earnings News

Pay Czar Slashes Compensation for Top 25 at AIG, Other Bailed Out Firms

The U.S. pay czar Thursday slashed cash compensation for the top earners at seven companies that received massive taxpayer bailouts, while allowing for some increases to retain key talent. Kenneth Feinberg, charged with reworking pay contracts for the 25 highest-paid …

Drop in Catastrophe Losses Leads Travelers to Strong Underwriting Gain

Travelers Companies Inc., the No. 1 publicly-traded U.S. property/ casualty insurer, said its quarterly profit more than quadrupled, strongly beating expectations, as a dearth of costly catastrophes left the company with strong underwriting gains. The New York-based insurer raised its …

Top Executives at AIG Financial, Other Bailed Out Firms to See Pay Cuts

Top earners at financial and auto companies bailed out by the U.S. government will see their pay slashed under an Obama administration plan aimed at addressing public outrage over eye-popping paychecks, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. …

Analysts Forecast Healthy Q3 Reports from Insurers

If the stock market and weather are any indication, third-quarter earnings reports from insurers will look a lot better than they did a year ago. The big companies, which began their reporting season today with Travelers Cos.’ results, are expected …

Ratings Roundup: Sul America, Afianzadora

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has raised its ratings on Sul America S.A. (SASA), including raising the counterparty credit rating to ‘BB-‘ from ‘B+’ and the senior unsecured debt rating to the company’s remaining $130 million, five-year senior notes to …

Best Affirms Ratings for Northbridge (Fairfax) Operating Companies

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Markel Insurance Company of Canada, Federated Insurance Company of Canada, Commonwealth Insurance Company, Commonwealth Insurance Company of America (based …

Ratings Recap: AMI, HDI-Gerling

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of New Zealand’s AMI Insurance Limited, both with stable outlooks. The ratings are based on an “analysis of the consolidated financial accounts …

Insurers Happy About Quiet Atlantic Hurricane Season

Thanks to El Nino, the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season has been the quietest in more than a decade, offering a reprieve for residents in the danger zone and a chance for insurance firms to refill depleted coffers. With the peak …

Ratings Recap: Singapore Re, AGF, Ansvar, White Mountains Re, Oriental, Jupiter

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of Singapore Reinsurance Corporation Limited, both with stable outlooks. The ratings reflect Singapore Re’s “superior risk-adjusted capitalization level, increasing presence in …

Canada to Stop Insurance Sales on Bank Web Sites

Canada will prohibit major banks from marketing insurance products on their websites, marking a major victory for big insurers in a long-running battle with the banking industry. Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told Canada’s Business News Network (BNN) that rule …