Old Mutual News

Climate Change Poses Significant Risk for South African Insurers: Old Mutual

Climate change poses the most significant threat for South African insurance companies and risks raising premiums and the cost of reinsurance, a top official at its biggest insurer by assets said. After staying almost flat in the decade to 2020, …

Global Life Insurers Adapt Pandemic Risk Models After Unexpected Jump in Claims

A coronavirus pandemic which lasts five years, another pandemic in a decade, and ever more transmissible variants are among the scenarios life insurers are predicting after COVID-19 claims jumped more than expected in 2021. The global life insurance industry was …

S. African Riot Insurer to Shoulder Bulk of Claims After Days of Violent Civil Unrest

As calm begins to return to South Africa following days of violent riots that caused billions of rand in damage, questions are being asked about who will foot the bill. While some claims will be assessed by heavyweight insurers such …

S. Africa’s Regulator to Clarify Policyholders’ Rights in Pandemic Insurance Claims

South Africa’s financial watchdog is consulting with lawyers and the insurance industry on a potential test case to clarify whether insurers should pay rejected claims from firms hit by the impact of the coronavirus, it told Reuters on Thursday. Several …

S. Africa Insurers’ COVID-19 Payments May Be Too Little, Too Late, for Some Businesses

South African small businesses fighting rejected coronavirus-related claims said insurers’ offers of relief are too little too late for many and could leave some already struggling to survive with nothing at all. Insurers around the world have argued COVID-19 lockdowns …

Cape Town Drought Highlights Water Scarcity Risk to Vulnerable Cities Globally: UBS

Cape Town’s water crisis, which saw the drought-hit city come within 90 days of turning off the taps earlier this year, highlights the threats to South African companies from a repeat event and should serve as a warning to vulnerable …

Old Mutual Finishes Restructuring to Focus on S. African Market

South Africa’s prodigal insurer returned home to a lukewarm welcome on Tuesday. Old Mutual Ltd. started trading its stock in Johannesburg at 28.50 rand before swinging between 28.20 rand and 29.39 rand. The listing — done in conjunction with others …

R&Q Buys Old Mutual’s Run-Off Captive, Constantia Insurance

Randall & Quilter (R&Q) announced it has acquired Constantia Insurance Co. (Guernsey) Ltd., a captive company now in run-off, from Old Mutual plc. Regulatory approval for the acquisition has been granted and Constantia will be amalgamated into Capstan Insurance Company …

Cape Town Hit by Worst Storm in 30 Years, Threatening Insurers’ Outlook

South Africa’s property and casualty insurers face an even tougher year than expected after Cape Town experienced its worst storm in 30 years and dozens of fires engulfed the region around the town of Knysna this week. The insurers, including …

Old Mutual Backs Its South Sudan Businesses – Despite War, Famine

Old Mutual Plc will continue to back its businesses in war-torn South Sudan even after profit plunged last year because the economy shrank and customers scaled back operations. “Though we’re not expanding as fast as we would like to, we …