Financial News

Zurich 2009 Net Income up 6% to $3.2 Billion; Farmers Boosts Profits

The Zurich Financial Services Group posted across the board income gains in all of its core business segments and targeted growth in profitable market areas, particularly in Global Life and from Farmers. The Group generated an increased business operating profit …

Willis Posts Q4, Full Year Gains

Willis Group Holdings has reported gains in most segments of its business in the fourth quarter and for the year ended December 31, 2009. Willis listed the following Q4 highlights: — Reported earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of …

ACE Posts $2.549 Billion 2009 Net Income; Conference Call Today

ACE Limited reported net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, of $953 million, or $2.81 per share, compared with $0.06 per share for the same quarter last year. For the full year ACE reported net income of $2.549 …

Munich Re to Post $3.57 Billion 2009 Profit; 95.3% Combined Ratio

Munich Re announced that according to its “preliminary calculations” consolidated profits increased “significantly” in 2009 to €2.56 billion [$3.57 billion, compared to €1.58 billion [$2.2 billion] in 2008. Profits for the fourth quarter of 2009 were €780 million [$1.087 billion], …

Obama Job Drive Earns Business Plaudits at Davos

Wall Street executives welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan to create jobs and a softening of his attack on banks, but questioned on Thursday whether proposals in his State of the Union address would become law. Obama pushed job creation …

Davos Report: Business Leaders Warn Regulations May Crimp Recovery

Global business leaders warned Western governments on Wednesday that a populist crackdown on the financial industry could crimp a fragile recovery from the worst recession since the 1930s. The worried response to U.S. President Barack Obama’s plans to tax and …

Validus Prices Debt Offering; S&P Rates Issue ‘BBB-‘; Affirms Ratings

Validus Holdings announced that it has priced a registered offering of $250 million aggregate principal amount of 8.875 percent Senior Notes due 2040. They are to be sold to the public at a “price of 98.71 percent of principal.” The …

Zenith National Insurance Adds Judge Foust to Claims Legal Team

Zenith National Insurance Corp. plans to release fourth quarter and year end 2009 financial results on Jan. 28, 2010 at the end of its business day. Also, the Woodland Hills, Calif.-based company announced that Judge Pamela Foust has joined the …

Swiss Re in $1.268 Billion Deal with Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurer

Swiss Re has concluded an agreement with Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska to cede, a “closed block of yearly renewable term individual life reinsurance business, written prior to 2004.” The transfer is retroactive to October 1, 2009. Swis …

Mercury General to Report Financial Results on Feb.8

Los Angeles-based Mercury General Corp. will will release results for its fourth quarter and 12 month period ended Dec. 31, 2009, on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. The company will host an investor conference call and Webcast that same day at …