Standard & Poor's (S&P)
Lloyd's returns to profit for H1 2012
Lloyd's posted profit of €1.897bn for the first six months of 2012, following a benign first half with no major claims from natural catastrophes.
Groupama sale to Ageas unlikely to improve either group's rating prospects
The acquisition of Groupama Insurances by Ageas UK should "end uncertainty" among brokers over Groupama's financial strength and creditworthiness in the UK, but will have little impact on the 'negative' rating outlooks of either parent company, analysts…
Takaful's key markets diverging, says S&P
Takaful companies in south east Asia appear more healthy and sustainable than their counterparts in the Gulf, according to the latest report by Standard and Poor's.
The impact of European downgrades
This year has seen an increasing number of downgrades by ratings agencies for European insurers. Anne-Louise Fogtmann investigates how seriously these are taken and their impact on insurers.
Top five Asian news stories
The top five Asian stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days
QBE Europe restructures reinsurance business
QBE Europe has announced a restructure of its reinsurance arm which will take effect on 30 September 2012.
Reinsurers to diversify more cautiously after 2011 cat losses
Reinsurers should tread with caution when looking to diversify their operations as increased exposure in natural-catastrophe prone regions could leave them open to large losses, Standard and Poor’s said today.
Credit pressures yet to trigger flight to quality among reinsurance cedants
Insurers are yet to flock towards the highest rated reinsurers despite challenges facing the reinsurance industry, according to Standard & Poor's.
Top five European news stories
The top five European stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Aviva loses 'A' rating as S&P downgrades UK group
Standard & Poor's has lowered Aviva PLC’s long-term counterparty credit rating by one notch to 'A-' from 'A', and its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on all of the group's core operating subsidiaries by one notch to …
Aviva suffers ratings downgrade amid strategic overhaul
Aviva has been hit with a Standards & Poor’s ratings downgrade following concerns about the cost and risks of delivery associated with its strategic plan.
Middle East Blog: Rated or not rated? What is the question?
On a recent visit back home to Malta I was kindly invited to the Malta Insurance Institute's annual general meeting where I had to sing for my supper.
Asian enterprise risk management gathering steam
The Asia insurance sector lags behind Western markets in terms of enterprise risk management. Nicky Burridge investigates the issues bringing the matter to the top of the agenda.
Brokers will use downgraded insurers, but only if clients make the request
Brokers have admitted they will continue to work with downgraded insurers at clients’ requests, despite rating agency Fitch conceding there is no end in sight to potential downgrades linked to the Eurozone crisis.
Groupama UK criticised for bid to distance itself from French parent
Groupama's UK operation has been accused of "ignoring its financial history" by attempting to distance itself from the group’s Standard & Poor's BBB- downgrade.
FXB: Groupama downgrade does not reflect UK profitability
Groupama Insurances chief executive François-Xavier Boisseau, pictured, has defended the strength of the "ring-fenced" UK business and claimed that "good progress" towards a sale is being made, after the group's security rating was downgraded.
Groupama UK fights back over S&P downgrade
Groupama Insurances in the UK is strong and secure, according to CEO François-Xavier Boisseau.
S&P drops Groupama's rating to BB
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its long-term counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on France-based insurer Groupama SA and its guaranteed subsidiaries to 'BB' from 'BBB-'.
S&P upgrades Skuld to 'A' with 'stable' outlook
Maritime insurer Skuld has had its Standard & Poor's rating upgraded to 'A' with 'stable' outlook, based on strong underwriting and capitalisation.
Generali on negative watch after CEO change
Ratings agency Standard and Poor's has placed Italy's Generali on negative watch following the removal of Giovanni Perissinotto and his replacement with Zurich head of general insurance Mario Greco.
Scor and key subsidiaries upgraded to A+
French reinsurer Scor has had its insurer financial strength rating upgraded from A to A+ by Standard and Poor's along with core subsidiaries.
S&P upgrades Scor to A+
Standard & Poor's has upgraded the insurance financial strength ratings and long-term counterparty credit of Scor SE and various guaranteed subsidiaries from A to A+.
S&P puts five MENA countries on negative watch
Standard & Poor's has put Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Tunisia on negative outlook, indicating a one-in-three chance it will lower their soverign ratings.
S&P confirms Canopius outlook as 'stable'
Standard & Poor's has affirmed Canopius Syndicate 4444 at 2+ on news that Canopius will acquire Omega Insurance Holdings.