Reinsurance News
Aspen looks to raise $238mn via Highlands bond issuance
20th October 2020
Bermuda-based insurer and reinsurer Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited is looking to raise approximately $238 million of capital through a bond issuance. According to a recent securities filing, Highlands Holdings Bond Issuer, Ltd. and its subsidiary, Highlands Holdings Bond Co-Issuer, Inc., are proposing a $500 million issuance, just under half of which ... Read the full article
Munich Re adds €800mn of COVID-19-related losses in Q3
20th October 2020
Global reinsurer Munich Re has added a further €800 million of COVID-19-related losses in its reinsurance operation in the third-quarter of 2020, taking its total for the first nine months of the year to €2.3 billion. The German reinsurer explains that the losses were attributable to various lines of business, including ... Read the full article
UK & EU regulators wrestle for oversight of Aon / WTW merger: reports
20th October 2020
British and European Union regulators are reportedly debating which authority will have oversight of some of Europe's largest mergers ahead of a Brexit trade deal deadline in December, including the planned combination of re/insurance brokers Aon and Willis Towers Watson (WTW). A Financial Times article, citing people briefed on the issue, ... Read the full article
Apollo adds Richard Panter as head of specie, cargo at Syndicate 1969
20th October 2020
Independent specialist re/insurer Apollo Syndicate Management has added Richard Panter as head of specie and cargo at Apollo Syndicate 1969. Panter brings over 37 years’ experience in the insurance market and reports to Paul Letherbarrow, head of aviation and member of the executive committee. Before joining Apollo, he had been head of fine art ... Read the full article
COVID-19 non-life insured loss in Germany seen at up to €1.75bn: E+S Rück
20th October 2020
The impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is expected to result in a non-life re/insurance market loss of between €1.25 billion to €1.75 billion (USD 1.47bn - USD 2.1bn) in Germany, driven mostly by nationwide business closures, according to executives at E+S Rückversicherung AG, the Hannover Re subsidiary responsible for ... Read the full article
Flooding in French Alps to drive €210mn insured loss
20th October 2020
According to a joint communication from CCR and the French Insurance Federation (FFA), recent flooding in the south east French Alps could cause up to €210 million in insured losses. The industry should expect to record a total of 14,000 claims related to the event, the statement said, of which 8,250 ... Read the full article
Travelers’ Q3 net income rises as losses trigger full agg reinsurance recovery
20th October 2020
The Travelers Companies, Inc. has reported an improved net income of $827 million for the third-quarter of 2020, despite elevated catastrophe and non-catastrophe weather-related losses triggering a full recovery under the firm's Underlying Property Aggregate Catastrophe Excess-of-Loss Reinsurance Treaty. Net income improved by $431 million year-on-year in Q3 2020 as a ... Read the full article
MAPFRE partners with insurtech Shift on customer claims experience
20th October 2020
MAPFRE is set to create a new claims process supported by technology from claims automation firm Shift. The Spanish insurer will leverage Shift’s end-to-end claims automation solution in an effort to deliver a more friendly and transparent experience for clients. Shift has joined MAPFRE's startup engagement program insur_space and over the coming ... Read the full article
Aon appoints Graeme Rayner to lead new Alternative Distribution platform
20th October 2020
Global insurance and reinsurance broker, Aon, has launched a new London-based platform that matches underwriting expertise with capacity provision through fronting, MGA / MGU and captive solutions, called Alternative Distribution. The new platform will work with fronting structures and will access capabilities from across the company to make a broad range ... Read the full article
Gjensidige Forsikring’s combined ratio improves to 78.2% in Q3
20th October 2020
General insurance provider, Gjensidige Forsikring Group, has reported an improvement in its combined ratio to 78.2% for its Q3 results, in comparison to its Q3 2019 result of 83.2%. The underwriting result was driven by 10% growth in earned premiums, an improved underlying frequency loss ratio and lower large losses. Earned premiums ... Read the full article
UK Gov to reform Solvency II risk margins after Brexit
20th October 2020
As part of its review into Solvency II, the UK Government is planning to reform risk margin rules once the transition period with the EU has ended. Back in June, the government said it would review Solvency II ahead of the December 31st transition deadline to make sure all rules ... Read the full article
Munich Re backed bsurance develops digital insurance solution for kika/Leiner
20th October 2020
Munich Re backed Austrian InsurTech start-up, bsurance, has developed a digital insurance solution for kika/Leiner's furniture stores. The new solution is designed to enable customers to take out extended warranty insurance directly upon purchasing electrical appliances. bsurance worked closely with kika/Leiner to tailor the insurance product to their customer needs. UNIQA ... Read the full article
Kemper’s Q3 results to include cat losses of up to $68mn
20th October 2020
Kemper Corporation has announced that it anticipates its third quarter 2020 results will include pre-tax catastrophe losses ranging from $62 million to $68 million, primarily related to wildfire and hurricane events. The company notes that it does not expect ... Read the full article
InsurTech startups need to learn from previous mistakes: Convergence 2020
20th October 2020
In a virtually held 2020 ILS Bermuda Convergence event, Insurtech became the main focus on a panel featuring Lyndsey Toeppen, Former Vice-President, Sandbox Insurtech Ventures and Adrian Jones, Deputy CEO, P&C Partners, Ventures & Strategic Partnerships, SCOR. The question of what it takes for an InsurTech to be successful will be ... Read the full article
Enstar’s latest Watford bid could lead to a “Superior Proposal”
20th October 2020
The unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Enstar Group Limited to acquire the common shares of Watford Holdings Ltd. could reasonably be expected to lead to a "Superior Proposal" as defined in Watford's merger agreement with Arch Capital Group Ltd., according to the firm's Board of Directors. On October 15th, legacy acquirer ... Read the full article