Business Insurance

More employers considering vaccine mandate: Survey

Forty-six percent of employers say they are “more strongly” considering a vaccine mandate for employees due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, according to survey results released Monday by San Francisco-based employment law firm Littler Mendelson...

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

7.9% loss-cost decrease proposed for West Virginia

The National Council on Compensation Insurance filed a proposed workers compensation loss-cost decrease of 7.9%, effective Nov. 1, the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner announced.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Reinsurer combined ratio improves: Fitch

Performance among the 17 non-life reinsurers monitored by Fitch Ratings Inc. improved during the first half of 2021 as the group’s combined ratio dropped to 94.5% from 105.9% during the first half of 2020 and net premiums written jumped 18.47% to $72...

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Uniqa’s pre-tax earnings almost quadruple in first half

Austria-based insurer Uniqa Insurance Group AG’s pre-tax earnings surged almost 290% year-on-year to €216 million ($254 million) in the first half of the year.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Sogaz sole insurer for $27 billion cover for nuclear power plants

Russia-based Insurance Company of Gaz Industry Sogaz will provide 2 trillion Russian ruble ($27 billion) worth of insurance cover for all of Rosenergoatom JSC’s nuclear power plants in Russia.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Aon reorganizes reinsurance leadership

Aon PLC on Monday announced several executive changes in its reinsurance brokerage unit.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Asia Pacific presents cyber reinsurance growth opportunities

A report by U.S.-based Fitch Ratings Inc. said that several countries in the Asia Pacific region are developing cyber security regulations to encourage corporations to improve their cyber resilience and reduce potential losses, which should create op...

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Insurer receives over $550 million claims related to Storm Bernd

German insurer R + V Versicherung AG has received 14,000 claims worth €470 million ($553 million) for damage caused by Storm Bernd that struck Germany between July 13 and 18.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Hurricane Grace makes second landfall in Mexico

Hurricane Grace made a second landfall in Mexico in the Veracruz state on Aug. 21 as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing torrential rains and winds that caused severe flooding, mudslides and power outages.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Chip shortage drives more cuts in Mazda, Daihatsu production

Ongoing shortages of semiconductor chips and other components due to COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions is forcing Japanese automakers Mazda Motor Corp. and Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. to halt production across multiple factories.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Cat losses surge due to severe weather in July

Analysts at investment banking firm Jefferies International Ltd. estimate that global insured and reinsured catastrophe losses from severe weather events are already running 41% above the long-term average after July.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

FDA grants full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and German partner BioNTech SE for use in people over the age of 16.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Local insurers advised to monitor global satellite insurance market

The Insurance Federation of Egypt recommends local insurers monitor the global space and satellite insurance developments to improve the local market capabilities.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Almost ready yet Nord Stream pipeline unable to obtain insurance

U.S. sanctions on the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany is making it difficult for the project operator to obtain insurance and certification for the project, which is almost 99% complete.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Willis names head of Canadian property/casualty broking team

Willis Towers Watson PLC has promoted Kate Mead to head of its Canadian property/casualty broking team.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

PCF makes acquisitions

PCF Insurance Services Inc. made three acquisitions during the week, the brokerage announced.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

China eyes pushing US IPO-bound firms to hand over data control

Chinese regulators are considering pressing data-rich companies to hand over management and supervision of their data to third-party firms if they want U.S. stock listings, sources said, as part of Beijing’s unprecedented scrutiny of private sector f...

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

Contractor with history of violations fined $1.3M in deaths

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday announced $1.3 million in fines to “serial violator” Atlantic Coast Utilities LLC/Advanced Utilities Inc., which the agency says caused the deaths of two workers at a dig site in Boston i...

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

You should be protecting your dance moves, yeah

A celebrity choreographer wants to make sure people stealing dance moves from TikTok performers can’t touch this.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

The BI Top 10: Week of Aug. 16, 2021

Willis Towers Watson CEO John Haley’s successor is now known, as insider Carl Hess has been tapped to take the brokerage’s helm on Jan. 1, 2022.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

T-Mobile says hackers accessed data of another 5.3 million subscribers

T-Mobile US Inc. said on Friday hackers had accessed personal data of another 5.3 million wireless customers, widening the extent of a breach that has affected millions of current, former and prospective customers.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

Czech insurance broker buys stake in Croatian counterpart

Czech Republic-based insurance broker Renomia a.s. has acquired a 30% share in the Croatian brokerage Fortius Inter Partes Ltd.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

Mexico hit by Hurricane Grace, expects second landfall

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that Category 1 Hurricane Grace made landfall in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Aug. 19, forcing the temporary suspension of businesses, flights and cruise ships.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

Triglav’s net profit climbs 40%

Slovenian insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav d.d.'s consolidated net profit rose 40% year-on-year to €47 million ($55 million) in the first half of the year.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021

Heavy rains, flash floods ravage parts of Sweden

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute said that heavy rains on Aug. 18 caused severe flash floods across the Dalarna and Gavleborg counties in Sweden.

Posted: Aug 20, 2021