capital News

AIG, Others to Take up Half of China PICC’s $3.6 Billion Hong Kong IPO

Chinese state-owned insurer PICC Group has secured pledges from American International Group (AIG) and other investors to buy about half of its up to $3.6 billion IPO, set to be the biggest in Hong Kong in two years. The long-awaited …

Swiss Re Sigma Study Analyzes Changes to Insurance Accounting Practices

Swiss Re announced that its latest sigma study “takes a fresh look at the progress in the long-running debate to make insurance accounting practices more economically relevant and internationally comparable.” The study – “Insurance accounting reform: a glass half empty …

UPDATE: China’s PICC in Talks with AIG as Buyer for $4 Billion HK IPO

China’s PICC Group is in talks with American International Group and others to become cornerstone investors for its planned listing worth up to $4 billion, in what will be Hong Kong’s biggest IPO in two years. State-owned insurer PICC started …

Best Affirms Greenlight Re and Affiliates Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Greenlight Reinsurance, Ltd., as well as the FSR of ‘A-’ (Excellent) and ICR of “a-” of Greenlight Re’s affiliate, …

Willis Sees Threats on Horizon for Booming Latin American Energy Industry

“The booming Latin American energy industry is not insulated from the threat of a euro zone collapse or hostilities in the Middle East,” warned global insurance broker Willis. Speaking to a gathering of energy companies in Foz Do Iguacu, Brazil, …

India’s Battered Insurers May Need More than Foreign Investment

India’s proposal to allow more foreign investment in its $41 billion insurance business provides a lifeline for an industry starved of capital and squeezed by regulation – but it may not pass parliament and it may not be enough. India’s …

Best Revises HDI V.a.G., Talanx ICR Outlook to Positive; Affirms Ratings

 A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has revised the outlook of the issuer credit rating (ICR) to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the ICR of “a” of HDI Haftpflichtverband der …

EU Insurers’ Capital Charges May be Cut to Boost Loans

Capital charges for insurers in the European Union could be cut to encourage lending for long-term projects and help boost the flagging economy, the bloc’s executive body said in a high profile policy shift. The European Commission has written to …

Capital Markets: A Threat or a Complement for Reinsurers?

Investments from the capital markets in various forms now provide around 14 percent of the total capital dedicated to providing reinsurance – approximately $35 billion [$17 billion in cat bonds] out of $250 billion. The question remains as to whether …

Re/insurers Increasingly Less Relevant to Global Economy: XL CEO McGavick

XL’s CEO Mike McGavick doesn’t mince words when it comes to looking at the big, and not very pretty, picture of the state of the re/insurance industry. Address emerging risks, innovate, create new products and provide potential insurance buyers with …