Articles by Charles E. Boyle

AXA, Japan Post Top Best’s List of World’s Largest Insurers

France’s AXA S.A. has again topped the list of the world’s 25 largest insurance companies, based on premiums written, compiled by A.M. Best. The lists, which were compiled both on asset value and on net premiums written, reflects the dominance …

Guy Carpenter Analyzes 2011 Catastrophes; $108 Billion in Losses

Reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter has examined the past year’s natural catastrophes, which it describes as “an unusually eventful year for the (re)insurance sector.” In addition to the ongoing financial crisis, which has produced recessions, or near recessions, in developed countries, …

JLT Subsidiary Acquires Irish Broker FBD Insurance

JLT Insurance Brokers (Ireland) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc, has acquired FBD Insurance Brokers Ltd, which is based in Ireland, from FBD Holdings plc. The bulletin also noted that as “part of this …

Lloyd’s Highlights Retailers Need for Cyber Fraud Coverage

An article on the Lloyd’s of London web site notes that while millions of people have been out an about shopping this holiday season, “an increasing number are choosing to shop from the comfort of their homes – and offices …

November Storms in Southern Alberta Caused $195 Million Insured Loss

Windstorms that hit southern Alberta in November have caused at least C$200 million [US$195] in insured damage, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. However, the estimate is preliminary, based on data from Property Claim Services Canada (PCS-Canada), a service …

Melbourne Storms Declared ‘Catastrophe;’ Full Year Insured Losses = $4.5 Billion

A series of violent storms struck Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne on Christmas Day, causing wide spread damage to buildings and infrastructure. Insurer QBE said the country’s insurers have already received more than 15,000 claims as a result of the …

Best’s Rating Actions Spurred by EU Failure to Produce Debt Crisis Solution

Although the recent summit of the 27 countries of the European Union did manage to come up with a plan to control budget deficits – in the future – it “took no clear short term actions to address the debt …

India’s Private Insurance Market Keeps Growing – Slowly but Surely

Even though China gets most of the headlines, there’s been slow, but steady, progress for private insurers in Asia’s other billion plus people country – India. Although its rate of growth has slowed recently, mirroring the slowdown in the global …

Best Reports on Bermuda’s Challenges; Torus’ O’Donohoe Comments on Diminished Role

Torus Acquires Renewals of C.V. Starr for Continental Europe; Interview with Int’l. CEO O’Donohoe

Torus announced that it has entered into an agreement with Starr Underwriting Agents Limited whereby Torus Syndicate 2243 acquires the renewal rights to CV Starr Syndicate 1919’s Continental European Marine, Casualty, Financial Lines and General Property business, effective January 1, …