Reinsurance News

Florida specialists remain largely untested despite 2016 activity: Fitch

12th June 2017

Despite the impacts of Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Hermine in 2016 the balance sheet and operating infrastructure of many specialist Floridian insurers remains relatively untested against a large loss event, says Fitch Ratings. However, while the $4.5 billion insured loss from Matthew combined with the estimated $400 million loss from ... Read the full article

A U.S. flood reinsurance market boom? S&P Global

9th June 2017

The upcoming reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has created a flurry of renewed interest in U.S. flood reinsurance, but with social and political uncertainties and the nature of flood risk itself remaining as significant obstacles, what kind of market growth is realistic for the foreseeable future? In a recent ... Read the full article

Mark Purdy joins JLT Specialty USA from Aon

9th June 2017

JLT Specialty USA, a subsidiary of insurance and reinsurance broker JLT Group, has announced the appointment of Mark Purdy as Senior Vice President (SVP), joining from Aon. Purdy will be based in the firm's Houston office, with a focus on assisting JLT clients with the improvement of their claims platform while boosting ... Read the full article

RMS releases version 17.0 of its North American Earthquake Models

9th June 2017

Global catastrophe risk modelling firm RMS has released its updated version 17.0 RMS North America Earthquake Models, which provides a more accurate and comprehensive view of earthquake risks across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. RMS describes the release as a "major step forward in managing earthquake risk," claiming that its new ... Read the full article

Topa Insurance Co. names Chang AVP of reinsurance & programs

9th June 2017

U.S. domiciled Topa Insurance Co. has announced the appointment of Olive Chang as Assistant Vice President (AVP) of reinsurance and programs, based in the firm's Calabasas, California office. In her new role Chang will have responsibility for the management of reinsurance and programs operation, including quality control of both treaty and facultative reinsurance placement ... Read the full article

Reinsurers face losses from South Africa storm and fires

9th June 2017

Losses from South Africa's recent Cape storm and fires in Knysna have made it a tough start to the year for insurers in the region, as analysts warn the industry will come under pressure to manage the growing claims costs, although a cushion will be provided by reinsurance cover. Earlier this week Cape ... Read the full article

AIG to sell $600m Arch shares gained from United Guaranty sale

9th June 2017

Insurer AIG is to sell $600 million worth of shares it owns in Bermudian insurance and reinsurance group Arch Capital Group Ltd., a holding that AIG gained when it sold mortgage insurer United Guaranty to Arch. Arch completed its acquisition of United Guaranty Corporation (UGC) from American International Group (AIG) ... Read the full article

W.R. Berkley sets up Entertainment & Sports and Environmental units

9th June 2017

W. R. Berkley Corporation today announced the formation of two independent operating units, Berkley Entertainment & Sports and Berkley Environmental, after these segments grew into independently successful businesses and evolved out of Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers. W. Robert Berkley, Junior president and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, said; “Berkley ... Read the full article

IAG purchases additional $1 billion catastrophe reinsurance cover

9th June 2017

Australian general insurer Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has strengthened its reinsurance cover through the purchase of an additional $1 billion catastrophe protection on top of its existing $7 billion programme. The $1 billion reinsurance deal includes one prepaid reinstatement and begins on 1st of June running for a contractual period of 19 ... Read the full article

No sign pricing will bounce back quickly as reinsurance market nears bottom: Deutsche Bank

9th June 2017

The January 1st, 2018 renewal season could see pricing in the reinsurance market finally reach the elusive and much discussed bottom of the cycle, with the question then turning to how long the trough will be, suggests analysts at Deutsche Bank. Deutsche Bank has completed its seventh Global Financial Services Conference in ... Read the full article

Markel reorganises to create new insurance unit, Markel Assurance

9th June 2017

Markel Corporation has established a new insurance unit called Markel Assurance that sees the combination of the re/insurer's Wholesale (excess and surplus lines) and Global Insurance (complex, risk-managed accounts) divisions, and that will be led by Bryan Sanders. The reorganisation and subsequent creation of Markel Assurance will be made up of underwriting ... Read the full article

Severe U.S. weather in May to cost insurers almost $3 billion: Aon Benfield

8th June 2017

Impact Forecasting, the catastrophe risk modelling unit of reinsurance broker Aon Benfield, has reported that severe weather in the U.S. in May is expected to result in an insurance and reinsurance industry loss of nearly $3 billion. Impact Forecasting's latest global catastrophe report shows that the majority of economic and insured losses ... Read the full article

Risk management under pressure as insurers tighten budget screws: Guy Carpenter

8th June 2017

Insurers have been tightening up budgets for risk modeling investment and moving away from multi-model risk management to an approach that relies on detailed understanding of a core model, as they come under pressure to improve the bottom line in a competitive market, said Guy Carpenter. Guy Carpenter's Matthew Eagle, Head of ... Read the full article

Matthew McCampbell joins U.S. Risk from Essent Group

8th June 2017

Brokerage U.S. Risk, LLC has named Matthew McCampbell Executive Vice President (EVP) of Corporate Strategy and Development, joining from Essent Group, Ltd. In his new role McCampbell will be responsible for for leading all acquisition activity as the plan continues its aggressive growth strategy. U.S. Risk, LLC's current affiliates, which it offers ... Read the full article

Indian regulator sets up committee to review reinsurance framework

8th June 2017

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has announced plans to form a panel of 17 members to conduct a comprehensive reinsurance framework review. The panel will examine the current regulatory framework for reinsurance and study international best practices, as well as look at the framework for health insurance - ... Read the full article