Reinsurance News

Fitch Ratings news

News featuring rating agency Fitch Ratings, including the latest reports, rating actions and analysis from the company, as well as news on Fitch’s analysis of the reinsurance sector.

Terms & conditions show signs of weakening in 2017: Fitch

18th May 2017

The persistent soft reinsurance market environment is again resulting in the weakening of terms and conditions (T&Cs), as market participants increasingly utilise multiyear protection, extended hours clause, and the inclusion of risks that aren't fully understood by the industry, according to Fitch Ratings. Throughout the softening reinsurance market cycle there have ... Read the full article

Fitch predicts challenging year ahead with soft reinsurance market conditions

17th May 2017

Fitch Rating has set a negative forecast for the year ahead in its 2017 outlook report, predicting a continued decline of premium rates, with soft pricing prevailing in the global reinsurance market. The soft pricing is driven by a continued over demand of capital, sluggish reinsurance purchasing, and several years of below-average ... Read the full article

Profitability of U.S. commercial lines business increasingly challenged: Fitch

12th May 2017

International financial services rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has warned of declining profitability in the U.S. commercial insurance industry, driven by intense competition, reduced reserve strengthening and catastrophe losses. "Industry competition has weakened market pricing significantly in the last three years, gradually taking a toll on profitability, and it's unlikely we will ... Read the full article

Ogden rate cut a short-term hit to U.S. & Bermuda re/insurers’ earnings: Fitch

26th April 2017

International financial services rating agency, Fitch Ratings, expects U.S. and Bermudian insurers and reinsurers to adapt quickly to higher costs as a result of the recent cut to the Ogden discount rate in the UK, but does advise firms to set aside extra reserves for their UK exposures. The Ogden ... Read the full article

Demand for reinsurance in Japan set for growth: Fitch Ratings

3rd April 2017

Reinsurance cover demand in Japan is set for growth and is expected to be ceded to international reinsurance markets, according to FitchRatings analysts, as the country implements plans to expand its governmental residential insurance scheme - which has more than doubled its earthquake insurance limit since 2011. The Japanese government is ... Read the full article

North American P/C re/insurers’ operating earnings continue to fall: Fitch

29th March 2017

A continuation of low investment yields and underwriting deterioration combined with higher catastrophe losses in 2016 to further pressure the operating earnings of North American property/casualty (P/C) insurers and reinsurers, according to Fitch Ratings. In a new report, international financial services rating agency, Fitch Ratings, reviews the 2016 GAAP results for ... Read the full article

Structured reinsurance – the big growth opportunity: Fitch

20th March 2017

Amidst a "negative outlook" backdrop for the reinsurance sector, with Fitch expecting profitability to sink further this year, structured reinsurance has been highlighted as one of the few lighthouses for the strained industry, named by the rating agency as a reinsurance growth area for 2017. The surplus relief quota share reinsurance ... Read the full article

M&A more expensive as Asian reinsurers seek diversification: Fitch

17th March 2017

M&A activity became more competitive last year, with valuation multiples shooting up as Chinese and Japanese reinsurers follow international earning diversification strategies, according to Fitch's newly released study on reinsurance market trends. Fitch said valuation multiples for M&A activity had risen last year to nearly 2.0x due to the influx of Asian ... Read the full article

European reinsurers disciplined in a tough market: Fitch

17th March 2017

Large European reinsurers continued to show discipline in a very challenging marketplace and broader economic environment in 2016, as reserve releases declined and companies reported a reduction in renewed business, according to the latest European reinsurance market report from Fitch Ratings. The profitability of European reinsurers remained pressured throughout 2016, with Fitch ... Read the full article

Higher reinsurance costs expected after Ogden rate cut: Fitch

1st March 2017

UK motor insurers will likely face increased reinsurance costs after the government announced plans to reduce the Ogden discount rate from 2.5% to -0.75%, Fitch Ratings has warned. Although re/insurers likely to be affected by the rate have been proactive in preparing for the rate change, a drop to a negative ... Read the full article

Solvency II fuelling increased reinsurance demand: Fitch

16th February 2017

Commentary from reinsurance companies following the key January 1st 2017 renewal season supports the view that Solvency II regulation will increase demand for reinsurance protection, according to international rating agency, Fitch Ratings. The benign large loss environment and abundance of capital in the global reinsurance market, from both traditional and third-party ... Read the full article

EU, U.S. reinsurance deal could boost business, but hinder profits: Fitch

20th January 2017

International financial services rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has commented on the recently announced EU/U.S. transatlantic reinsurance agreement. Fitch says that while the proposed deal could boost the attractiveness of transatlantic reinsurance business, it could also result in some additional pricing pressure in the space. At the end of last week ... Read the full article