Reinsurance News

ICA Chief Exec issues statement on Court of Appeal BI test case hearing

2nd October 2020

The New South Wales Court of Appeal has now heard the legal argument in relation to the business interruption test case lodged by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), according to Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hall. The test case consisted of two separate small business claims that were lodged with ... Read the full article

Senior industry figures call for public-private partnership to tackle cyber risk

2nd October 2020

The world’s reliance on online technology has grown to such an extent that it may surpass the insurers' ability to fully protect it, according to a number of senior industry professionals interviewed by CyberCube Chief Executive Officer Pascal Millaire. In the interviews, conducted as part of a new series of NetDiligence webinars, AXIS ... Read the full article

Athene, MassMutual move to acquire American Equity for $3bn

2nd October 2020

Retirement services firm Athene and life insurer MassMutual have submitted a proposal to the board of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company to purchase all of the company's outstanding common shares for a total consideration of around $3 billion. The unsolicited proposal is currently being reviewed by American Equity's board. The proposal ... Read the full article

Genworth & Oceanwide acquisition further progressed

2nd October 2020

Mortgage insurer, Genworth Financial, Inc. and China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co., have announced that Oceanwide has reached an agreement with Hony Capital on the key commercial terms and conditions of its $1.8 billion offshore financing plan to complete the acquisition of Genworth. The key commercial terms and conditions include its $1.8 ... Read the full article

BI policyholders criticise insurers over unpaid claims

2nd October 2020

The Hiscox Action Group, which earlier this month won a High Court ruling on the validity of their COVID-19 related Business Interruption claims, have released a statement criticising the volume of claims that remain unpaid. The Hiscox Action Group consists of 400 Hiscox policyholders whose coronavirus-related business interruption claims had ... Read the full article

Hurdles for crop insurers in 2020 following poor 2019, says AM Best

2nd October 2020

After crop insurers saw their worst results in a decade in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic and weather events so far in 2020 have globally disrupted the supply chain of agricultural goods and further damaged crop yields, according to a new AM Best report. Challenges facing farmers and multi-peril crop insurers in 2019 ... Read the full article

Verisk adds geopolitical expertise to board

2nd October 2020

Data analytics provider Verisk has strengthened its geopolitical expertise with the addition of General Vincent Brooks to its board of directors. Brooks served in the US Army for 42 years from his entry into West Point until his 2019 retirement as a four-star general. Most recently, Brooks was in command of all ... Read the full article

Insurtech platform Insurwave secures £5mn funding

2nd October 2020

Commercial lines insurtech platform Insurwave has raised £5 million in funding to help drive continued growth. The fundraise was led by existing shareholders and will be invested in expanding the features of the platform. The Insurwave platform is designed to transform complex insurance processes to a digital-first experience, with features including parametric ... Read the full article

ARC eyes inwards reinsurance after securing first industry rating

2nd October 2020

African Risk Capacity Limited (ARC), the commercial subsidiary of the African Risk Capacity Group (ARC Group), has secured an IFS 'BBB+' with Stable Outlook from Fitch, allowing the firm to gain access to new business by taking on inwards reinsurance. ARC’s Chief Executive Officer described the industry rating as an important ... Read the full article

Hannover Re to participate as Global Parametrics backs Cambodian crop scheme

1st October 2020

Parametric and index-based disaster risk transfer company, Global Parametrics (GP), has announced its support for the AGRIBEE Crop Insurance Pilot to provide extreme weather protection cover for smallholder rice farmers in Cambodia. GP is providing cover for the transaction from its Natural Disaster Fund (NDF). Through the partnership agreement between the ... Read the full article

Argo adds Allison Kiene to serve as group general counsel

1st October 2020

Speciality re/insurer Argo Group has announced the appointment of Allison Kiene to serve as group general counsel. Kiene will be responsible for the company’s legal and compliance teams and will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Kevin Rehnberg. She joins from Sompo International, having most recently served as assistant general counsel and ... Read the full article

CRESTA to launch industry loss index for nat cats

1st October 2020

CRESTA, the re/insurance industry organisation that provides a standard global system of risk accumulation zones, has announced that it will shortly launch an industry loss index for natural catastrophe events. The index, called CLIX, will provide structured information on natural catastrophe losses incurred by the global insurance and reinsurance industries. CRESTA believes ... Read the full article

P/C insurers at risk from pandemic, cat losses in H2: Fitch Ratings

1st October 2020

While US property-casualty insurers' results in the second half of 2020 will continue to be impacted by COVID-related insured losses and premium volume declines, significant hurricane and wildfire losses are likely to emerge as the greater threat to profitability, according to Fitch Ratings. Fitch says the full-year 2020 combined ratio will likely ... Read the full article

Euler Hermes CEO to step down, Allianz’ Clarisse Kopff succeeds

1st October 2020

Trade credit insurer Euler Hermes Group has announced that Wilfried Verstraete, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of management, will be stepping down from his operational duties. Clarisse Kopff will succeed him as CEO and Chairperson of the Board of Management as of 1 January 2021. Kopff is currently Chief ... Read the full article

Sirius restructures Global Business Technology management

1st October 2020

Sirius International Insurance Group, Ltd. has restructured the management of its Global Business Technology (GBT) team in the final phase of a transformation that began in late 2019. The first phase began with the appointment of Beth Boucher as Global Chief Information Officer (CIO), who was hired to provide strategic IT ... Read the full article