Articles by L.S. Howard

Hiscox Action Group Launches £40M Arbitration Claim for COVID Biz Interruption Dispute

The law firm that represents the Hiscox Action Group has commenced an arbitration against Hiscox Insurance for non-payment of business interruption insurance totaling £40 million ($50 million). The action group, composed of disgruntled Hiscox policyholders, is represented by London law …

Edge Computing, Supply Chains, Deepfakes Among 2020’s Top Emerging Risks: Swiss Re

Pandemic threats were once on the list of potential emerging risks facing the insurance industry and society. Now that this risk has materialized with the COVID-19 crisis, it is perhaps a good time to take a look at the latest …

Enstar Boosts Capital of StarStone U.S. by $610M with Noonan, Consolino as Execs

Enstar Group Ltd. announced it has increased the capitalization of its specialty property/casualty insurance subsidiary StarStone U.S. Holdings Inc., by $630 million. Three private equity investors have committed $610 million in new equity capital which, together with the rollover of …

Argo Group to Pay $900,000 to SEC for Failing to Fully Disclose CEO Perks

Argo Group International Holdings will pay $900,000 to the Securities and Exchange Commission for failing to fully disclose perks and benefits provided to its former chief executive officer. In proxy statements filed from 2014 through 2018, Argo failed to disclose …

UK Government Forms £10 Billion Reinsurance Backstop for Trade Credit Insurers

The UK government has created a £10 billion (US$12.5 billion) reinsurance scheme designed to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic by guaranteeing transactions insured by trade credit insurers. The Trade Credit Reinsurance scheme is designed to support UK business-to-business transactions …

SCOR CEO Takes 30% Bonus Cut; 2019 Dividend Scrapped on COVID-19 Crisis

French reinsurer SCOR announced that its Chairman & CEO Denis Kessler will receive 30% less in his annual variable compensation for 2019, which is equal to €325,260 (US$354,333). In addition, the company has decided to cancel its 2019 dividend. Kessler’s …

Update: Generali 1st Quarter Net Profit Plunges 84.8% on COVID-19 Investment Hit

Generali’s first quarter net profit plunged 84.8% to €113 million (US$124 million) from €744 million (US$815.5 million) reported in Q1 2019, as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial markets. The hit to its Q1 net …

Activist Shareholder Urges Watford Holdings to Sell Itself, or Be Put Into Runoff

Capital Returns Management LLC, the fifth largest shareholder of Watford Holdings Ltd., is urging the re/insurer to sell itself or be put into runoff. In a letter to Watford’s board of directors, the activist shareholder and specialist insurance investor complained …

For Third Point Re, COVID-19 Crisis Hurts, but It Celebrates 1st Underwriting Profit

Third Point Re reported a net loss of $183.6 million for the first quarter of 2020 due to COVID-19-related investment volatility – but the company still had big reasons to celebrate. For the first time since its inception in October …

Insurer Beazley Raises $300M to Strengthen Balance Sheet on COVID-19 Uncertainties

Beazley, the Lloyd’s specialist insurer, announced it raised £247 million (approximately $300 million) in capital via an equity placement designed to strengthen its balance sheet as a result of the continuing uncertainty created by the COVID-19 crisis. During the first …