United States of America (USA)
Outgoing AIG chair: It is easier to replace me than CEO Benmosche
Harvey Golub has resigned as chairman of the AIG board after it emerged that he had had a difficult working relationship with CEO Bob Benmosche.
RIMS fights foreign insurer tax hike
The Risk and Insurance Management Society has pledged to continue its opposition to legislation that would increase taxes on foreign-based insurance companies.
Terrorists capable of causing major insured losses
Terror cells are still capable of causing major losses to Western insurers despite the infrequency of successful attacks, Risk Management Solutions has claimed.
New broking powerhouse CEO outlines strategy
The long-winded title of the holding company formed following the merger between Cooper Gay and US broker Swett & Crawford will not be adopted by its subsidiaries, according to chief executive Toby Esser.
Cooper Gay completes US merger
Cooper Gay has completed a deal to merge with US-based wholesale broker Swett & Crawford.
New snag for US financial regulations bill
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin on Wednesday put off naming a successor to the late Senator Robert Byrd, which could further complicate passage of financial reform legislation in the US Senate.
Nat cat losses more than double average in first half 2010
Insurers’ losses from natural catastrophes, including the February earthquake in Chile, totaled $22 billion in the first half of the year, more than double the average for the period since 2000, according to Munich Re.
Haiti and Mozambique most vulnerable to economic losses from natural disasters
Italy, Japan, China, USA, Spain and France also rated “high risk” on The Natural Disasters Economic Loss Index (NDELI), released by risk intelligence and ratings company, Maplecroft.
Tokio Marine to restructure to expand reinsurance and commercial property book
Tokio Marine, the global insurance group, has announced plans to expand its international reinsurance and large commercial property operations. It is also announcing the opening of new offices for reinsurance business in Switzerland and Australia.
Homeserve USA boss joins UK board
Homeserve has appointed Jonathan King, the chief executive of Homeserve USA, to the board as an executive director.
DAS opens up shop in Canada
DAS UK Group has confirmed that its new Canadian subsidiary, DAS Legal Protection Insurance Company, will start writing business in Ontario on 5 July.
Post script – 10 years ago: Garwyn in limbo as QBE goes to Limit
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 10 years ago reveals.
Hurricane Alex makes landfall on Texas-Mexico border
Hurricane Alex drenched the Texas-Mexico border in the early hours on Thursday as the powerful storm slammed into Mexico's Gulf coast, spawning tornadoes and flooding towns, but sparing US oil wells.
House passes financial reform bill
The US House of Representatives approved a landmark overhaul of financial regulations on Wednesday but the Senate put off action until mid-July, delaying a final victory for President Barack Obama.
Climate change - Governance: Running hot and cold
Risk managers have been gearing up for the impact of climate change, but one area of uncertainty remains. Lindene Patton takes a look at the political and regulatory factors.
Technology - Underwriting: Shifting focus
Insurers are upping the pace at which they investigate underwriting IT options and, over the past six months, there has been a substantial jump in the number of carriers looking to engage software houses with projects in this area, says Edward Murray
Ex-AIG's Cassano defends no-losses proclamation
The former head of the AIG unit that led to a $182bn bailout pledge from taxpayers stood by a 2007 proclamation that the insurer would not lose even a dollar on a portfolio of securities that included subprime mortgages.
40% chance of storm passing Gulf spill by end of August: RMS
RMS suggested there is just over a 15% chance that a tropical storm or hurricane will pass within 100 miles of the Macondo oil well before the end of July, rising to more than 40% by the end of August, requiring precautionary evacuation of the…
Alex becomes a hurricane
Alex has intensified to become the first hurricane of the 2010 season, making it the first June hurricane in the Atlantic since 1995. Hurricane forecast to hit Texis/Mexico border on Thursday.
Non-life weathers storm
In the UK non-life premiums fell 3.1% to $92bn (£61bn) in 2009 (which ranked it fourth behind the US, Japan and Germany) out of a total of $309bn (which ranked the UK third behind the US and Japan), and that insurance penetration was 12.9%, according to…
Alex to strengthen as hurricane watches issued for Texas and Mexico
Tropical Storm Alex, the first named system of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, strengthened as it forced the evacuation of some offshore rigs and pushed swells toward a slick left by the Deepwater Horizon spill.
Neal bill opponents respond to “inaccurate and misleading” Berkley statements
A coalition of trade experts, consumer advocates, insurance industry leaders and state officials have protested “inaccurate and misleading” statements made by William Berkley, of WR Berkley, most recently, regarding an online video opposing controversial…
Swiss Re: global non-life premium dips 0.1% in 2009 to $1 735bn
According to Swiss Re’s latest “World insurance in 2009” sigma study, world insurance premium volume fell 1.1% on an inflation-adjusted basis.
Hiscox to cut Lloyd's capacity by £100m in 2011
Hiscox has published a summary of its initial 2011 business forecast for Syndicate 33. A full 2011 business forecast for Syndicate 33 will be submitted to Lloyd's by 9 July.