August 2017/2

Two weather forecasters have lifted their projections for the number of named storms in the current Atlantic hurricane season, falling into line with the expectation of a slightly above-average year

Zurich-based insurance-linked securities (ILS) manager Solidum said it has issued a private cat bond using a blockchain that will be opened to other ILS investors.

The reinsurance arms of the world's leading P&C brokers all posted positive organic growth numbers for the second quarter, while market headwinds caused insurance underlying growth to stutter.

London-based (re)insurers reported diminishing returns for the first half of the year, pressured by soft pricing conditions and narrow underwriting margins.

London-based carriers posted a worse underwriting result for the first half of the year, as lower contributions from reserve releases, elevated core loss ratios and higher expense ratios depressed margins.

London carriers posted an 8.4 percent expansion in gross written premium (GWP) in the first half of the year as the group's combined top line reached $4.6bn, using five-year average exchange rates.

One of Marsh's vice presidents has filed a legal complaint accusing the broker and her boss Paul Evans of destroying her career after subjecting her to a "pervasive atmosphere" of gender- and race-based hostility.

Fast-growing program fronting specialist Clear Blue has secured reinsurance support from Qatar Re on its latest program.

Trisura Specialty is preparing to launch as a hybrid program fronting carrier with a focus on US casualty insurance and $45mn of start-up capital, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

Charles Taylor InsureTech has fended off rival bids from IBM, Accenture, Verisk and Xchanging to become the preferred vendor for a crucial component of the London market modernisation programme.

Paul Atkinson, head of accident and health (A&H) at WR Berkley in London, is leaving the company to spearhead China Re Syndicate 2088's entry into the market, The Insurance Insider understands

M&A insurance-focused MGA Acquinex has launched with a line size of £25mn ($33mn) and lead backing from Arch, The Insurance Insider understands.