Brazil
Ace acquires Brazilian P&C insurer
Global insurer Ace has agreed to acquire the large corporate property and casualty business of Brazil-based Itaú Seguros from Itaú Unibanco for approximately $685m. Upon completion of the transaction, Ace will be the largest commercial P&C insurer in…
CGSC launches LatAm wholesale insurance broking expansion
Independent wholesale broker Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford is to expand its Swett & Crawford wholesale broking business into the Latin American market.
Besso opens Brazil office
Besso Insurance Group has received licenses to begin trading in its newly opened office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
QBE creates emerging markets division
QBE's new division will include its Latin America and Asia-Pacific arms and be led by the insurer's Asia-Pacific CEO David Fried.
England fans excluded from World Cup elimination insurance
Chinese insurer Ancheng Insurance is offering World Cup insurance for fans to compensate for the disappointment of being eliminated from the tournament.
$7bn of insured natural disaster losses in Q1 2014
Insurers had to pay out $7bn in insured losses caused by natural disasters in the first quarter of the year according to catastrophe modeller Impact Forecasting.
Airclaims boosts Latin America operations
McLarens owned specialist adjuster Airclaims has expanded its Latin American operations with the launch of a second office in Brazil alongside expansions in Mexico, Peru and Ecuador.
Brazil and Russia face increasing terrorism risk
Aon’s 2014 Terrorism and Political Violence Map has highlighted increasing risk in Brazil and Russia as the countries prepare to stage major sporting events in the form of the FIFA World Cup and the Winter Olympics.
Former NMB boss Reis to take on commercial role for CGSC
Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford has appointed Carlos Reis as commercial director of CGSC Holdings Brasil.
Gard eyes reinsurance opportunities in Brazil as it secures license
Gard is seeking to establish itself in the Brazilian reinsurance market after securing a licence to write that line of business in the Latin American country.
Fico close on UK fraud deal after ‘bake-off’ success
The vice president of Fico’s global insurance and healthcare practice has revealed that it is close to striking a major deal in the UK counter-fraud space having "blown insurers away" with its latest offering.
Employment: Port in a storm?
Does the insurance sector’s resilience in a difficult economic climate make it a safe haven for employees, or are industry staff in as much peril as the rest of the UK workforce?
Marsh issues warning over Brazil and Turkey unrest
Policyholders should be aware that market conditions could change rapidly if violence escalates in Brazil or Turkey, broker Marsh has warned.
Assurant Solutions appoints Europe chief marketing officer
Assurant Solutions’ Europe has appointed Cassio Stavale as its chief marketing officer.
Sompo Japan expands presence in Brazil
Japanese general insurer Sompo Japan has raised its stake in Sao Paulo-based Maritima Seguros to 87% from 50% through its subsidiary Yasuda Seguros.
Allianz wins 20-year naming deal for Sao Paulo stadium
German insurer Allianz has entered into an agreement that will see it name Brazil’s newest outdoor stadium, currently known as Nova Arena.
‘Worrying trend’ for over-regulation making UK market less competitive
Rising regulatory costs are becoming a financial burden the UK’s insurance market can ill afford in the face of international competition, Lloyd’s finance director Luke Savage has warned.
Facebook backer provides Hyperion ‘vital stepping stone’ towards IPO
An initial public offering is firmly back on the agenda at Hyperion after it struck a deal that sees public company investment specialist General Atlantic take a 30% stake in the international intermediary.
MDS appoints Mora as director of African subsidiary
MDS Group, the Iberian, Latin American and African insurance broker, has appointed Tiago Mora as a director of its fully owned subsidiary MDS Africa.
Market moves: Brokers lead recruitment drive with major hires at Reich, Russell Scanlan and RFIB
The recruitment space belonged to broking this week, with Reich, Russell Scanlan and RFIB all recruiting senior staff. Reich welcomed a new head of group operations, while Russell Scanlan and RFIB added directors to their respective teams. Meanwhile,…
From Paris with Snow
The title of this blog is slightly misleading as I am no longer in Paris and there is no longer snow. But before the thaw, I found myself in the Francophile’s playground, courtesy of Coface.
XL appoints Brazil Re boss
Dublin-based insurer and reinsurer XL has promoted its senior underwriter in Argentina to a new role heading up Brazilian reinsurance operations.
Weather and emerging markets key 2013 risks, warns Willis
Extreme weather and a new generation of emerging markets are among a new list of risks faced by businesses over the next 12 months identified by Willis.
Allianz GCS gets local reinsurer approval for Brazil
Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty has received approval from the Brazilian regulator to start operating as a local reinsurer in the country.