International News
News for January 2006
January 31, 2006
- Guy Carpenter Unveils Report on Jan. 1 Property Reinsurance Renewals
- XL Opens Representative Office in Beijing; Plans Brazil Join Venture
- Best Downgrades, Withdraws Ratings of Alea Group Subsidiaries
- S&P Maintains Positive Outlook on NZ's Simply Insurance
- Kelly Resigns from AXIS Board
- ACE Names New Senior Managers for South Africa, New Zealand
January 30, 2006
- Study Reports 18% Rise in Disasters for 2005; 91,900 Killed
- Brit's Douetil to Head Lloyd's Market Reform Group
- S&P Lowers Skandia Ratings to 'A-'
- R&M Offers E-Learning on Asset Management Liability
- Best Rates Arch Debt Issue 'bb'
- CII, BIBA to Conduct "Engineering Insurance Masterclasses"
- Best Affirms MERITZ 'B++' Rating
January 29, 2006
- 65 Die in Polish Building Collapse
- AIG Names Martin Chief Operating Officer of Worldwide Life Business
January 27, 2006
- Allianz, Goldman, Amex to Acquire 10% Stake in China's ICBC Bank
- AXA Reports Strong Q4 Earnings; Annual Revenue up 6.9%
- Lloyd's Leaders Participate in Davos Panel Discussion on Global Risks
- Old Mutual Wins Battle for Skandia
- XL Names McCusker UK, Ireland COO
- S&P Rates Endurance Debt Issue
- Platinum to Name Porter CEO-Bermuda
- Best Affirms CIRe's 'A-' Ratings
- Fitch Puts China's CIIH Ratings on Watch-Negative; S&P Comments
January 26, 2006
- RMS: 500,000 Japanese Dead Possible in Avian Flu Pandemic Outbreak
- RI3K Head Warns Lloyd's of Need to Reform to Survive
- Zurich's CEO Discusses Industry Issues in Davos Interview
- Lloyd's Comments on Cat Models
- Eureko Acquires More Shares in PZU
January 25, 2006
- Swiss Re Survey Finds Gap Between Assessing and Mitigating Risks
- Allianz Indonesia Offers Sharia Compliant Life and P/C Products
- S&P, Fitch Rate Arch Debt Issues
- Atlas Insurance Management Opens Cayman Island Branch
- India Establishes $452 Million Export Insurance Account
- No Impact on Century Pacific Ratings After Restatement, Says S&P
January 24, 2006
- Lloyd's Shuts Kinnect
- S&P Sees 'Little Impact' on Ratings from Hurricane Estimate Differences
- IPC Holdings Updates 2005 Hurricane Loss estimates to $744 Million
- S&P Rates ACE Debt Issue
- Lloyd's Announces Governing Council Election Results
- Best Affirms Glacier Re's 'A-' Rating
January 23, 2006
- Despite Rising "Cyber Crime" Threat Available Coverage Often Ignored
- Global Catastrophe Reinsurance Price Increases Lower Than Expected
- Swiss Re Completes $309 Million Credit Risk Transfer
- S&P Affirms Hannover Re, Clarendon Ratings; Off CreditWatch
- Sovereign Changing Ownership Structure; XL to Exit Joint Venture
- R&M Report on Indian Ins. Industry
- S&P Reports on Japan Captives
January 20, 2006
- Swiss Re Plans GE Job Cuts
- Lloyd's Consortium Forms New Facility for Satellite Insurance
- Willis Webcast Focuses on Global D&O
- Former Credit Lyonnais Chairman Offers Guilty Plea
- U.K.'s FSCS to Refund $74 Million to Insurers; No Levy for 2006/07
- CII Survey Examines Changes in Broker/Insurer Relations
- AIR Worldwide Opens Munich Office
- Best Takes Various Rating Actions on R&SA's Canada Group Subsidiaries
January 19, 2006
- Bird Flu Bulletin: Serious Funding, But No Need to Panic - Yet
- S&P Sees European Securitizations Gaining Acceptance
- Strategy International Obtains $100 Million in New Capital
- PICC Turns in Strong 2005 Results
- Shake-Up in Converium's Board
- Starr Excess International Names Warwicker COO
- Benfield Opens Calgary Office Headed by Cutfield
- Best Affirms FSR for Central Reinsurance; Outlook is Stable
January 18, 2006
- Aon U.K. Sees Riskier Outlook for Businesses in 2006
- Swiss Re Revisits the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire
- Benfield Finds Upward Pressure on Reinsurance Renewal Premiums
- Zurich (Ireland) Opens Branches in France, Sweden and Finland
- R&M Reports on Major Global Carriers
- S&P Affirms Winterthur's 'A-' Rating
January 17, 2006
- Lloyd's Launches "Optimal Platform" to Meet Foreign Competition
- U.K.'s CFS Announces New Corporate Structure for its P/C Operations
- Lloyd's Brokers Respond to Piracy Threats Against Ships' Crews
- R&M Study Shows Europe's P/C Bancassurance Gaining Market Share
- Old Mutual Receives Tenders from 68.8 Percent of Skandia Shareholders
- Best Affirms FSR for Aspen
January 16, 2006
- FERMA Risk Managers Respond to Avian Flu Threat
- S&P Survey of Australia NZ Market Notes M&A Activity; Rating Changes
- SCOR's P/C, Credit and Surety Treaty Renewal Premiums Up 25%
- S&P Lowers Cassiopea Re's Ratings to 'BBB+; Withdrawn at Company Request
January 13, 2006
- Renewals Are Late, but Premiums are Mostly Stable, Says Aon Re UK
- Everest Re Ups 2005 Hurricane Losses to $1.2 Billion
- Best Affirms Singapore Re 'A-' Rating
- Allianz' "eZine" Electronic Magazine a Success with Irish Brokers
- Best Affirms Malaysia's Labuan Re 'B++' Rating; Upgrades ICR to 'bbb+'
- CII Introduces Specialist Teams
- Best Affirms Chevron's Heddington 'A' Rating; Assigns 'a+' ICR
January 12, 2006
- Best Affirms QBE's Key Operating Subsidiaries 'A' Ratings
- Excoffier Joins Guy Carpenter as Sr. VP-Property Specialty Practice
- R&M Issues U.K. Insurers "Performance Ratio Benchmarking" Report
- Italian Central Bank Rejects Unipol's Bid for BNL
- Underwriters Exercise Quanta Capital Over-Allotment Option
- S&P Assigns 'BBB+' Rating to Germany's VHV Holding
- Best Affirms Sun Hung Kai Properties 'A-' Rating
January 11, 2006
- Aon Issues 2006 Political & Economic Risk Map
- FSA Insurance Head Reasserts Commitment to Contract Certainty
- S&P Calls 2005 'a Good Year' for European Insurers, Despite Losses
- DIMA Rejects Claims it Opposes EC Reinsurance Regs
- RS Group of Companies to Merge into Strategy International
- Fonner, Weinstein Named Sr. VP's at RenaissanceRe Holdings
- White Joins Max Re - Sr. VP Property Treaty Reinsurance
- Best Upgrades Guardian Rating to 'B++'
- Aspen Closes Over-Allotment Option
- Best Affirms FSR for Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company
January 10, 2006
- Lloyd's Amlin Upbeat on 2005/2006
- AIR Worldwide and ISO (U.K.) Open Representative Office in Beijing
- XL Capital Notes Personnel Moves; Duclos New COO, O'Donohoe Assumes New Role
- Lloyd's Sees Growing Demand for Yacht Coverage
- S&P Keeps Unipol on CreditWatch
- Zurich Names Senn New Chief Investment Officer
- S&P Assigns Mitsubishi's New Century 'A-' Rating; CreditWatch Positive
January 9, 2006
- Wills Re Reviews 2005; Analyzes January Renewals
- S&P Maintains Stable Outlook on Italian Insurance Industry
- ACE Cites Increased Risks in Outsourcing IT Systems
- R&M Analysis of Effects of FSA Regulation on UK Insurance Industry
- S&P, Swiss Re Predict More Securitization, M&A's in Life Market
- Vietnam's BIDV Bank to Acquire QBE's Insurance Co. Stake
- Best Affirms FSR for Malayan Insurance
January 6, 2006
- 'EuroTempest' Introduced to Forecast Potential Windstorm Damage
- Lloyd's Creechurch Creates Syndicate to Conform with Shari'ah Law
- R&M Study of Irish Insurance Market
- Best Affirms Malayan Ins. 'B++' Rating
- EGI Financial Motors Into Ontario Motorcycle Insurance Market
January 5, 2006
- U.K. Experts Warn of Continuing, Evolving Global Terrorist Threats
- Euler Hermes Issues Global 2006 Economic Assessment
- Lloyd's Survey Confirms Small Business Confidence in Brokers
- China Insurance Int'l. CEO Resigns, Succeeded by Deputy
- Best Affirms FSR for Bahamas First General Insurance Co. Ltd.
January 4, 2006
- Lloyd's Reminds Companies on Importance of Recall Coverage
- Japan Internet Mall Operator Considers Entering P/C Market
- Best Assigns 'B+' FSR Rating to Turkey's Milli Reasurans
January 3, 2006
- 10 Die in German Ice Rink Collapse
- Tropical Storm Zeta Roils the Atlantic
- Best Affirms Gulf Ins. 'A-' Rating
- Australian Bushfires Rage Uncontrolled
January 2, 2006