Hastings Direct insurance

Hastings Direct is a major UK-based insurance provider founded in 1996 in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. The brand established itself as a digital-first pioneer in the British insurance market, specializing in car, van, bike, and home insurance. Originally launched as a private venture, the brand has undergone several ownership changes, including acquisitions by Insurance Australia Group and a management buyout supported by Goldman Sachs.

Hastings Direct is currently a fully-owned subsidiary of the Sampo Group, a leading Nordic financial services group headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Sampo completed the full acquisition in December 2021 by purchasing the remaining shares from the South African firm Rand Merchant Investment. Despite its international ownership, Hastings Direct remains deeply rooted in the UK, maintaining its primary operations and headquarters in Bexhill-on-Sea and employing thousands of people across its UK offices and underwriting subsidiary in Gibraltar.