Articles by L.S. Howard

Munich Re Closes Down its High Net Worth MGA, GrovesJohnWestrup

Munich Re has put its high-net worth managing general agent, GrovesJohnWestrup Private Clients. “A recent strategic review of our businesses led to the difficult decision that GrovesJohnWestrup Private Clients closed for business on 2 October 2024,” according to a Munich …

Predictive Model Delivers Insights as Insurers, Reinsurers Brace for More Civil Unrest

Executive Summary: Insurers and reinsurers are responding to heightened risks of civil unrest with better calculations of their probable maximum losses, careful risk pricing, clear contractual wordings, and by using new modeling tools to help grasp this potentially costly risk. …

US Nuclear Verdicts Break Records and Drive Social Inflation to 7% in 2023: Report

Nuclear verdicts in the United States are breaking records with 27 court cases each awarding compensation of more than $100 million during 2023, according to Swiss Re executives. Social inflation in the U.S. rose to 7% in 2023 — a …

Lloyd’s Focuses on Delegated Authority Arrangements as Looming Market Risk

While the Lloyd’s market reported its best first-half profit in 17 years, it isn’t resting on its laurels. It is carefully monitoring areas where potential vulnerabilities have been identified. During a recent market briefing, Rachel Turk, Lloyd’s chief underwriting officer, …

Central European Insurers’ Financial Strength to Remain Solid Despite Severe Floods

The heavy rains and severe floods of Storm Boris, which inundated Central and Eastern Europe during the second week in September, will be the most severe flood event in about a decade, carrying an insurance price tag of an estimated …

US Nuclear Verdicts Break Records and Drive Social Inflation to 7% in 2023: Report

Nuclear verdicts in the United States are breaking records with 27 court cases each awarding compensation of more than US$100 million during 2023, according to Swiss Re executives. Social inflation in US rose to 7% in 2023 – a 20-year …

Hard Market ‘Supercycle’ Likely to Be Prolonged: Lloyd’s CEO Neal

Now that the market has achieved a first-half profit of £4.9 billion with a combined ratio of 83.7—its best interim results in 17 years—does this mean the hard market cycle is ending? During a media briefing to discuss Lloyd’s results, …

Lloyd’s Reports Best H1 Underwriting Profit Since 2007, With 83.7 Combined Ratio

The Lloyd’s insurance and reinsurance market reported overall profit before tax of £4.9 billion (US$6.4 billion), a 25.6% increase from the £3.9 billion (US$5.1 billion) reported during H1 2023. The combined ratio, which is a key measure of underwriting profitability, …

Reinsurers’ Appetite for Natural Catastrophe Risks Grows – But Discipline Remains

Top reinsurers are showing increasing – but disciplined – appetite for natural catastrophe risks as a result of rising demand, better pricing, more favorable terms and conditions, and sound investment income, according to a report published by S&P Global Ratings. …

Severe Storms (Mostly in US) Account for 70% of Global Insured Natural Disaster Losses

Global insured losses from natural catastrophes totaled US$60 billion during the first half of 2024, or 62% above the 10-year average, according to preliminary estimates from Swiss Re. Severe thunderstorms (mainly in the U.S.) accounted for 70% of insured losses …