United Kingdom News

Best’s London Briefing Highlights Challenges for Europe’s Insurers

“2011 will be another challenging year,” said Roger Sellek, the CEO of A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited, at the rating agency’s annual review of the state of Europe’s insurance industry. Speaking to an attentive audience at the Grange …

Ratings Roundup: Travelers (UK), Tenet, Allianz (France)

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based Travelers Insurance Company Limited (TICL), both with stable outlooks. TICL is expected to “maintain excellent …

People

Insurance broker Marsh has added five industry veterans – four from competing broker Aon – to its private equity and mergers and acquisitions practice. James O’Brien, Jason Hawkins and Craig Warnke join Marsh as managing directors, and Jim Beatty and …

Business Moves

Western National, Arizona Auto, Legacy Western National Insurance Group (WNIG) of Edina, Minn., signed an agreement for the purchase of 100 percent of the stock of Arizona Auto Insurance Co. and Legacy Insurance Services, both headquartered in Phoenix. The purchase …

Perkins Joins Beazley in Philadelphia

U.K.-based insurer Beazley has hired Max Perkins as an underwriter in its Technology, Media, & Business Services team in Philadelphia. Perkins will focus on underwriting middle market risks. He formerly served an executive underwriter for national accounts at ACE Ltd. …

US State Dept. Warns Americans to be Vigilant When in Europe

The Obama administration on Sunday warned Americans of potential terrorist threats in Europe and urged them to be vigilant in public places, including tourist spots and transportation hubs. A State Department travel alert advises U.S. citizens living or traveling in …

Best Affirms FM Global Group’s ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings of “aa” of FM Global Group and its lead company, Factory Mutual Insurance Company, and its other members, which include FM Insurance Company Limited …

S&P Affirms AXA UK’s ‘AA-‘ Ratings; Removed from CreditWatch

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has removed its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on U.K.-based non-life insurer AXA Insurance U.K. PLC (AXAI) from CreditWatch with negative implications and affirmed them at ‘AA-‘. The outlook is stable. S&P …

Ratings Recap: Tapiola, Congregational, Asian Re, Int’l. Energy, Leadway

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Finland’s Tapiola General Mutual Insurance Company (also known as Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio Tapiola). The outlook …

Marsh Sees ‘Positive Developments’ in Europe Trade Credit Insurance

According to a report from Marsh’s London office, “new insurance capacity, increased competition for business among insurers and improved risk management have led to positive developments for buyers of trade credit insurance across most of Europe in 2010, following two …