITDAC ending September 30, 2022 were approximately $280 million and $34 million, respectively. Including synergies, the purchase multiple is approximately 10.8x of trailing twelve month September 30, 2022 pro forma adjusted EBITDAC, or 13.1x including expected integration expense of approximately $125 million.
About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.
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CORE INSURANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT
Idelic | January 19, 2023
Idelic Inc. recently announced the launch of Idelic Insurance Agency, LLC, a technology-driven managing general agent (MGA) aimed at providing commercial fleets with tailored insurance coverage. The insurance pricing will reflect the fleets’ risk improvement by using the Idelic Program, a comprehensive approach to improving driver safety and reducing crashes.
Idelic Insurance Agency also aims to provide a modern approach to improving insurance outcomes by allowing fleets to use technology and processes to reduce losses. The insurance agency will price renewals based on the fleets’ successful adoption and results.
The Idelic Program consists of two major components: Safety Suite® and Driver Safety Playbook. Safety Suite® is the best driver performance management platform in the trucking industry. It collects driver risk data and uses machine learning algorithms to identify high-risk drivers. Meanwhile, the Driver Safety Playbook is an excellent guide to engaging drivers, providing coaching and step-by-step professional development plans made by working with insurers and trucking's safest fleets.
On average, fleets utilizing Idelic Program can witness a 20% decrease in preventable crashes in the first year.
"Commercial auto fleet insurance is inherently complex with a multitude of nuances from fleet to fleet. The process of evaluating risks has traditionally relied on underwriter experience and judgment, but insurers are increasingly looking for a more data-driven way to evaluate risks. Idelic Insurance Agency will do just that," stated Michael Gramm, Senior Vice President of Insurance at Idelic Insurance Agency. "By working closely with fleets that choose to use the Idelic Program, we can better leverage critical driver behavior data to quote policies that reflect their reduced crash risk," he added.
(Source – Business Wire)
The Idelic Program and Idelic Insurance Agency are timely solutions to help fleets combat rising insurance rates and reduce losses significantly. However, fleet insurance costs and availability are once again among the Top 10 motor carrier executive concerns listed by American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).
About Idelic Inc.
Pittsburgh-based Idelic is a software provider dedicated to delivering the best insurance outcomes for fleets. The Idelic Program combines process and technology in a tool designed for and proven successful among fleets and insurers alike. Additionally, the program uses predictive analytics to identify risky drivers and professional development plans to help change behavior patterns and provide insurers with evidence of long-term improvements in crash reduction to negotiate lower rates. The company's experienced technical and industry experts understand the trucking and insurance industries' needs and provide tailored solutions to clients' real problems.
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