United Kingdom News

Ratings Roundup: Pacific International, Resolution, ING

A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the ratings of New Zealand’s Pacific International Insurance Limited (PII), and has affirmed PII’s financial strength rating of ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb-“. “The rating …

U.S. Insurers Face Uphill Battle to Alter Foreign Insurers’ Tax Break

A coalition of U.S. insurers is calling on lawmakers to close a tax loophole that helps foreign insurers, and although it has won the support of presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, it faces a harder task convincing others. The coalition, led …

People

Patrick G. Ryan, founder and executive chairman Aon Corp., said he intends to retire Aug. 1, 2008. Ryan said the firm’s transition to a new management team under CEO Greg Case is complete. Ryan founded Aon, which has its origin …

S&P Revises its Outlook on Aegon and Core Subs to Negative; Affirms Ratings

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Netherlands-based AEGON N.V. and its core subsidiaries to negative from stable. Concurrently S&P affirmed its ‘A+/A-1’ counterparty credit rating on AEGON N.V. and its ‘AA’ long-term counterparty credit and insurer …

Ratings Recap: Syndicate 1225, Gulf, Eastern Re, Sté. Centrale Re, B&B, Commercial & Manufacturers, GIL

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 1225 (United Kingdom), which is managed by AEGIS Managing Agency Ltd (AEGIS UK). The outlook for both ratings …

Business Moves

Hull & Co., Big Sky Underwriters, Powers & Co. Hull & Co. Inc. acquired substantially all of the assets of Missoula, Mont.-based Big Sky Underwriters Inc. “The people of Big Sky are well respected in the Northwest marketplace,” said Bob …

World’s Weather as a Deranged Pinball Machine?

The 10th edition of the European Insurance Forum (EIF), held at Dublin’s Four Seasons Hotel and sponsored by the Dublin Insurance & Management Association (DIMA) April 7-8, focused on some major issues of worldwide concern, as well as the state …

S&P: QBE, IAG Ratings Unchanged After Rejected Merger Proposal

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that its ‘A+’ ratings on the core operating entities of QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (currently ‘A-‘ with a stable outlook) are unchanged after QBE’s announcement that Insurance Australia Group Ltd. (rated ‘AA-‘, but on …

XL Forms Global Product Development

Bermuda-based XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Capital Ltd., has announced the formation of a global Product Development team to further address customers’ risk management needs. “The team will work with XL Insurance business units, customers, and brokers …

S&P Report on U.K. Insurance Market – Stable Despite Cycle, Economic Risks

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services’ latest review of the U.K. insurance market – “Insurance Industry Risk Analysis: U.K. Economic Risk Increases But Unlikely To Put Pressure On Non-Life Ratings” – concludes that, “despite the strength of results and ratings, the …