Reinsurers News

SoftBank Borrows $8B, Backed by Its Stake in Alibaba, Say Sources

SoftBank Group Corp. borrowed about $8 billion through a margin loan backed by its Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. stake as the Japanese technology giant aims to bolster its financial flexibility, according to people familiar with the matter. The loan, guaranteed …

Swiss Re CEO Manages Shareholder Expectations on SoftBank Investment: Opinion

Who wouldn’t want the attention of a billionaire like Masayoshi Son? The SoftBank founder is Japan’s third-richest man, with interests from ride-hailing app Uber to shared-office firm WeWork. So when he was reported to be eyeing a 25 percent stake …

Swiss Re Continues Talks with SoftBank Which Seeks Stake of Up to 10%

Billionaire Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank Group Corp. is likely to take a stake of 10 percent or less in Swiss Re AG as it seeks to gain a foothold in the cash-rich reinsurance industry. The Swiss company’s shares fell as much …

April Reinsurance Renewals Continue Flat Pricing Seen in January: Willis Re Report

Reinsurance buyers were able to renew loss-free programs at broadly flat pricing levels during the April 1 renewals – continuing the trend seen at the January renewals, according to a Willis Re report. Pricing was dampened by the continued amounts …

SoftBank Edges Closer to Buying Swiss Re Stake, Valued at $9.6 Billion: Sources

Swiss Re AG jumped after people familiar with the matter said Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp. is edging closer to buying a quarter of the company, valuing the reinsurer at as much as 37 billion francs ($39 billion). Billionaire Masayoshi Son …

Munich Re Eyes Purchase of London Property, Which Could Become UK HQ: Sources

Munich Re, the world’s largest reinsurer, is in talks to acquire a plot that has approval for one of the tallest towers in the City of London financial district, people with knowledge of the plan said. The insurer is negotiating …

Gas Trading Platform Pegas Developing Temperature Products to Hedge Weather Risks

European gas trading platform Pegas said it is developing temperature products, which if approved could go live next year and help energy operators hedge weather risks. “A final plan will be presented to the exchange’s top management in the third …

From Bermuda to Switzerland, Reinsurers Lure Variety of Potential Investors

The $500 billion reinsurance industry is experiencing a flurry of deal talks. One reason: Companies are finally for sale as a rash of natural disasters has depressed valuations and a influx of competitors has made it harder to raise rates. …

Alternative Capital Responds to 2017 Catastrophes with ‘Show of Strength’: Aon Benfield

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria represented the first real test of the staying power of the alternative capital sector, which has responded with a show of strength by continuing to fund reinsurance capacity, according to a report published by Aon …

The Fine Art of Underwriting Through Soft & Slightly Harder Market Cycles

Twenty or so years ago, a London market marine underwriter declared he was going golfing one afternoon because he had reached his annual capacity level. That was an underwriting model commonly used in the Lloyd’s and London markets. Underwriters sat …