June 2014/5

A look-up table for The Insurance Insider's universe of P&C (re)insurers

Bermudian (re)insurer Validus was the biggest riser in the Insider 30 composite last week, climbing almost 2 percent as investors gave their seal of approval to the company's $690mn takeover of US carrier Western World.

Tighter US tax regulation could be in the pipeline for hedge fund-backed reinsurers, amid calls from lawmakers for tougher tax treatment of investors in the offshore vehicles.

Run-off acquirer Catalina has sealed a $77mn deal with US construction insurer NationsBuilders Insurance Company (NBIC).

The regulatory landscape has become more parochial since the financial crisis, CEO and president of Axis Capital Albert Benchimol said at the 50th annual seminar of the International Insurance Society last week.

(Re)insurers have failed to convince the Financial Stability Board they should not be considered systemically important financial institutions (Sifis), according to Scor chief executive Denis Kessler.

The London Market Group (LMG) last week announced it was commissioning major research into the London insurance market to provide a factual basis for its future strategy.

Maurice "Hank" Greenberg's defamation suit against former New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer moved closer to trial last week, despite several allegations being dismissed.

A legal dispute between AIG subsidiary Lexington Insurance and retailer Wakefern Food Corporation over a claim arising from Superstorm Sandy continued last week as the two sides argued over whether Sandy met the US National Weather Service (NWS)'s definition of a "named storm".

A US Supreme Court ruling last week modifying procedures in securities class action lawsuits could prompt a reshaping of directors' and officers' (D&O) coverage, market observers have advised

Worldwide insurance sales growth slowed last year, with stagnation in the industrialised world partly offsetting continued strong expansion in emerging markets, according to the latest Swiss Re Sigma world premiums study.

Much of the commentary on the US commercial P&C insurance market in 2014 has focused on concerns about the sustainability of attractive pricing.

By Validus's standards its successful pursuit of Western World looks to have been relatively straightforward and pain-free.

Rates for US commercial P&C insurance business are continuing to waver as the midpoint of 2014 approaches, according to a mid-year buyers' survey conducted by Barclays analysts.

Investors in the insurance-linked securities (ILS) sector are likely to get increasingly close to underwriters and cedants, according to panellists at the International Insurance Society's 50th annual seminar on 24 June.

Transatlantic Holdings has increased its ownership stake in Bermudian fund manager Pillar Capital Management to 50 percent and extended its commitment to invest capital in Pillar funds, the Alleghany subsidiary announced last week.

Munich Re's withdrawal of its new Queen St cat bond showed that the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market was either reaching a pricing floor or limit on capacity for US nationwide or multi-peril risks, said Leadenhall Capital Partners CEO Luca Albertini.

Florida's Citizens Property Insurance Corporation cited its ability to access additional private reinsurance at a lower cost as it approved 2014 rate cuts for nearly 70 percent of its policyholders last week.

Up-for-sale carrier Infrassure has secured a cut-through reinsurance facility with PartnerRe aimed at defending the large proportion of its business that is at risk of cancellation following its downgrade by AM Best, The Insurance Insider has learned.

Interest rates are unlikely to rise significantly in the near term, Daniel James, chief investment officer at Aviva Investors, told attendees at The Insurance Insider's CFO Forum last week (26 June).

Rating agency Moody's last week downgraded the credit rating of loss adjuster Cunningham Lindsey, citing concerns that an absence of natural catastrophe losses will reduce claims volumes, denting the company's revenues and profit.

Scor chief executive Denis Kessler called for an end to the current run of low interest rates during a panel discussion held at the International Insurance Society's 50th annual seminar last week.

UK-based legacy business Compre has been put up for sale by majority private equity owner Milestone Capital, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

The transformation of raw data into market intelligence is becoming ever more crucial for the (re)insurance industry, according to Aon CEO Greg Case.

Unintentional cyber cover embedded in insurance contracts could become one of the biggest risks facing the insurance market, Catlin COO Paul Jardine told members of the London Market Claims Council last week.

Hamilton Re hires; The Besso from Brazil; AmTrust acquires; RSA appoints; Cooper Gay hires; Axis departure; Scor superhub; Catalina deal; Contract law reform; Berkshire outlook; Citizens' price cut

Independent reinsurance broker US Re has rejected suggestions in the marketplace that its future is in doubt because of the failure of Florida homeowners' insurer Sunshine State Insurance Company (SSIC).

People in our market rarely agree on anything, but there's currently one assertion with which we can all concur: nothing makes any sense these days.

Diversifying legacy business Enstar is looking to add a third limb to its live strategy by setting up an alternative reinsurance business, The Insurance Insider understands.