P&C Companies News

P/C Industry’s Net Income Up; Combined Ratio at 100.7 for Q3

Private U.S. property/casualty insurers’ net income after taxes rose to $16.2 billion through nine-months 2009, partially recovering from the 91.2 percent decline to $4.4 billion through nine-months 2008 from $49.6 billion through nine-months 2007. Insurers’ overall profitability as measured by …

Georgia Father, Son Agents Charged with Defrauding Goodwill, Insurer

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John W. Oxendine said two Macon insurance agents — a father and son– have been arrested after being charged with keeping premiums paid to them for auto and business liability insurance by Goodwill Industries. Broadus W. Marshall …

People

Beecher Carlson expanded its National Energy practice by appointing Jacklyn Kearns senior vice president. Kearns has 28 years of insurance and risk management experience. She joins Charlie Pierpont in Beecher Carlson’s Darien, Conn., office. Prior to that, she served as …

Best Affirms Zurich’s ‘A’ Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Zurich Insurance Company Limited (ZIC), the main operating company of Zurich Financial Services Ltd. (ZFS), and its rated subsidiaries. …

Ratings: NIPPONKOA, Russian Re, Lemma, Lakeside Re, Inter Hanover

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a” of Hong Kong-based NIPPONKOA Insurance Company (Asia) Limited, both with stable outlooks for both ratings is stable. “The ratings reflect NIPPONKOA …

QBE Europe to Purchase Munich Re’s Evergreen Brand, Renewal Rights

QBE European Operations (QBE EO), the specialist business insurer, announced its purchase of the brand and renewal rights of the Evergreen portfolio from MSP Underwriting Limited, the Lloyd’s underwriting agency, which is owned by Munich Re. “Brokers consistently rate Evergreen …

S&P: Europe’s Insurers Weather Storm, But ‘Resilience Will Be Tested’

Europe’s insurance sector has “fared well relative to banks over the past two years,” a new report from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services notes. As an example, the study – “European Insurers Withstand Global Economic Conditions, But Resilience Will Likely …

Best Affirms Ratings of Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001 and Amlin plc

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 2001, which is managed by Amlin Underwriting Limited. Best also affirmed the ICR of “a-” of Amlin plc, the …

Best Affirms Amlin Bermuda ‘A’ Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Amlin Bermuda Limited (ABL), both with stable outlooks. In a separate bulletin Best affirmed the financial strength rating ‘A+’ (Superior) and …

Michigan House Passes Auto Insurance Reform Legislation

An insurance trade group says a bill passed by the Michigan House of Representatives threatens to increase auto insurance costs and harm the state’s job market and economy. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) says the House passed …