Company results
Ace predicts a ‘challenging’ 2012
2012 will be one of the most challenging years the insurance industry has faced, according to Ace president Richard Pryce.
Hungarian watchdog confirms a 2.7% fall in GWP in 3Q2011
The Hungarian Financial Supervision Authority has confirmed a 2.7% fall in gross written premiums for the Hungarian market in the third quarter.
$600m of Thai flood losses fall to Swiss Re
Swiss Re estimates its claims costs from severe flooding in Thailand will be $600m of the $11bn total losses.
As Brit looks to sell UK arm, Simply Business attracts PE interest
Online broker Simply Business is expected to be targeted by a number of private equity houses and insurance firms, following the news that significant shareholder Brit Holdings is looking to sell its UK arm for £150m.
US reinsurers report worsening COR
The Reinsurance Association of America has reported that 19 US property-casualty reinsurers wrote $18.3bn of net premiums during the nine-months ended 30 September 2010 compared to $18.7bn for the same period in 2009.
UNIQA Austria expects full year losses of €300m
UNIQA Group Austria has revealed losses of €181m for the first nine months of 2011 due to significant significant one-off effects of write-downs of Greek government bonds and investments in the restructuring of the group.
Towergate reveals £35.4m losses
Towergate has announced Q3 pre-tax losses worsened to £14.0m from £7.7m at this time last year, with year-to-date loses hitting £35.4m from £14.1m for this time in 2010.
Hungarian insurance market down by 2% in Q3 2011
Total underwritings' volume of the Hungarian insurance market stood at HUF 623.4b (E2.1b), 2.2% less than in Q3 2010 by the end of September 2011.
Homeserve set to lose 5% of customers
Homeserve, the home repair business hit by a mis-selling scandal, has warned customer numbers will fall by 5% as a result of its telephone selling problems - costing it £15m.
Keelan Westall grows business by 45%
Broker Keelan Westall has announced that new business income has risen by more than 45% in the past year, with the number of quotations reaching record breaking levels in the past two months alone.
Omega 2011 catastrophe losses increase by $6m
Omega Insurance results for the nine months to 30 September 2011 show gross written premiums down to $258.5m (2010: $308.5m).
Vienna Insurance reports 4% premium increase for first nine months
Austrian insurer Vienna Insurance Group reported consolidated written premiums of €6.8bn in the first nine months of 2011, a 4% increase year on year.
Kiln says 2009 improving, but 2010 outlook bleak
Lloyd's insurer J Kiln & Co, part of the Tokio Marine Group, has said in updated forecasts that the 2009 year of account remains on track, with syndicates 510, 557 and 807 showing some improvements.
Amlin reports fast rising rates in Q3
Amlin reported gross written premium for the ten months ended 31 October 2011 was up 7.1% at £2 051.9m (2010: £1,916.6m).
Editor's comment: Coming back to bite
Confident words have a nasty habit of coming back to haunt you – as Admiral’s CEO Henry Engelhardt discovered to his cost this week. From stockmarket darling to deep disappointer inside nine months, the motor-focused UK insurer has certainly suffered a…
News analysis: Admiral’s claims woes worsen as quarter three results revealed
Admiral’s market followers suffered a painful dose of déjà vu last week when the motor insurer’s quarter three results underscored its rising exposure to large bodily injury claims, and it warned full year pre-tax profits would be lower than expected.
Beazley forecasts profit despite cat losses
Specialist insurer Beazley still expects “to deliver an underwriting profit in 2011” despite catastrophe losses.
Generali in profit despite €329m Greek bond losses
Assicurazioni Generali reported net impairment losses of €824m in the first nine months of 2011, €329m of which was related to Greek bonds.
Hardy reports COR of 111%
Hardy Underwriting said in its Q3 results gross written premiums for the syndicate had increased by 8.5% year on year.
Catlin: cat losses demand change
Catlin has called on its aggregate reinsurance after catastrophe losses from the Thai floods hit $670m.
Net write-down will not affect Allianz rating
Allianz's net write-down of €2.6bn on its investment portfolio in Q311 will not affect the insurer's rating.
Allianz UK non-life operating profit sees Q3 surge
Allianz’s UK business has today reported an operating profit of €142m for the first nine months of the year – a 1% increase on the figure recorded for the same period in 2010.
Greek exposure hits Allianz Q3 profits
Impairments of €931m from investments including Greek sovereign debt slashed Allianz’s profits for the third quarter, but the insurer said it is still on course to achieve profits of €8.0bn for 2011.
Zurich announces Q3 net income increase
Zurich Financial Services today reported an increase in net income in the third quarter, but saw a decline in business operating profits.