Reinsurance News
COVID-19 news
News about the impact of the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and how it affected insurance and reinsurance markets.
Gallagher reports rise in Q1 earnings, $42.2mn COVID-19 hit
1st May 2020
International re/insurance broker Gallagher has reported a $39.5 million rise in first quarter net earnings, while the total impact of COVID-19 was estimated at $42.2 million. "We are extremely pleased with our first quarter performance, even with the economic deterioration caused by COVID-19," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and ... Read the full article
Severe scenario puts COVID-19 (US & UK) insured losses at $80bn: WTW
1st May 2020
Under a severe scenario, COVID-19 insurance and reinsurance industry losses for key classes of business in the U.S. and the UK (including the London Market) could be at least $80 billion, according to a report from Willis Towers Watson's (WTW) Insurance Consulting and Technology business. The report is the first to ... Read the full article
CCR dedicates 2019 net income to state-backed credit re/insurance scheme
1st May 2020
State-backed reinsurer CCR has reported net income of €67 million for 2019, all of which the firm has dedicated to the recently launched state-guaranteed COVID-19 reinsurance scheme designed to support the country's SMEs by covering credit insurance risks. At €67 million, net income declined from the €147 million reported a year ... Read the full article
UK regulator to seek legal clarity on BI policies
1st May 2020
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it intends to obtain a court declaration to resolve contractual uncertainty in business interruption (BI) insurance cover relating to the coronavirus pandemic. The UK regulator assured that the process would be undertaken in an “urgent manner,” despite saying last month that most ... Read the full article
Allianz withdraws 2020 guidance, expects Q1 profit dip
1st May 2020
Allianz is the latest global insurer and reinsurer to withdraw its operating profit target for 2020 as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues to drive widespread uncertainty and financial market volatility. As a result of the uncertain macroeconomic outlook being caused by the virus outbreak and the now available updated financial plans ... Read the full article
Nationwide to permanently transition to hybrid (office/remote) operating model
30th April 2020
Ohio-based insurer Nationwide has revealed plans to permanently transition to a new hybrid operating model, which includes primarily working-from-office in four main corporate campuses and working-from-home in the majority of other locations. Like many other businesses in many parts of the world, in mid-March, Nationwide moved to a work-from-home business model ... Read the full article
WTW grows organic revenue 4% in Q1, withdraws 2020 guidance
30th April 2020
Global re/insurance broker Willis Towers Watson saw organic revenue hit 4% in the first quarter, while also announcing its decision to withdraw 2020 guidance over ongoing coronavirus fears. It was ultimately decided that WTW should reassess at a future date when it has a clearer understanding of the depth, duration, and ... Read the full article
Lancashire puts COVID-19 claims at $35mn for Q1, reports higher GPW
30th April 2020
Lancashire Holdings Limited has announced an estimated $35 million of COVID-19 claims for the first-quarter of 2020, while gross premiums written (GPW) jumped by almost 12% year-on-year to $242.8 million. The London-listed insurer and reinsurer has established a reserve of approximately $35 million of losses, net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums, ... Read the full article
Argo expects $26mn of COVID-19 related claims in Q1
30th April 2020
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. has warned that its first-quarter 2020 results will be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and volatility in global financial markets. Ahead of its Q1 2020 results announcement, which is scheduled for May 7th, Argo has said that it expects to report pre-tax net catastrophe losses ... Read the full article
AXA’s Guidee says France is working on insurance backstop for pandemics: report
30th April 2020
Renaud Guidee, the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) of global insurance giant AXA, has told Reuters that France is in the process of drafting a re/insurance backstop for pandemics in light of the significant financial and economic implications of the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Reuters, a working group set up by French ... Read the full article
COVID-19 drives Swiss Re to $225mn Q1 net loss
30th April 2020
Global reinsurance giant Swiss Re fell to a $225 million net loss in the first quarter, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to make its presence felt in the industry. The reinsurer also saw an underwriting loss of $476 million and an investment loss of $300 million for the quarter. The mark-to-market valuation ... Read the full article
Aon, WTW merger to be a positive catalyst: CEO Greg Case
29th April 2020
Greg Case, the Chief Executive Officer of leading re/insurance broker Aon, believes his company’s forthcoming combination with Willis Towers Watson will be a positive catalyst enabling accelerated innovation on behalf of clients. In an official statement to colleagues earlier this week, Case noted how the all-stock combination requires no financing ... Read the full article
Munich Re dividend approved despite COVID-19 pressure
29th April 2020
Munich Re shareholders have approved a dividend of €9.80 per share at the reinsurer’s annual general meeting (AGM), despite mounting pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic. The AGM, which was held online due to the pandemic, also granted renewed authorisation to buy back shares and elected Carsten Spohr to the Supervisory Board. Spohr ... Read the full article
Swiss Re COVID-19 survey illustrates financial anxiety across Asia Pacific
29th April 2020
A quarter of respondents to a consumer survey conducted by global reinsurer Swiss Re across four major Asia Pacific markets are worried about how they will come out of the COVID-19 pandemic financially. 27% of respondents are "anxious" and "overwhelmed" about their finances while around 40% in all markets surveyed said ... Read the full article
Hiscox undecided on capital raise, expects hardening reinsurance markets
29th April 2020
Insurer and reinsurer Hiscox has said that it believes the Group has enough capital to meet the expected liabilities from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and, is confident the uncertainty being caused will lead to rate hardening across US wholesale and reinsurance markets. The announcement from the specialist re/insurer comes after speculation ... Read the full article
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