United States of America (USA)
Hyperion’s revenue up 20% at full year
Hyperion Group posted a 20% jump in revenue for the year ended 30 September 2017.
FM Global names Lawson chairman of the board
FM Global’s president and CEO Thomas Lawson has been elected chairman of the board by the group’s board of directors.
Beach snapped up by Acrisure
Acrisure is to acquire the independent reinsurance broker Beach & Associates.
US Reinsurance outlook remains negative, says AM Best
AM Best is maintaining a negative outlook for the US property and casualty reinsurance sector due to continued pressure on property catastrophe rates.
Fresh capital to make reinsurance rate rise short-lived
New capital entering the reinsurance sector will wash away any relief gained from rate rises at January renewals, Aon Benfield has said.
M&A values up 170% as priority turns to capital optimisation
Merger and acquisition activity rebounded in 2017 with completed deal values increasing 170% in the first half of the year, according to Willis Towers Watson.
Cat bond issuance reaches $10.5bn in 2017
Catastrophe bond activity set a new record last year with full-year 2017 cat bond issuance totalling $10.5bn (£7.75bn), according to Property Claim Services.
Insured cat losses hit record $135bn in 2017, says Munich Re
The final insurance bill for natural catastrophes over 2017 is expected to come to $135bn (£99.6bn) – higher than ever before, according to Munich Re.
Sompo International buys Lexon Surety
Sompo International has acquired Lexon Surety Group, the second largest independent surety insurer in the United States.
Post Power List 2018: Climate change (and its deniers)
Climate change (and its deniers)
Post Power List 2018: GAFA
Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon
Post Power List 2018: Daniel Schreiber and Shai Wininger
CEOs, Lemonade
Blog: What UK insurers can learn from US customer service
Nick Ashmore, head of marketing at Response Tap, reflects on what UK insurers can learn from US customer service.
Aviva's Maurice Tulloch on the race to sustainability
Maurice Tulloch, CEO of international insurance at Aviva, explains why and how the industry should encourage a global race to sustainability.
Global insured losses pegged at $136bn for 2017
Total global insured losses in 2017 are expected to reach $136bn (£101.3bn), the third highest on record.
Lloyd’s insurers add £3bn in capital following storms
Lloyd’s carriers have added £3bn in capital in the wake of natural disasters in 2017.
Lemonade announces successful $120m funding round
On-demand insurer Lemonade has announced a $120m (£89.56m) funding round led by the Soft Bank Group and its existing investors.
Insurance start-up Insure Pal to launch £15m initial coin offering
Insurance start-up Insure Pal is raising $18m (£15m) in an Initial Coin Offering to fund its UK motor launch in H1 2018.
Spotlight on professional indemnity: Media and technology sectors
Taking risks is in the DNA of many media and technology firms and insurance should be the enabler that allows them to do this effectively.
Allianz’s Axel Theis on the positive signs for global trade
Concerns remain but outlook for global trade shows positive signs, says Axel Theis, member of the board of management of Allianz SE.
Skuld appoints Simpson as London boss
Skuld has appointed Rachael Simpson as senior vice president, London P&I operations.
This month in Post: Takeovers, tech, trials and tinsel
This week saw one of the biggest takeover deals of 2017 while our December issue highlights a year of tech.
Blog: Insurers need to manage currency risks
George Chapman, in charge of fund and institutional sales at Afex, explains how insurers can manage currency risks after the fall in sterling following the UK's vote to leave the European Union.
Editor's comment: The tech revolution
While the Odgen discount rate changes hit the headlines, and terrorist attacks, the Grenfell Tower fire and the hurricanes in the US dominated the year, 2017 will definitely be remembered in the global insurance industry for its technological…