Latest Reinsurance Headlines

All the headlines from our Reinsurance Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Markel Acquiring Alterra for $3.1B to Diversify, Expand to Reinsurance

Dec 19 2012 // Specialty insurer Markel Corp. has agreed to acquire Alterra Capital Holdings Ltd. for $3.1 billion in cash and stock to increase business diversification and expand into reinsurance. The two companies announced Wednesday...

PartnerRe to Acquire Calif.-based Presidio Re Group

Dec 19 2012 // Bermuda-based PartnerRe Ltd. announced a definitive agreement to acquire California-based Presidio Reinsurance Group, a U.S. specialty accident and health reinsurance and insurance writer. PartnerRe said it would...

Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Rating of Hiscox Group Subsidiaries; Affirms FSR

Dec 14 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and upgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a+” from “a” of Hiscox...

Swiss Re Study Sees Economy Improving in 2013; Casualty Lines Recover

Dec 11 2012 // Swiss Re’s latest study, “Global re/insurance review 2012 and outlook 2013/14” provides a somewhat optimistic forecast of the future state of the global economy and the insurance markets. Swiss Re said:...

S&P Says Reinsurers Faced Unexpected Risks from Hurricane Sandy

Dec 11 2012 // A report from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services notes that “despite uncertainties regarding final loss totals from Hurricane Sandy expects only a limited ratings impact on insurers and reinsurers exposed...

Sandy to Have Only Limited Impact on Insurer Ratings: S&P

Dec 11 2012 // Despite uncertainties regarding final loss totals from Hurricane Sandy, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said it expects only a limited ratings impact on insurers and reinsurers exposed to such losses,...

W.R. Berkley Names President of B F Re Underwriters in Conn.

Dec 5 2012 // Greenwich, Conn.-headquartered W.R. Berkley Corp. announced Gregory A. Douglas has been named president of its B F Re Underwriters unit. The appointment is effective January 1, 2013. Douglas succeeds Daniel L. Avery, who...

Montpelier Re Launches Blue Capital – Investors’ Asset Management Platform

Dec 5 2012 // Bermuda-based Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd announced the launch of Blue Capital, an asset management platform offering a range of catastrophe reinsurance-linked investment products to institutional and retail...

Best’s Report on Bermuda Re/Insurers Sees over 10% ROE for 2012

Dec 4 2012 // There are still several weeks until the end of the year, but forecasts are unlikely to change very much as far as Bermuda’s re/insurers are concerned. A new special report from A.M. Best indicates that “2012 is...

Best Affirms Munich Re and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

Dec 3 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Munich Reinsurance Company and its subsidiaries. Best also affirmed all...

Bermuda Re/Insurance Org. Elects XL’s McGavick CEO, Currie, Catlin as Deputies

Dec 3 2012 // The Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) announced the election of its new officers for a two year term beginning on January 1, 2013. Mike McGavick, CEO of XL Group pl, was elected as Chair of the ABIR...

Reinsurers’ Capital Can Absorb Sandy Losses Below $50B: S&P

Dec 3 2012 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that the reinsurance sector’s strong capital and very strong earnings thus far in 2012 will allow it to withstand losses well outside the range of current insured...

N.Y. Law Firm Nelson Levine Hires 2 Attorneys From Harleysville, MetLife

Nov 30 2012 // Targeting strategic expansion, Nelson Levine de Luca & Hamilton, a New York-headquartered national law firm serving the insurance industry, announced that Louis H. Kozloff has joined as a partner in the Insurance...

S&P Report: Reinsurers Discuss Industry Lessons Learned From Hurricane Sandy

Nov 30 2012 // A recent report, “Reinsurance Industry Leaders Discuss Lessons Learned From Hurricane Sandy,” published Nov. 29, 2012, on RatingsDirect, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, notes that...

Willis Provides Expertise to UK Government Report on Cat Models/Risk Reduction

Nov 28 2012 // A bulletin from Willis Group Holdings notes the international broker’s role in providing its expertise for a new UK Government Office of Science Foresight report entitled “Reducing the Risks of Future...

Best Assigns ‘A’ Ratings to Qatar Insurance SAQ and Main Subs

Nov 27 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a” to Qatar Insurance Co SAQ (QIC) and its main subsidiaries:...

Senior Reinsurance Execs to Join Q-Re in Establishing ‘Global Franchise’

Nov 20 2012 // Q-Re, a subsidiary of Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), headquartered in Doha, Qatar, announced additions to a team of senior reinsurance underwriters and professionals who “will drive the establishment of the...

Best Affirms Torus Group Ratings; Outlook Stable

Nov 19 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Ratings Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Torus Insurance (Bermuda) Limited, Torus...

Q&A With ELANY Executive Maher on Surplus-Lines Industry’s Resiliency

Nov 16 2012 // The Excess Line Association of New York (ELANY) plays a vital role for New York’s surplus-lines industry. The group, a non-profit advisory association created by the New York statute in 1988, is charged with the duty...

Reinsurers’ Capital Can Absorb Sandy Losses Below $50 Billion: S&P

Nov 14 2012 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that the reinsurance sector’s strong capital and very strong earnings thus far in 2012 will allow it to withstand losses well outside the range of current insured...