South America
Interview - Marshall King: RFIB plans for the future
Softly spoken Marshall King has a track record worth shouting about. Lynn Rouse finds out about his plans to make sure everybody hears about broker RFIB.
View from the top: Answers outside London
The soft market is continuing into 2011 and unlikely to harden any time soon.
Crawford names Marc Godfrey to manage GTS operations in Brazil
He will be based in Sao Paulo and will report to Mauricio Alonso, senior vice president and regional managing director for Latin America, and also work with Bill Johnstone, senior vice president for GTS – Americas.
Delaying Solvency II "risky" claims PwC partner
Insurance companies have been warned that it would be a "risky strategy" to delay the implementation of Solvency II on the basis of the Omnibus II directive.
Natural catastrophes: A model example of assessing earthquake exposure
Earthquake costs are rising steadily. Jane Bernstein examines insurers' current use of modelling, recent event responses and solution sustainability.
Chartis reveals Bric attraction
Chartis UK major accounts practice has surveyed clients on the opportunities and threats they perceive for their operations in Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Mapfre report highlights market growth in Latin America
Insurance markets in Latin America experienced a 10.5% rise in premium volumes in 2009 compared to the preceding year – reaching €76 591m.
Flash Flooding in Brazil causes devastation
Torrential rain has brought flash flooding and mudslides to the Brazilian state of Rio de Janerio, resulting in damage to property and infrastructure and the deaths of at least 450 people.
CGSC takes 100% holding in Mexican broker
Insurance broker Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford has moved to a 100% shareholding of Mexican reinsurance arm Cooper Gay Martinez del Rio after acquiring the shares of local senior executives.
Rise in claims push motor reinsurance rates up 50%
More severe claims frequency and an increase in periodical payment orders have contributed to UK motor reinsurance rates leaping by as much as 50% at the 1 January renewals on a rate-adjusted basis.
Aon Benfield annual cat report reveals $38bn loss for (re)insurers in 2010
Aon Benfield, the global reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon Corporation, has released its Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report, which reviews the natural disaster perils that occurred worldwide during 2010.
Europ reveals new five-year plan
Europ Assistance is planning to reduce its reliance on traditional travel and motor lines — which currently account for more than three-quarters of the company's turnover.
Wells Fargo plans sale of 37% stake in Besso
Wells Fargo is seeking a buyer for its stake in Lloyd's broker Besso.
Lloyd’s & London market – review of the year: Troubled times
A succession of natural catastrophes got 2010 off to a bad start and the market continued to struggle - but the resolution of Brit’s future and the prospect of consolidation could see the year end on a high. Mairi Macdonald reports.
Brokers Link names Latin America head
Insurance broker alliance Brokers Link has appointed Paul Bitner as Latin America chief operating officer.
BLG appoints reinsurance partner
Law firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has named Liliana Veru-Torres as a partner in its reinsurance team.
Lockton forms Indian alliance
Lockton has entered into a strategic relationship with Indian broker, Unison Insurance Broking Services.
Aon Benfield estimates £1.2bn snow losses
The recent adverse weather across Europe has caused an “economic loss” of £1.2bn in Britain alone, according to an estimate from Aon Benfield.
Country review: Turkey
Turkey is one country that has ridden out the economic crisis well and is expecting growth in 2011. Jakki May reports on how the insurance market has seen out the financial storm and what its prospects are.
Allianz on track to eclipse £30m target
Allianz Commercial is expanding its cross-border insurance offering as part of a relaunch of its UK mid-corporate operation.
Howden strengthens Mexican ties
Howden has signed a formal co-operation agreement with Financial Lines Advisory Group (Flag) to support the expansion of its specialist products throughout Latin America.
Reinsurance aids Beazley's "modest" GWP growth
Beazley has reported that its gross written premium increased by two per cent to $1.35 bn (£840.7 m) in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 (2009: $1.33 bn).
Brokers Link names new director
Broking network Brokers Link has appointed Casanueva Perez Group chairman Juan Ignacio Casanueva to its board of directors.
Markel International combined ratio slips to 99% following H1 losses
Markel International has reported gross written premiums of $574.0 m for the nine months to 30 September 2010, compared to $510.0 m for the same period in 2009.