Natural catastrophes (Nat Cats)
Zurich's 2011 cat losses may trigger aggregate reinsurance
Zurich Financial Services expects the impact of the floods in Thailand and the increased cost of the earthquakes in New Zealand in the fourth quarter of 2011 to range between $200 and $250m (€189.9m).
Renaissance Re adds $45m Thai losses
Renaissance Re estimates the flooding in Thailand will cost it $45m (£29m) from its fourth quarter 2011 results but it said revisions of the New Zealand earthquake and the Tohoku earthquake losses are not expected to be significant.
Zurich’s Thai flood and NZ quake losses trigger aggregate reinsurance
Zurich has said it expects the impact of the floods in Thailand and the increased cost of the earthquakes in New Zealand in the fourth quarter 2011 to range between $200m - $250m (£160m).
EC insurance unit head explores further regulation for claims activities
More than a decade after the idea of regulating loss adjusters and other claims-related service providers was first mooted, a new European Commission proposal could see the plan resurrected, Post has learnt.
Marine hull insurers await rating impact in wake of cruise ship sinking
The Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster has been called the largest insurance loss in maritime history with some suggesting it could be “bigger than the Titanic”.
View from the top: A case of déjà vu in the market
The current economic situation means now is the right time to generate rate rises, says Toby Esser.
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.
Tough conditions for EMEA commercial markets, Marsh warns
Insurance rates for businesses with exposure to natural catastrophe and supply chain risks are expected to keep increasing in 2012 across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to a report published today by Marsh.
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.
QBE ratings unchanged despite cat losses
AM Best has left the ratings of QBE unchanged despite the company almost halving its forecast profit after tax because of catastrophe losses.
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.
Fairfax takes 25% Thai Re stake
Financial services company Fairfax is to acquire approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding shares of Thai Re in a deal worth approximately $70m.
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?
Thai cat fund given green light by regulator
The Office of Insurance Commision, Thailand’s insurance regulator, has passed a resolution to establish a 50bn baht (€1.2bn) catastrophe fund for floods, windstorms and earthquakes.
Swiss Re warns quakes remain underinsured
Swiss Re has described the cumulative effects of earthquakes over the past two years as “overwhelming” but says the world’s worst affected areas remain underinsured.
Firms underestimate cyber risk, according to Allianz survey
Economic risks, business interruption and destructive natural catastrophes are among the biggest risks to companies in 2012, according to a study conducted by Alianz Global Corporate & Specialty.
Australian disaster claims total A$5bn
Australia’s eight natural disasters in 2011 cost general insurers approximately A$5bn (£3.4bn) – more than double the 2010 figure, the Insurance Council of Australia reports.
Reinsurance trade groups warn against protectionist regulation
A coalition of reinsurance trade groups has pointed to the record 2011 global insured natural catastrophe losses as a warning sign as to why protectionist reinsurance regulation will backfire in jurisdictions that try to impose limits on global risk…
QBE expects 40% drop in profits after tax
Australia-based general insurer QBE expects its profits after tax for 2011 to be down 40% to 50% on the previous year.