Some 59% of respondents to an AA/Populs survey had not heard of the Department for Transport’s new tougher uninsured driving legislations. According to the results of the survey, which polled nearly 13,000 AA members, 38% of those who had heard of the new law “don’t know what it means”. The Department for Transport announced yesterday that it had introduced the final version of its Continuous Insurance Enforcement legislation to Parliament. Under the new legislation, it is an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, unless it is subject to a Statutory Off Road Notification. Currently, it is only an offence to drive an uninsured vehicle. “This tough action is to be welcomed but it is vital that the government undertakes a campaign to increase awareness,” said AA insurance director Simon Douglas in a statement. Insurance Times, 19 April

Hastings Insurance Services has announced the launch of a new specialist division, Hastings Partnerships led by business development director Andy Kirton, which will handle all of the company’s affinity and partnership business. According to the broker, Hastings Partnerships will complement existing direct to consumer brands and, based at Hasting's Newmarket offices, will capitalise on its existing relationships, infrastructure and technology. The company added that the new division already had several commercial agreements in place including Towergate Riskline. Mr Kirton commented: "The breadth of our panel, the competitiveness of our rates, together with our quote ability level, enables us to add value and profits for many existing businesses across a range of sectors. Insurance Age, 18 April

Axis Capital has estimated the total financial impact from last month's Japan earthquake and tsunami will cost it $285mn, net of tax, reinsurance recoveries and reinstatement premiums. The loss is equivalent to 5.1 percent of the Bermudian (re)insurer's shareholders' equity of $5.6bn as at 31 December 2010. The company said it expects total insured losses, excluding those assumed by the Japanese government, to be in the range of $30-$35bn. Total loss estimates reported by the international (re)insurance community have already surged past the $9bn mark. Insurance Insider, 19 April

German reinsurer Hannover Re has agreed to acquire a life reinsurance portfolio from Scottish Re. The acquired portfolio covers the mortality risk under term life and endowment policies that were reinsured by Scottish Re in the underwriting years 2000 to 2003. The transaction is expected to close in May 2011, and Hannover Re's ownership of the business will take effect retroactively from the beginning of this year. The business is expected to generate an annual premium volume of around $80m. Hannover Re will assume the technical liabilities associated with the portfolio and will in return receive the necessary assets from Scottish Re. Global Reinsurance, 18 April

Lloyd’s has confirmed that John Nelson will become chairman of the insurance market in October replacing Lord Levene. Lord Levene, who has been chairman of Lloyd's for the past nine years, will retire after the longest stint in the role for 125 years. Yesterday, Mr Nelson, chairman of FTSE 100 property company Hammerson and deputy chairman of Kingfisher, was tipped as Lord Levene's successor in a number of press reports. As part of the role, Mr Nelson will be paid £525 000 per annum, working for three days per week. The term will be for a three year period. Commenting on the appointment, Lord Levene said: "I am very pleased that the Council of Lloyd's has chosen John who is an experienced businessman with a successful record. He is an excellent choice." Post Magazine, 18 April

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) will split Solvency II supervision of insurers into two streams, says the UK regulator. The Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) head of insurance, Julian Adams, has revealed a two-tier approach for companies preparing for Solvency II. Insurers with significant market share will get the greatest intensity of review as part of a work plan that the regulator will agree with companies. The top tier of companies will consist of the 10 biggest UK insurers, including Aviva, Prudential and RSA, and all firms operating within the Lloyd's market. Also within the top tier of more intensive requirements will be subsidiaries of cross-border groups that are subject to the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority's supervisory colleges. Small and medium-sized insurers that do not fit into the top tier criteria may receive less support from the regulator and will have to depend in part on independent assurance to validate their models. Reactions, 19 April