Reinsurers News

After Profitable 2009, Reinsurers Face Pricing Pressure from Primary Insurers

A softening casualty market, strong company earnings, and a quiet catastrophe season resulted in the reinsurance industry enjoying, in 2009, one of its most profitable underwriting years in nearly a decade. Today, reinsurers must continue to push-back on multi-year deals …

Best Affirms Workers Comp Reinsurer Eastern Re’s ‘A-‘ Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Cayman Islands-based Eastern Re Ltd. S.P.C., both with stable outlooks. The ratings recognize Eastern Re’s “strategic affiliation with the holding company, …

BP Oil Spill Losses Hit Reinsurers; Premiums Jump

Reinsurers have bumped up prices for offshore energy-related insurance premiums by 50 percent following insurance industry losses of up to $3.5 billion from the BP plc oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Moody’s Investor Service said in a report …

Reinsurers Anticipate Gulf Coast Oil Spill Losses Will Be Major

The blame game for the recent British Petroleum oil spill along the Gulf Coast is just getting started as are the insurance implications of this disastrous event, according to underwriters and other observers. “It’s going to take several years to …

Global Reinsurers Enjoyed Solid Year in 2009, A.M. Best Reports

Capacity returned in force to the global reinsurance market in 2009, as solid earnings helped to propel capital upward by 24 percent from the previous year, despite a softening market. Recovering from harsh blows delivered by the global financial crisis …

Crop Reinsurers’ Profit Could Fall 30% Under USDA Changes, Says Aon

Proposed cuts in the agreement crop insurers have with the federal government would likely reduce reinsurers’ expected profit by 20 to 30 percent, which could lead to some companies withdrawing from the program or scaling back their capacity, according to …

Willis: Cat Losses in Q1 2010 Deliver Worst Ever for Reinsurers

For the first time in many years the first quarter 2010 results of reinsurers will be worse than the results of their primary insurance company clients thanks in part to unprecedented catastrophe losses. Some $16 billion in losses due to …

Reinsurers Say $4 to $7 Billion Chile Quake Loss ‘Unlikely’ to Raise Rates

Last month’s huge earthquake in Chile might cost the insurance industry up to $7 billion in damage claims, the world’s top two reinsurers said, but it looks unlikely to raise reinsurance prices. World leader Munich Re said it expected the …

Bermuda Insurers, Reinsurers Oppose State Cat Fund Bill – HR 2555

The Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) has filed an opposition to HR 2555 which, the Association warns would “replace private sector risk bearing capital with government reinsurance and government guarantees of state debt.” In a letter addressed to …

Florida Recruits First Reinsurer Under Relaxed Collateral Rules

Florida insurance officials have reached an agreement with the first foreign reinsurer to operate under collateral requirements that were reduced in 2008 in an attempt to attract new reinsurers to the state. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said it …