Fitch Ratings News

Reinsurers’ 2022 Profit Outlook Better Than Primary Insurers: Fitch

The trailing impacts of premium and loss trends on the books of property/casualty reinsurers makes the 2022 outlook for reinsurers rosier than the profit outlook for primary insurers, a Fitch Rating analyst said. Longer term, a prolonged period of inflation …

Despite Mitigation Efforts, Cyber Attacks and Rate Hikes to Continue in 2022

As dramatic as escalating ransomware attacks and rapidly climbing cyber insurance rates have been in 2021, both trends will continue to be a nuisance in 2022, according to an expert from Fitch Ratings. “It is probably one of the bigger …

Property Catastrophe Reinsurance Renewal Rates to Rise by More Than 10%: Fitch

Reinsurance rates are expected to increase by more than 10% in catastrophe-related lines of business when contracts are renewed in January 2022, which supports an improving sector outlook for 2022, according to Fitch Ratings. Typically, two-thirds of non-facultative reinsurance business …

Big Europe Reinsurers See Strong 9M Earnings Despite High Natural Disaster Losses

All four major European reinsurers reported a strong improvement in earnings for the nine months, compared to the same period last year, according to a report from Fitch Ratings. Sharply lower non-life, coronavirus-related claims, strong premium growth and resilient investment …

Reinsurance Price Increases Support Improving Outlook for Sector: Fitch

Reinsurers’ plans to continue raising premium rates during the January 2022 renewals are likely to contribute to stronger profitability and an improving sector outlook, according to Fitch Ratings. Fitch said it expects double-digit percentage premium rate rises for property catastrophe …

Bermuda’s Tax Advantage for Re/Insurers to Be Cut With 15% Global Minimum Tax: Fitch

Bermuda’s advantageous tax status for the re/insurance industry will be reduced at the margin with the expected passage of the recent multilateral agreement to establish a 15% global minimum tax rate, according to Fitch Ratings in a market commentary. The …

Reinsurance Prices Expected to Harden at Jan. 2022 Renewals – with Less Momentum

Global reinsurers’ underwriting performance will continue to improve in 2022 as premium rate increases take hold, with further rate hikes expected as a result of higher catastrophe losses, continued low interest rates and mounting inflation concerns, according to Fitch Ratings …

Fitch Sees No Ratings Change, ‘Modest Benefit’ for Liberty Mutual in State Auto Buy

Fitch Ratings said it does not expect Liberty Mutual Holding Co. Inc.’s ratings to be impacted by its planned acquisition of State Auto Group for an estimated $1 billion of cash consideration. “Given the relative size of the two organizations …

Germany’s Floods Will See ‘Sizable’ Protection Gap. Could Insurance Demand Increase?

With an insured price tag of €4 billion to €5 billion (US$4.7 billion to $5.9 billion), economic losses from Germany’s recent floods are likely to be significantly higher, which highlights a sizable insurance “protection gap.” This protection gap – or …

German Floods Will Be Expensive but Unlikely to Burn Through Insurers’ Earnings: Fitch

The recent severe floods in Germany could add up to 5 percentage points to German non-life insurers’ net combined ratios (net claims and expenses to net premiums), according to Fitch Ratings. The insured losses are likely to be Germany’s highest …