Articles by L.S. Howard

Inflation Contributes to Rising Loss Costs for US Commercial P/C Insurers: Fitch

Inflation is bringing rising loss costs for US commercial property/casualty insurers, according to Fitch Ratings, which reviewed reports from three US insurers — Cincinnati Financial Corp., HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., and Selective Insurance Group Inc. — to gauge trends for …

Arch Insurance to Buy Allianz’s U.S. MidCorp & Entertainment Insurance Businesses

Arch Insurance North America, part of Bermuda’s Arch Capital Group Ltd., announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty’s US MidCorp and Entertainment businesses for a cash consideration of $450 million. The transaction includes …

US D&O Insurance Segment’s Improved Results Unlikely to Be Sustainable: Fitch

The U.S. directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance segment’s strong underwriting profit of 2023 is unlikely to be sustainable, according to Fitch Ratings in a report. Fitch attributed this reality to declining premium revenues from lower premium rates, as well …

Lloyd’s Reports Banner Year in 2023 but “Disciplined Underwriting” Must Be Maintained

The strong 2023 results at Lloyd’s reaffirm the primacy of underwriting, “but it’s one year and therefore not a reason for complacency,” said Patrick Tiernan, chief of markets, in a market message to discuss preliminary results. Burkhard Keese, Lloyd’s chief …

The New Norm? Global Insured Losses for Nat Cats Keep Breaking Records: Swiss Re

Global insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2023 exceeded US$100 billion for the fourth consecutive year โ€“ an indication of the new norm for nat cat losses, according to Swiss Re. Other record-breaking numbers for 2023 included the total of …

Update: James River Files Suit Against Fleming for Failing to Close Purchase of JRG Re

James River Group Holdings Ltd. announced it has filed a lawsuit against Fleming Intermediate Holdings for its failure to complete the $277 million acquisition of its casualty reinsurance subsidiary, JRG Reinsurance Co. โ€“ a deal that was first announced on …

Lloyd’s Reports Banner Year in 2023 but ‘Disciplined Underwriting’ Must Be Maintained

Lloyd’s strong 2023 results reaffirm the primacy of underwriting, “but it’s one year and therefore not a reason for complacency,” said Patrick Tiernan, chief of markets, in a market message to discuss preliminary results. Burkhard Keese, Lloyd’s chief financial officer, …

Casualty Reinsurance Renewals See Modest Price Hikes Despite Social Inflation: AM Best

Reinsurers in general maintained adequate capacity for casualty programs, despite concerns about social inflation and some recent reserve strengthening actions, according to a report from AM Best. For reinsurers, a relatively stable economic environment in 2023, a long run of …

P&I Clubs Raise Renewal Prices to Keep Up With Claims Inflation: AM Best

Protection and Indemnity (P&I) clubs sought further price improvements at the February 2024 renewals in order to keep up with claims inflation, despite a relatively benign year for P&I claims in 2023, according to a report from AM Best. The …

Casualty Reinsurance Renewals See Modest Price Hikes Despite Social Inflation: AM Best

Reinsurers in general maintained adequate capacity for casualty programs, despite concerns about social inflation and some recent reserve strengthening actions, according to a report from AM Best. For reinsurers, a relatively stable economic environment in 2023, a long run of …