November 2017/4

Munich Re primary carrier Ergo Group is pushing into middle market commercial insurance through the launch of Poland-based Ergo International Corporate Solutions (EICS)

The London Stock Exchange-listed Blue Capital Alternative Income Fund anticipates a median return of about 15 percent for next year, with a return of 10 percent for a mean loss scenario.

Schroders has launched a life insurance-linked securities (ILS) fund with $750mn of committed capital spread across several mandates.

Credit Suisse-managed reinsurance vehicles Humboldt Re and Kelvin Re have both had their A- ratings confirmed by AM Best, after the ratings agency said that each would record an underwriting loss this year.

Guarantee Insurance controlling shareholder and former Patriot National CEO Steven Mariano received transfers from Guarantee for no clear business purpose, weakening the carrier's financial position, a Florida accountant has alleged.

The UK government gave a reprieve to the financial services sector last week by addressing a potential tax hit that could have increased the cost of Brexit-related restructuring.

The Bank of England has called for UK and EU legislation to safeguard existing cross-border insurance and derivatives contracts to avoid problems paying claims post-Brexit.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has promoted Yogesh "Yogi" Virji to lead its UK cyber team while hiring an additional underwriter from Principia Underwriting.

Rising claims severity and more than a decade of compounding rate reductions have led carriers in the international professional indemnity (PI) market to reassess their involvement in the class and demand price increases at renewal.

As US casualty treaty market negotiations continue in the build-up to 1 January there is growing evidence that a number of leading reinsurers are exerting downwards pressure on ceding commissions that could drive a shift in pricing dynamics.

Airline insurers are having a better renewal than they have had for a long time. Composite rates are probably up a few points in the aggregate and lead premium is higher too if you squint at it.

After 15 years of downward pricing pressure, underwriters in the airline market finally secured a 3 to 5 percent increase in lead premiums in the key fourth quarter renewals, The Insurance Insider understands.