earnings News

Ratings Recap: Darwin, Cincinnati Financial, Arch Indemnity, Prospect

A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Darwin Group and its members under review with positive implications. Best also said the FSR of ‘A- (Excellent) and …

Swiss Re Places $150 Million Vega Securitization

Swiss Re announced that it has obtained $150 million worth of protection against North Atlantic hurricanes, European windstorms, Californian earthquakes and Japanese earthquakes and typhoons through a natural catastrophe protection program named Vega Capital Ltd. Swiss Re described Vega as …

Middle East/Africa Ratings Recap: Trust Re, Arab Orient, Leadway, E. Africa Re, Africa Re

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Bahrain-based Trust International Insurance & Reinsurance Company (Trust Re) with stable outlook s. “The ratings reflect Trust Re’s strong …

Chinese Fund Manager Pays $2.1 Million for Buffett Lunch; Tip Included

A Chinese fund manager has won a lunch with famed U.S. investor Warren Buffett after bidding $2.11 million for the opportunity in a charity auction, more than three times what the lunch fetched last year. Zhao Danyang, who runs Hong …

Allied World Assurance to Acquire Darwin Professional Underwriters

Bermuda-based Allied World Assurance Co., Ltd. has agreed to acquire Connecticut-based Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. Darwin offers specialty and primary professional lines coverages, which include health care professional liability and niche errors and omissions. Darwin also has a business and …

N.Y. Appeals Court: Contingent Commissions Not Illegal

In a twist to a scandal that has rocked the insurance industry over the last several years, a New York appeals court has ruled that contingent commissions paid out by Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group Inc. are not illegal. The ruling …

Supreme Court Rules $2.5 Billion Exxon-Valdez Damages Excessive

The Supreme Court Wednesday overturned the record $2.5 billion in punitive damages that Exxon Mobil Corp had been ordered to pay for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska. The nation’s highest court ruled that the punitive damages should …

Ratings: Old Republic Group, Clarendon, Associated Gen’l. Contractors, ECM, Bankers, Titan, Cumberland

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Chicago-based Old Republic Insurance (formerly known as Old Republic Group) and its members and Bituminous Insurance Companies of Rock …

ACE Comments on Impact of Midwest Floods on Crop Insurance Results

Bermuda-based ACE Limited has announced that, based on current estimates, the impact of the recent floods in the Midwestern U.S. “will have a negligible impact on both second quarter and full-year earnings per share results on its crop insurance business.” …

Ratings Recap: Tugu, Pacific Indemnity, Torus, SIAT, Farmers Mutual (NZ), MAPFRE (Puerto Rico)

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb” of Hong Kong’s Tugu Insurance Company Limited with stable outlooks. Best said: The ratings reflect Tugu’s supportive level of risk-adjusted capitalization, diversified …