London | QBE has become caught up in a British regulator's extraordinary courtroom foray, as the industry battles to resolve a spiralling controversy over whether insurers have to pay out on business interruption policies because of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Groups of British businesses such as hotels, pubs and dentists have launched class actions against various UK-based insurance giants, reportedly including QBE, demanding to be paid out for the losses they've suffered from being unable to operate during the British lockdown that began on March 24.