December 2015/4

Insurers are unlikely to see any effect on their investment portfolios after the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade.

QBE is exploring a sale of its legacy UK employers' liability (EL) book, The Insurance Insider understands.

Pending EU data protection regulations have highlighted the lack of cyber insurance capacity in the European market.

Professional services firm Charles Taylor has hired four new members of staff to boost its technology division, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

AJG acquires Illinois broker; XL Catlin ups aviation limits; ACR ReTakaful downgrade; Takeover Panel agrees timetable; AM Best negative for 2016; PartnerRe gets Dubai approval; 2016 hurricane predictions; Besso secures re-fi deal; Qatar Re secures Dubai licence; Hiscox re-enters marine cargo; AGCS's Jensen departs; PwC predicts 10% rate drop; Lockton picks up Brazilian business; Allied World hires Asia marine head; Bernardino gets second term.

Spanish renewable energy and engineering group Abengoa appears to have been offered a lifeline by creditors, saving the credit and surety (re)insurance market from potentially billions of dollars in payouts.

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) placed $200mn of five-year traditional reinsurance cover in the mid-year renewals, sister publication Trading Risk reported last week.

Markel Re has decided not to renew $200mn retro sidecar New Point Re for 2016, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

Global carrier Zurich has exhausted its marine reinsurance cover following an outsized loss from the Tianjin port explosions in August, The Insurance Insider has learned.

Aspen has hired Liberty's Oliver Brew to become head of cyber for the UK, US and Bermuda, based in London, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

Timing and segmentation of results could be two key factors in making the new Lloyd's insurance index attractive to investors.

Bermudian fund manager Aeolus is working with advisers as it considers bringing in new investors in early 2016, sources told sister publication Trading Risk