P&C Companies News

Broker/Analyst Cheuvreux Urges Buffett to ‘Come to Europe’

Warren Buffett should come to Europe to tap regional champions at knock-down valuations, including in his favored sectors, Cheuvreux analysts said in an open ‘letter’ to the billionaire U.S. investor detailing their seven top picks. The firm, CA Cheuvreux, a …

Japan Offers Help to Companies Hit by Thai Floods

Japan has offered extra loans, insurance and a baht cash line to help Japanese companies in flood-ravaged Thailand, signaling growing concerns over the disaster’s impact on the world’s third biggest economy. Thai officials have said it could take as long …

Hong Kong Stock Exchange Approves Listing of Guernsey Companies

Guernsey has received the green light for its companies to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx). The Exchange’s Listing Committee has “formally approved Guernsey as an acceptable overseas jurisdiction for the purpose of companies incorporated in the Island …

The Future of the Independent Agency (Has Nothing to Do with Age)

For the last 20 years, at least, consultants, associations and publications have been worrying about the future of the independent agency system because the average age of agency owners has been in the late 50s. The same happens to be …

FERMA Calls for ‘Mandatory’ Protocol for Broker/Company Transactions

The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) has issued a response concerning the revised European Insurance Mediation Directive (IMD), which states that it “should incorporate binding standards of transparency for brokers in their relationship with insurance buyers no matter …

Minnesota Gov. Picks Rothman To Head Commerce Department

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has appointed Mike Rothman the new Commissioner of Commerce. The Department of Commerce and Revenue regulates the business of insurance in the state. Rothman was most recently an attorney with the firm of Winthrop & Weinstine …

New York Insurers Applaud Plan to Merge State’s Regulatory Arms

A key trade group for insurers in New York State applauded a proposal by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to merge the state’s insurance regulatory arm into a single agency overseeing insurance, banking and consumer protection. The proposal for the so-called Department …

Best Upgrades Am. Country, Am. Service after Kingsway Public Offering

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘B’ (Fair) from ‘B-‘ (Fair) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “bb” from “bb-” of American Country Insurance Company and American Service Insurance Company, Inc., both domiciled in Elk …

Ratings Recap: Tokio Marine Pacific, Malaysian Re, Kazakhinstrakh, Ansvar

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Guam-based Tokio Marine Pacific Insurance Limited (TMPI), both with stable outlooks. The ratings reflect TMPI’s “consistent growth in surplus and dominant …

Bond Insurer Sues Goldman Sachs Over Abacus Deal

Bond insurer ACA Financial Guaranty Corp. sued Goldman Sachs Group Inc. on Thursday, alleging it was deceived into insuring a transaction designed to fail and for which Goldman ultimately paid a $550 million civil penalty. Goldman Sachs paid the settlement …