Reinsurance
Reinsurance - January renewals: Toughen up
Despite the catastrophes of 2011, the predicted — and much needed — January renewal rate hardening has failed to materialise.
Spotlight on environment: Extreme measures
Extreme weather events can have enormous economic costs, with huge uncertainty surrounding them. So how can this uncertainty be communicated in a meaningful way to decision makers?
Spotlight on environment: Providing protection
With climate change increasing the likelihood of natural disasters, insurers must influence the debate on how businesses and governments manage risks such as supply chain failure.
Post magazine – 26 January 2012
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Brit reinsurance boss Turner quits as insurer merges divisions
Brit reinsurance boss Jonathan Turner has left the firm as the business merges its reinsurance and global markets strategic business units.
HCC: Thai flooding cost $10m in Q4
HCC Insurance Holdings has revealed fourth quarter Thailand flooding catastrophe loss estimates of $10m (£6.4m), taking the year’s losses to $117m.
Montpelier Re and Mitsui stay quiet on Hardy bids
Bermudan-based reinsurer Montpelier Re and Lloyd’s insurer Mitsui Sumitomo have refused to comment on rumours that they will bid on troubled Lloyd’s insurer Hardy.
Reinsurers reluctant to cover Thai cat fund
Global reinsurers may be reluctant to cover the recently announced Thai catastrophe fund if asked to by the nation’s government, according to market analysts.
Thai cat fund could prove too costly for reinsurers
International reinsurers will have to be “seriously convinced” the Thailand government’s catastrophe fund is profitable if they are to insure it.
Ace recruits communications head from HSBC
Global reinsurer Ace has appointed Darragh Gray as director of communications and marketing for its Europe, Middle East and North Africa operations.
Cruise ship disaster: Hannover Re hit with multimillion pound loss
International reinsurer Hannover Re has suffered a marine hull loss of €30m from the Costa Concordia disaster.
Hannover Re expects double-digit million euro loss from Concordia
Hannover Re’s total loss from the stricken Costa Concordia could be in the mid-double-digit million euro range, according to the firm.
Governments should act like companies, says Geneva Association
Governments of risk-prone countries must make progress in understanding the risks their countries are exposed to and learn to manage them properly, according to the Geneva Association.
Mapfre appoints three chairmen across the business
Rafael Casas, Javier Fernández-Cid and Pedro de Macedo have been appointed chairmen by the boards of directors of Mapfre America, Mapfre Internation and Mapfre Re respectively.
Ace heads to Kiev
Global (re)insurer Ace has opened an office in the Ukrainian capital Kiev in order to foster relations with the local market and capitalise on the region’s growing economy.
Barbican makes fresh Omega bid
Barbican sent a letter to rival Omega this week outlining a “merger of equals”.
Swiss Re appoints new CEO to replace Lippe
Swiss Re's board of directors has appointed Michel Liès as the new group chief executive officer as of 1 February 2012.
Munich Re suffers multi-million euro loss in ship disaster
Munich Re expects its share of claims from the stricken cruise ship Costa Concordia to be in the mid double-digit million euro range.
Swiss Re names Michel Liès as CEO
Swiss Re global partnerships chairman Michel Liès is to replace Stefan Lippe, pictured, as group chief executive officer effective from 1 February 2012.
Editor's comment: Tempting fate on features
Commissioning editorial copy can be a bit like tempting fate. This week’s broker-focused feature on mergers and acquisitions reflected back over 2011 as its starting point, when first conceived a couple of months ago, with a writer assigned to analyse…
News analysis: Insurers and reinsurers must start to focus on emerging ‘peak’ risks
Natural catastrophes: Will previous ‘cold spots’ be targeted by insurers and reinsurers?
View from the top: Lessons from the East
Catastrophes in Japan showed the resilience and strength of the industry, says Andrew McKee.
Arab Spring: Life during wartime
Continuing civil unrest in the Middle East and North Africa presents a challenge to the property insurance market — especially concerning the limits placed by the war risks exclusion.
Capital adequacy: Alternative finance
With Solvency II just 12 months away, and 2011 an unprecedented catastrophe year, how difficult will it be for insurers to attract equity or secure alternative funding?