Weekly briefing: 1-7 April

Seven weeks since Amanda Blanc took her seat in AXA UK headquarters on Old Broad Street, her vision for transforming its commercial fortunes is in place. Insurance Times has followed her every move at the insurer with close interest since she switched from Towergate, but this week we went one step further. Yesterday, when AXA announced Blanc's latest move to appoint Matthew Reed, we revealed our exclusive interview with Blanc. In the interview, Blanc spoke openly about her decision to join AXA and about her plans to make it a force in the commercial market. Also, if you haven’t seen it, check out our video interview with Blanc. It’s must-see viewing.

This week we also launched our investigations channel. This included our look into the untold story of RSAs ambitious bid for Aviva. It was the story that dominated the insurance sector chatter last summer. Our investigation reveals what we really went on behind the scenes at two of the UK’s largest insurers.

Speaking of takeovers, the deal between Gallagher International and Heath Lambert entered a new chapter this week. The two companies have been in talks since last month, and now discussions are set to enter a new period. As our story reveals, there is more to this deal than meets the eye. Gallagher is an ambitious company with big plans to make an impact in the UK retail sector. Heath is its perfect opportunity to jump on this bandwagon, but the deal is still far from completion.

Six months after I revealed that MMA Insurance was in pole position to buy Provident Insurance, the deal was today completed. US motor giant GMAC paid £170m for Provident in 2008. The figure MMA’s owners Covea have paid for Provident is understood to be around £70m. The deal gives the French insurer added firepower in the UK motor market and it will create synergies with its existing businesses; it already owns high-street broker Swinton and broker insurer MMA Insurance. MMA will likely undergo a forensic review of the Provident business, which was badly hit by bodily injury claims and posted a £31.1m loss in its 2009 results, its most recent accounts. Provident’s 400 staff will no doubt be keen to hear of MMA’s plans for the business sooner rather than later.

Is Barbon Insurance Group positioning itself to become the next consolidator? This week our Inside Broking section has featured a series of broker briefings, including a close look at the Barbon business. The broker has an eye for an acquisition. Managing director Nick Sharp hints that the £150m gross written premium company could be interested in buying a network; now a must have for any broker consolidator.

Finally, interesting comments from Esure founder Peter Wood today on his plans for the motor insurer. He’s building up Esure, owner of Sheilas’ Wheels, for a flotation and is keen to add aggregator Gocompare to his empire. Esure already owns a 50% interest in the price comparison site. However Wood wants to buyout his partner and Gocompare chief executive Hayley Parsons. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Rival motor insurer Admiral is the owner of Confused.com and Wood will no doubt see this as a platform for growth.

Danny Walkinshaw, digital news editor.

Email: danny.walkinshaw@insurancetimes.co.uk