Monthly Archives: <span>September 2010</span>

XL Looks Cheap; Bermuda Ties May Attract Offers

It’s cash-rich, led by a CEO with political aspirations, and was last year’s top S&P 500 performer. Pressured by soft pricing and slow premium growth, (re)insurer XL Group is also undervalued, analysts say, and a prime target for a bidder …

Tropical Storm Karl Hits Yucatan, Some Evacuations Ordered

Tropical Storm Karl hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Wednesday and was expected to head into the Gulf of Mexico, threatening Mexican oil installations and possibly gaining hurricane strength. Mexico’s state-run oil giant Pemex has not yet curtailed any operations but said …

Best Affirms Ratings of Lloyd’s Syndicate 510 and Kiln Group Limited

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Ltd has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 510, which is managed by R.J. Kiln & Co Ltd. Best also affirmed …

Best Lowers Macau Insurance Ratings; Outlook Revised to Stable

A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a-” from “a” of Macau Insurance Company Limited (MIC). Best also affirmed the FSR of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) …

S&P Revises Selective’s Outlook to Stable; Affirms Ratings

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Selective Insurance Group Inc. (SIGI) and its operating subsidiaries (collectively, Selective) to stable from negative. S&P also affirmed its ‘BBB’ counterparty credit rating on SIGI and its ‘A’ counterparty credit …

Tower to Offer $135 Million Sr. Notes

Tower Group, Inc. announced that it intends to offer $135 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2014 through a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, …

Willis, Chartis Program Partners for MetalWorkingGuard, PlasticsGuard

Willis Programs, a unit of Willis Group Holdings announced that it is partnering with Chartis for its MetalWorkingGuard® and PlasticsGuard® Programs, which provide tailored property and liability insurance solutions for businesses in the metal goods and plastics manufacturing industries. MetalWorkingGuard® …

RMS Estimates Insured Losses for NZ Quake at $1.5 to $2.5 Billion

Following detailed analysis of property damage from the Darfield, New Zealand, earthquake, Risk Management Solutions said it “estimates that total insured losses will fall between NZD 2.1 billion (US$ 1.5 billion) and NZD 3.5 billion (US$ 2.5 billion).” RMS said …

Differentiate to Win

Have you ever watched the movie “Speed” with Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock? Dennis Hopper plays a bitter and unstable bomb squad officer who gets hurt on the job and is forced to retire. He straps a bomb …

Colorado Raids Insurance Fund to Fight Second Wildfire

Colorado is freeing up more money to help pay for fighting the wildfire burning near Loveland, the second major wildfire to hit the state in a week. An executive order issued Sept. 13 provides up to $3 million for the …