Standard & Poor’s (S&P)
S&P upgrades MMA following Covea restructure
Standard and Poor has upgraded its insurer financial strength rating and counterparty credit rating on MMA-AM from 'A-' to 'A'.
S&P affirms A- rating for Ecclesiastical
Ecclesiastical Insurance Office has had its A- rating affirmed by Standard and Poor’s. The insurer also maintained its stable outlook.
Consolidation "inevitable" in Saudi insurance market according to S&P report
Prospects appear to be improving for Saudi Arabia's insurance industry, according to a new report from Standard & Poor's.
S&P revises outlook on Ageas' Portuguese subsidiary
Standard and Poor’s has revised the outlook for insurer Millenniumbcp Ageas' core entities to stable following action on Portugal's sovereign rating.
Periodical Payment Orders: Unhappy New Year
Periodical payment orders gave motor insurers a headache in the renewals season as reinsurers struggled to come to terms with them.
UK credit rating downgrade could be blessing in disguise for insurers
The loss of the UK’s AAA rating with credit rating agency Moody’s is unlikely to impact the standing of UK insurers, according to industry sources.
Standard and Poor's commends Generali management strategy
Standard & Poor's has affirmed the 'A' long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings of Italy-based Assicurazioni Generali and its "core" subsidiaries'.
Top five European stories
The top five European stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Axa $850m subordinated notes assigned BBB by S&P
Standard & Poor's has assigned its BBB long-term issue rating to the $850m perpetual subordinated notes issued by French holding company Axa (A-/Stable/A-2).
S&P warns of "mounting pressure" on global insurers
The credit quality of global multi-line insurers is generally sound, despite a downward trend over the past four years, Standard and Poor's said today.
Reinsurers back Zurich quake bond
Munich Re and Swiss Re have acted as joint lead structuring agents in a $270m (£166m) catastrophe bond transaction that transfers North American earthquake risk to the capital markets, on behalf of Zurich Insurance Group.
S&P changes RSA outlook from stable to negative
Standard & Poor's has revised its outlook on RSA from stable to negative in light of low interest rates.
Ageas acquisition boosts Groupama Insurances rating
Standard & Poor's has raised Ageas' financial strength rating to 'BBB' with a 'stable outlook', having reviewed the insurer's financial and business risk profiles.
Groupama 'BB-' IFS rating affirmed
Groupama SA has had its BB- long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength rating affirmed by Standard and Poor's, along with its guaranteed subsidiaries.
S&P affirms Groupama SA rating following UK sale
Standard & Poor's has affirmed its BB- long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on French insurer Groupama SA and its guaranteed subsidiaries.
S&P predicts Solvency II will be delayed until 2016
Standard & Poor's has warned that Solvency II could be delayed for a further two years as the relevant parties have failed to agree on the European directive.
Competition Commission investigation unlikely to affect motor premiums
The Competition Commission’s investigation into the motor insurance market is likely to do no more than cause reputation damage, Standard & Poor's has predicted.
S&P: Sandy to hit earnings not capital
Superstorm Sandy is likely to be an earnings rather than a capital event for affected insurers and reinsurers, according to rating agency Standard & Poor's.
Top five European stories
The top five European stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
S&P upgrade of UK Club outlook 'a welcome endorsement'
Shipping protection and indemnity insurance mutual The UK P&I Club has welcomed Standard and Poor's decision to upgrade the firm's outlook from 'stable' to 'positive'.
Insurers urged to check books as S&P held accountable for 'misleading' rating
Insurers have been urged by a leading lawyer to check their books to see whether they have open notifications from credit rating agencies after an Australian court ruled that Standard & Poor's was liable for damages to investors.
Swiss Re obtains hurricane and mortality risks in industry first
Swiss Re has obtained $200m in coverage against North Atlantic hurricane and UK extreme mortality risk through its Mythen Re programme.
Swiss Re places bonds to combine nat cat and mortality risks
Swiss Re has obtained $200m in coverage against North Atlantic hurricane and UK extreme mortality risk through its new Mythen Re programme.
Scor catastrophe bond to protect against European perils
As part of a strategy to diversify its capital protection tools, Scor has launched a multi-million pound catastrophe bond to provide protection against European windstorms, US hurricanes and earthquakes.