Reinsurance News
Ransomware incidents up threefold in 2019, as costs escalate: Aon
20th November 2019
Ransomware incidents rates have increased threefold since Q4 2018, according to a new report from Aon, with average costs escalating at a similar rate. The Cyber Practice Group of Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business found that the costs of ransomware attacks continued to increase across all sectors this year, with payments tripling ... Read the full article
Optio enters political risk market, backed by Hiscox
20th November 2019
Optio Group, which is comprised of MGAs Ascent Underwriting, Cove Programs and broker Bay Risk Services, has announced the launch of a political political risk proposition for foreign direct investors (FDIs) in higher-risk markets. In addition to the standard political risk perils of expropriation, war and forced abandonment, Optio will provide ... Read the full article
Real value in understanding & transferring ocean risk, says AXA XL’s MacFarlane
19th November 2019
AXA XL, the global P&C and Specialty insurance and reinsurance arm of the AXA Group, sees real value in the ongoing development of the world’s first Ocean Risk Index, designed to assess, transfer and trade the risks associated with the change and deterioration in our oceans, while simultaneously supporting resilience. Reinsurance ... Read the full article
CyberCube secures $35mn in funding, led by HSCM Bermuda
19th November 2019
Cyber risk analytics firm CyberCube has secured $35 million of additional funding in a series B round led by Hudson Structured Capital Management Ltd. (HSCM Bermuda) and existing investor ForgePoint Capital. As part of the arrangement, Michael Millette, Founder and Managing Partner at HSCM Bermuda, will join CyberCube’s Board of Directors. Launched ... Read the full article
FEMA commences procurement of 2020 NFIP reinsurance renewal
19th November 2019
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has started its procurement process for the renewal of a flood reinsurance programme, designed to protect against flood risks in the U.S. that are insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FEMA has returned to the traditional market for its NFIP reinsurance program ... Read the full article
S&P upgrades Mapfre Re ratings on more diverse earnings
19th November 2019
S&P Global Ratings has upgraded the long-term issuer credit and financial strength ratings of Mapfre Re from ‘A’ to ‘A+’, based on improved underwriting earnings diversification. The rating agency also raised the long-term issuer credit rating on parent company Mapfre S.A from ‘BBB+’ to ‘A-‘, and assigned a stable outlook to ... Read the full article
Sompo International names new CEO amid restructure
19th November 2019
Sompo Holdings is to transfer all overseas group companies under Sompo International Holdings by 2020 and will appoint Mikio Okumura to oversee the strategy’s execution as Chief Executive Officer. This move is designed to establish a more integrated global platform and expand overseas business. Once this integration is completed, Sompo Holdings says ... Read the full article
Homeowners sector increasingly targeting insurtech efficiencies: AM Best
19th November 2019
Companies in the US homeowners market are increasingly relying on insurtech to boost efficiency and agility in the face of challenging market dynamics, according to analysts at AM Best. Analysts observed that effective use of technology in this sector has helped to lower transaction costs and expand access to customers. The cost ... Read the full article
Lloyd’s urges people to speak up against unacceptable behaviour
19th November 2019
The specialist Lloyd's of London insurance and reinsurance marketplace has launched a new campaign designed to encourage people to speak out against unacceptable behaviour. The campaign, #SpeakUp, has been launched by Lloyd's in order to underline the importance of speaking up and to provide clear guidance on how people can take ... Read the full article
Sompo International profits hit by large losses in H1
19th November 2019
Bermuda-based property and casualty re/insurer, Sompo International, increased its profits only marginally during the first half of the 2019 fiscal year, due to the impact of large losses on the business. The company, which represents part of the overseas operations of Japanese re/insurer Sompo Holdings, posted a profit of US $190 ... Read the full article
Willis Re Securities completes €120m cat bond for Covéa
19th November 2019
Willis Re Securities, a division of re/insurance broker Willis Towers Watson, has announced its role in structuring and placing Hexagon II Reinsurance DAC. This transaction provides French insurance group Covéa with a single €120 million tranche of fully collateralised protection against windstorm and other weather-related events for a four-year period. The structure ... Read the full article
Moody’s outlook negative for European insurance in 2020
19th November 2019
Moody’s outlook for the European insurance sector in 2020 is negative, reflecting growing profitability and solvency pressures due to low interest rates, macroeconomic uncertainty, and rising environment, social and governance (ESG) risk. Analysts believe that low interest rates have weakened insurers’ Solvency II ratios in 2019, with many experiencing declines of ... Read the full article
MS&AD takes $1.6bn hit on MS Amlin’s Lloyd’s, European profitability
19th November 2019
MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings has announced that MS Amlin's European primary insurance and Lloyd's business have been less profitable than it anticipated when acquired, and as such, an impairment loss of 175.4 billion yen (USD 1.6 billion) has been recognised as an extraordinary loss. The announcement comes as part of the ... Read the full article
AIG adds Barrett as global head of multinational, general insurance
19th November 2019
Insurance giant AIG has appointed Allison Barrett global head of multinational, general insurance. Barrett joins on December 9 and will be based out of the firm’s New York office, reporting to Michael Price, head of global service businesses & global Chief Operating Officer, general insurance. She joins from Willis Towers Watson, having ... Read the full article
Global Risk Partners acquires London broker Gauntlet
19th November 2019
Global Risk Partners (GRP), an investment vehicle aimed at insurance brokers and managing general agents, has acquired Gauntlet Insurance Services, a private client broker that specialises in high value assets. Based in London, Gauntlet is responsible for covering assets valued at more than £8 billion, such as historic, fine town and ... Read the full article
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