Reinsurance News

Fitch

Africa Specialty Risks secures BBB+ credit rating with positive outlook from Fitch

23rd September 2024

Fitch Ratings has assigned Africa Specialty Risks (ASR), a pan-African and Middle East focused re/insurance group a BBB+ long term Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) Rating with a positive outlook to ASR Re. According to Fitch, ASR Re’s ratings reflect its very strong capitalisation and low leverage. Additionally, the reinsurer’s expanding business volumes ... Read the full article

Global reinsurance premiums to continue to grow: Fitch

8th September 2024

Global rating agency Fitch forecasts global reinsurance net premiums written to continue to grow in 2024 and 2025, forecasting USD 173.4 billion and USD 183.8 billion, respectively, with the impact of catastrophe losses to worsen. “Premiums growth is likely going to continue, but at a reduced pace, as rate adequacy has ... Read the full article

Global reinsurers to maintain stringent T&Cs to limit exposure to secondary perils: Fitch

4th September 2024

According to analysts at Fitch Ratings, global reinsurers are likely to maintain stringent terms and conditions to limit their exposure to secondary perils "as weather-related losses become increasingly significant and volatile due to climate change." The agency stated that the tightening of terms and conditions for natural catastrophe cover is a ... Read the full article

Better motor and buildings insurance results support German non-life earnings: Fitch

28th August 2024

Fitch Ratings has revised its sector outlook for the German non-life insurance market to ‘improving’ from ‘neutral’ in June 2024, as the rating agency predicts better underlying profitability supported by strongly rising premium rates in motor and buildings insurance. According to a recent Fitch report, the sector premium is now forecasted ... Read the full article

Non-life insurance premium rate trends differ throughout Europe: Fitch

30th July 2024

As per Fitch Ratings, non-life insurance premium rates are showing different trends across numerous European markets, following the rating agency's mid-year review of insurance sector outlooks. According to Fitch, non-life insurers have been looking to increase prices to offset high claims inflation and reinsurance costs, however their ability to do so ... Read the full article

New entrants to UK bulk annuity underlines growth potential: Fitch

25th July 2024

The growth potential of the UK bulk annuity market has been highlighted by a wave of new entrants, according to Fitch Ratings. Steep interest rate rises in 2022-2023 boosted pension scheme funding levels, making it more affordable for corporates to transfer their pension liabilities to insurers. Mutual insurer Royal London, for example, ... Read the full article

Allianz’s acquisition of Income Insurance unlikely to alter Singapore market, Fitch

22nd July 2024

Global insurer and asset manager Allianz's proposed acquisition of Singapore’s Income Insurance Limited "should not materially change the competitive landscape in Singapore’s insurance market," says Fitch Ratings. If you recall, Allianz Group, through its wholly owned subsidiary Allianz Europe B.V., recently announced its intention to acquire a 51% majority stake ... Read the full article

Bermuda re/insurers with strong to very strong ratings and ample capital: Fitch

15th July 2024

Global ratings agency Fitch recently reported strong to very strong Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings for Bermuda and U.S. insurers and reinsurers. Arch received an ‘AA-’, RenaissanceRe an ‘A+’, and both SiriusPoint and Hamilton an ‘A–’, all with Stable Outlooks. These high ratings are attributed to the companies' solid capital positions, which ... Read the full article

Insurers continue to face capital challenges: Aon

18th June 2024

Aon, a global insurance and reinsurance broking group, has released its latest capital poll, highlighting the capital challenges and growth prospects for insurers. The challenges faced in 2023 significantly reduced the financial buffers that many insurers previously benefitted, leading to a heightened focus on capital management and diverse funding sources. Despite robust ... Read the full article

Fitch upgrades German non-life insurance sector outlook to ‘improving’

18th June 2024

Fitch Ratings, a financial analysis firm operating out of Frankfurt and London, recently announced a notable change in its evaluation of the German non-life insurance sector. The outlook has been elevated from 'neutral' to 'improving,' driven by expectations of heightened profitability fuelled by robustly increasing premium rates. Despite some European counterparts, recent ... Read the full article

German non-life profitability to recover from historical lows in 2025, says Fitch

26th April 2024

According to Fitch Ratings, German non-life insurers' profitability will start to recover from historical lows in 2025, with weak returns continuing to be seen in 2024 due to low investment income and higher reinsurance costs. However, the agency stated that these cannot be directly passed to policyholders due to claims ... Read the full article

Combination of factors led to a “strong recovery” in reinsurance capital in 2023: Fitch

1st March 2024

According to analysts at Fitch Ratings, the combination of a strong earnings generation, the stabilisation of financial markets, and the move to the accounting standard IFRS17 of major reinsurers, has led to a "strong recovery" in reinsurance capital in 2023. Fitch said that it expects it to have grown by 11% ... Read the full article

European reinsurers’ 1/1 renewals outcome suggests underwriting margins close to peaking: Fitch

29th February 2024

Analysis by Fitch Ratings on the outcome of the key January 1st, 2024, renewals for European reinsurers claims that underwriting margins are close to peaking as supply and demand exhibits greater equilibrium. Earlier this year, Fitch warned that reinsurers’ underwriting margins are likely to peak in 2024, as the rating ... Read the full article

Investors have mixed views on how UK S2 reforms may impact insurer credit quality: Fitch

12th February 2024

Investors appear to have mixed views on the impact of post-Brexit Solvency II (S2) reforms on UK insurers’ credit quality, according to Fitch Ratings. At a recent Insurance Insights event in London, that was attended by investors, issuers, as well as other market participants, an audience poll showed that 30% thought ... Read the full article

North American insurers expected to balance growth opportunities: Fitch

2nd February 2024

With recession at bay and inflation beginning to cool off, North American insurers are expected to balance growth opportunities while weathering potential impediments to growth this year, according to Fitch Ratings analysts and external panelists at the agency’s Insurance Insights 2024 North America investor forum. Fitch noted that the sector outlooks for ... Read the full article