Articles by L.S. Howard

Global P/C Industry Sees Strongest Rate Hikes in 20 Years but Inflation Headwinds Loom

Robust global economic recovery, higher risk awareness and the strongest rate hardening for 20 years in non-life insurance commercial lines will combine to push premiums 10% above pre-COVID-19-crisis levels this year, creating a faster bounce-back than from the global financial …

Reinsurers Show Strong Profits During 2nd Half, Rebounding from 2020’s Challenges

The first half financial results, reported by a group of six reinsurers over the past week, generally show a strong return to profits after last year’s challenging market conditions. A wrap-up of these H1 results follows for Swiss Re, Everest …

Arthur J. Gallagher Ends $3.6B Deal to Buy Willis Re, After Aon-Willis Merger Scrapped

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced it has terminated its May 12, 2021 agreement to acquire Willis Re and certain other Willis Towers Watson operations for $3.57 billion. Both Gallagher and Willis Towers Watson filed statements with the Securities and …

Update: Aon and Willis Terminate $30B Merger; Aon to Pay $1B Break-up Fee

Aon plc and Willis Towers Watson announced that the firms have agreed to terminate their $30 billion business combination agreement and end litigation with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The proposed combination was first announced on March 9, 2020 …

Germany’s Floods Will See ‘Sizable’ Protection Gap. Could Insurance Demand Increase?

With an insured price tag of €4 billion to €5 billion (US$4.7 billion to $5.9 billion), economic losses from Germany’s recent floods are likely to be significantly higher, which highlights a sizable insurance “protection gap.” This protection gap – or …

Global P/C Industry Sees Strongest Rate Hikes in 20 Years but Inflation Headwinds Loom

Robust global economic recovery, higher risk awareness and the strongest rate hardening for 20 years in non-life insurance commercial lines will combine to push premiums 10% above pre-COVID-19-crisis levels this year, creating a faster bounceback than from the global financial …

Daily Mail in Negotiations to Sell Catastrophe Modeling Subsidiary RMS

Daily Mail and General Trust Plc (DMGT) said it is in discussions to sell its catastrophe modeling insurance unit, RMS, following a number of third party inquiries. DMGT said discussions are ongoing and there is no certainty that a transaction …

EU Approves Aon-Willis Towers Watson Merger, but Other Roadblocks Remain

The European Commission has approved the acquisition of Willis Towers Watson by Aon, lifting a major roadblock to the proposed $30 billion merger. But there are more roadblocks to overcome. The approval is conditional on full compliance with a set …

French Mutual Insurer Covéa Eyes Purchase of AXA XL’s Reinsurance Business: Reports

Covéa, the French non-life mutual, is interested in acquiring AXA XL’s reinsurance business, AXA Re, in a deal that could be valued at €5 billion, according to press reports. The news story, which originally appeared in Bloomberg, “is credible,” according …

Aon-WTW Merger Would Help Boost Industry’s Innovation. Aon CEO Makes the Case.

The enhanced ability to innovate is a principal motivator for Aon’s proposed acquisition of Aon and Willis Towers Watson. It’s a message that Aon CEO Greg Case has been emphasizing since the $30 billion deal was announced in March 2020. …