Articles by Jan-Henrik Förster and Jeffrey Vögeli

Zurich to Cut Costs by $1.5B with Simplification ‘Name of Game’: CEO Greco

Zurich Insurance Group AG plans to cut costs by $1.5 billion from 2015 through 2019 as Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco overhauls Switzerland’s largest insurer and seeks to boost the firm’s dividend. The new plan replaces a previous goal to …

Most Italians Uninsured for Earthquake as Economic Cost of Tremblor Mounts

The magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck Italy’s Umbria region this week, killing at least 250 people, is estimated to have cost the country anywhere from $1 billion to $11 billion in economy-related losses. The insurance bill will be a lot …

Soft Prices May Bring Reinsurer Losses when Typical Cat Levels Return: Execs

It won’t take another Hurricane Katrina for reinsurers to face losses from covering the cost of storms and earthquakes. Competitors such as hedge funds have eroded prices so much that a typical year of claims could move the industry into …

Zurich Insurance Q2 Net Income Declines 12% on Restructuring, Nat Cats

Zurich Insurance Group AG said second-quarter profit fell 12 percent on higher restructuring charges and claims from natural catastrophes as Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco overhauls the company’s biggest unit. Net income declined to $739 million from $840 million a …

Europe Insurers’ Stress Tests Could Lead to Higher Capital Requirements

European insurers, whose profits are being eroded by Mario Draghi’s* quantitative easing program, face a stress test headache that risks requiring them to set aside more capital, further hurting their ability to make money. The timing of the regulator’s “stress …

Swiss Re Hikes Corporate Debt Holdings, Cuts Risky Government Bonds

The European Central Bank has turned government bonds into one of the riskiest asset classes, prompting Swiss Re AG to move more of its investments into corporate debt, according to the reinsurer’s chief investment officer. “If you’re looking for a …

Zurich’s New CEO Greco Reorganizes Company, Simplifying Structure

Zurich Insurance AG’s new chief executive officer, Mario Greco, is shaking up the largest Swiss insurer after an unexpected jump in claims last year forced it to abandon a takeover and prompted his predecessor’s exit. Zurich is merging its biggest …

Update: German Flood Claims Estimated at $1.1B, Says Fitch Ratings

Insurers will face higher-than-expected claims related to floods in Germany, according to Fitch Ratings, dealing another blow to an industry squeezed by low interest rates and decreasing prices for policies. Claims linked to torrential rain, thunderstorms and floods that hit …

Credit Suisse Sells Operational Risk Bonds, Insuring Rogue Trading, Cyber Crime

Credit Suisse Group AG sold 220 million Swiss francs ($222 million) of bonds designed to offload potential losses on events like rogue trading, with some investors sidestepping the issue because of the incalculable risk. The second-largest Swiss lender initially planned …

Zurich’s Q1 Net Income Down 28% to $875M, Beating Analysts’ Expectations

Zurich Insurance Group AG, Switzerland’s biggest insurer, posted a first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ expectations as Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco continues the overhaul of its biggest unit. Net income fell 28 percent to $875 million from $1.22 billion a …