S&P Global Ratings News

S&P Says Underwriting in Lloyd’s Market Continues to Improve

The Lloyd’s market looks unlikely to turn an underwriting profit in 2020 given the pandemic and hurricane season. However, there a signs of improvement, according to analysts at S&P Global Ratings. S&P notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has already caused …

Second Wave of Coronavirus Lockdowns Could Weaken Insurers’ Capital Buffers: S&P

Global insurers have proven resilient during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as their capital strength has helped stave off widespread downgrades; however, insurers’ capital buffers will erode through the second half of the year as financial market losses …

S&P’s Outlook for AGCS Revised to Negative on ‘Weak Underwriting Performance’

S&P Global Ratings has revised its outlook on Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS) to negative from stable, while at the same time affirmed the insurer’s “AA” financial strength and issuer credit ratings. The outlook revision reflects S&P’s view …

S&P Affirms Munich Re’s ‘AA-‘ Ratings, Reflecting Sufficient Capital for COVID-19 Crisis

S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its “AA-” long-term issuer credit and financial strength ratings for Munich Re and its subsidiaries, with a stable outlook. The stable outlook reflects S&P’s view that Munich Re will maintain capital adequacy above the “AA” …

Insurers’ Pause of Dividends Likely Shows Caution, Rather Than Credit Risks: S&P

Some global regulators are advising insurers to suspend dividend payments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If insurers do, they won’t have to worry about their credit quality, S&P Global Ratings said in a recent report. “Insurers’ decision to curb …

COVID-19 Pandemic Threatens Gulf Insurers’ Earnings: S&P Report

The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and tumbling oil prices threaten the earnings of insurers in the Gulf, S&P Global Ratings said on Wednesday, possibly leading to negative rating actions. “Most insurers we rate in the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] …

Aon to Buy Willis Towers Watson

Global insurance brokers Aon and Willis Towers Watson announced a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock transaction with an implied combined equity value of approximately $80 billion. Under the terms of the agreement unanimously approved by the boards of …

Swiss Re Will Absorb Poor 2019 Earnings, Says S&P

S&P Global Ratings said that even though Swiss Re performed materially below expectation for its 2019 earnings, the ratings agency expects the group to maintain its risk-based capital above the “AA” level, which supports the “AA-” long-term ratings and stable …

S&P Assigns A- Rating to Fidelis Insurance Units; Holding Company at BBB

Noting the proven track record of its management team and strong top-line growth in a five-year time frame, S&P Global Ratings has assigned A- financial strength ratings to the operating units of Fidelis Insurance Holding Ltd. S&P also assigned a …

S&P Revises Qatar Insurance Outlook on Financial Risks from $308M Markerstudy Loan

S&P Global Ratings said it revised its outlook on Qatar Insurance Co. S.A.Q. (QIC) to negative from stable, although it has affirmed the group’s “A” rating. When QIC acquired four of Markerstudy’s subsidiaries in 2018, it also purchased the parent-related …