October 2017/2

High net worth (HNW) start-up Vault is set to launch this month, having secured backing from Allied World and Mike Millette's Hudson Structured Capital Management.

For a start-up, getting the timing right is often a key driver of success.

US broker Integro was recently running a pro forma debt-to-Ebitda ratio in excess of 9x, numbers from Moody's show, as it enters exclusive takeover talks with independent London broking house Tysers.

Motor underwriters and their representatives are holding high-level talks with government officials and state agencies about vehicle-based terrorist attacks, as the prospect of unlimited industry liability threatens to force up reinsurance rates and tighten conditions at the 1 January renewals.

Contract continuity and data issues arising from Brexit are climbing up regulators' priority list even as doubt remains about any transition period after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019.

Recent company pre-announcements for Q3 catastrophe events have surprised the market, with some loss numbers coming in well above analysts' expectations.

State Farm had the most to lose from Hurricane Nate when it blew ashore in Louisiana over the weekend, based on the company's market share in the Bayou State.

The impact of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria (HIM) means the insurance-linked securities (ILS) sector is in line for one of its more complicated 1 January renewals, despite the fact the market's share of losses will be much more contained than it might have been.

Hurricane Nate may not go down in the annals along with Harvey, Irma and Maria when the history of this remarkable period of catastrophe losses is written, but the fourth US landfalling hurricane of the season has added fresh pain for already-suffering carriers.

Imagine that on your way home the urge suddenly takes you to gamble. You walk straight into a betting shop and place the biggest bet you can afford on a horse race.

RK Harrison (RKH) has let go of two members from its three-strong Bermuda team, including Bermuda head of specialty Russell Williams, as part of a change in strategy for the island office.

Former Dual CEO Talbir Bains is set to return at 1 January with a start-up MGA known as Volante that will look to commence underwriting operations across four continents, The Insurance Insider can reveal.