Reinsurance News

COVID-19 news

News about the impact of the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and how it affected insurance and reinsurance markets.

For details of loss reports and disclosures related to COVID-19 from insurance and reinsurance companies visit our list here.

$100bn industry loss from COVID-19, says Chubb CEO Greenberg

26th May 2020

Evan Greenberg, the Chief Executive Officer of global insurer Chubb, expects coronavirus to inflict upwards of $100 billion in losses for the industry. Speaking to the New York Times, Greenberg said claims will come from all sides and be exacerbated by the accumulation of investment losses. However, Greenberg noted that business interruption ... Read the full article

SCOR cancels dividend, reduces Kessler’s compensation

26th May 2020

Global insurer and reinsurer SCOR has announced that its Board of Directors has proposed that no dividend be distributed for the 2019 fiscal year, while Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Denis Kessler has proposed that his annual variable compensation for the year be reduced by 30%. Following SCOR's performance in ... Read the full article

Pandemic an opportunity for reinsurance growth in India: Rohit Boda

26th May 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic presents many opportunities for the growth of reinsurance business in India, according to Rohit Boda, Managing Director of J.B. Boda Group, an insurance and reinsurance broker based in the country. Speaking in an interview with Reinsurance News, Boda noted that the contention around business interruption claims linked to ... Read the full article

Forced BI claims would put “systemic strain” on the insurance industry: Triple-I CEO

22nd May 2020

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), Sean Kevelighan, has warned that systematic strains would be placed on the insurance industry if carriers are forced to pay out retroactive claims. As the fallout surrounding business interruption (BI) insurance related to the COVID-19 pandemic has persisted, leaders from ... Read the full article

Exacerbated hard market is exposing “anachronistic” broking structure: report

22nd May 2020

A new report claims that a hard market exacerbated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is exposing the "hopelessly conflicted and untransparent broker system" that developed during a prolonged softened market state. Brokers receive up to 80% of their renumeration from insurers and just 20% from clients, says the report ... Read the full article

IRB Brasil Re eyeing competitors’ LatAm portfolios: Reports

22nd May 2020

It’s believed Brazilian reinsurer IRB Brasil Re is in advanced talks with rivals across Latin America as the firm looks to buy up portfolios and strengthen its position in the region. Reuters, citing two sources close to the reinsurer, says the move is an attempt to capitalise on decisions by rivals ... Read the full article

ABI rejects pub industry appeal for pandemic BI cover

22nd May 2020

In response to an open letter penned by a coalition of beer and pub businesses, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has insisted that the UK re/insurance industry has no responsibility to pay business interruption (BI) claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition letter, addressed to ABI Chair Jon Dye, ... Read the full article

Insurance trade groups propose federal pandemic solution

22nd May 2020

A new, industry-backed federal program designed specifically to help businesses meet the financial challenges from future pandemics has been proposed by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc. (Big "I"). The new pandemic ... Read the full article

COVID-19 to increase drone use within insurance: GlobalData

22nd May 2020

Data and analytics specialist GlobalData is expecting drones to play a bigger role within the insurance space as coronavirus continues to change the way people and businesses interact. While it was anticipated that drone technology would eventually take off in the inspection of large areas, GlobalData notes how coronavirus is highlighting ... Read the full article

Eos closes Strategic InsurTech Fund, welcomes Tokio Marine & Direct Line

22nd May 2020

Eos Venture Partners has announced the close of its Strategic InsurTech Fund, which, invests in global InsurTech companies while at the same time promoting and facilitating engagement between incumbents and emerging tech providers. Established in 2016, Eos has offices in London and Philadelphia, and operates as a global independent Strategic Venture ... Read the full article

Aviva estimates £160mn of COVID-19 claims across GI businesses

21st May 2020

London headquartered insurer Aviva has announced estimated COVID-19 related losses of £160 million, net of reinsurance, in its General Insurance businesses based on claims in business interruption, other commercial lines, and travel insurance. In its Q1 operating update, insurer Aviva has reported a strong start to the year, but also warned ... Read the full article

Generali posts €113m Q1 profit, €655m COVID-19 investment hit

21st May 2020

Italian insurance giant Generali has announced a first quarter net profit of €113 million despite the COVID-19 pandemic driving an investment loss of around €655 million. This €113 million net profit is down from €744 million in the prior year quarter and includes a non-operating expense amounting to €100 million from ... Read the full article

Tokio Marine’s consolidated net income dips in FY2019

21st May 2020

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. has reported a decline in consolidated net income to JPY 259.7 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31st, 2020, while adjusted net income improved to JPY 286.7 billion on the back of improved results in domestic life and overseas insurance subsidiaries. Consolidated net income declined year-on-year ... Read the full article

COVID-19 reinsurance impact of $82bn could turn pricing: analysts

20th May 2020

Analysts at Morgan Stanley have estimated that a scenario including a projected COVID-19 reinsurance impact of $82 billion could lead to a turn in reinsurance pricing. Responding to the recent Lloyd’s of London pandemic estimate, which put the total cost to the re/insurance industry at $203 billion, Morgan Stanley tried ... Read the full article

Pre-COVID-19 structural factors to influence reinsurance renewals: Flandro, Hyperion X

19th May 2020

While the COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly have an influence on upcoming renewals for insurers and reinsurers, for the latter, the broad structural factors that have been in place prior to the outbreak cannot be ignored, according to David Flandro, Managing Director at Hyperion X. In a recent video interview with our ... Read the full article