Business Insurance

European flood-related insured losses estimated at $7.7 billion

Catastrophe modeler Risk Management Solutions Inc. estimates €6.5 billion ($7.7 billion) in insured and reinsured losses from the devastating floods that ravaged Europe in July.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Purdue Pharma judge says Sacklers face ‘substantial risk’ of liability

The judge overseeing Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy said on Monday that some members of the Sackler family who own the OxyContin maker face a “substantial risk” of liability and could be on the hook for “huge amounts of money” over claims the company fue...

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Six states do not join $26B opioid settlements with distributors, J&J

At least six U.S. states, including Georgia, did not fully sign on to a proposed $26 billion settlement with three drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, which have been accused of fueling the nation's opioid epidemic, according to the states' atto...

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

SEC to scrutinize firms' digital-engagement practices

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will seek input on whether digital customer engagement innovations used by financial firms should be governed by existing rules or may need new ones, commission chair Gary Gensler told Reuters.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Care for pandemic pooches a major concern: Survey

What’s to become of the pets when the pandemic wanes? According to survey results released Tuesday, there’s much to bark about.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Cat bond market buoyant as insurance prices rise

New issuance of catastrophe bonds hit a record $8.5 billion in the first half of 2021, driven by additional capital inflows into the sector and new sponsors drawn to the fresh capital.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

South Africa's state insurer to raise cover for unrest following riots

South Africa's only insurer covering political violence will increase its premiums to cover a rise in reinsurance costs following some of the worst unrest in decades, the head of the state-owned company told Reuters.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

McDonald's shakes run dry due to supply chain disruptions

Supply chain disruptions have hit McDonald's Corp. which has ran out of bottled drinks and milkshakes across its locations in England, Scotland and Wales.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Insurers see 25% rise in profit despite pandemic

The consolidated profit of 28 listed insurers in the U.A.E. rose 25% year-on-year to 1.15 billion United Arab Emirates dirhams ($313 million) in the first half of the year.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Afghanistan’s insurer to continue operations despite political crisis

Jamal Asfour, chief executive of the Insurance Corporation of Afghanistan, said that the Afghan insurer will continue to operate despite the current political turmoil triggered by the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Vietnam lockdowns hit Adidas, Foot Locker supply chains

Foot Locker Inc., Adidas AG and Buckle Inc. are joining the list of companies struggling to replenish their inventories due to large-scale factory lockdowns in Vietnam triggered by the recent surge in COVID-19 infections.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Commercial insurance rates continue to rise in Australia

A report by Marsh LLC said that insurance rates in Australia continued to increase in the first half of the year.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

EPIC snags Risk Strategies exec for entertainment, sports practice

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has recruited former Risk Strategies Co. executive Peter Marshall as managing principal, media services in its entertainment and sports practice.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

Tribe can recover up to $2M in virus-related losses, cleanup costs

A Connecticut Native American tribe can recover up to $2 million in COVID-19 business interruption losses and cleanup costs under its $1.6 billion in coverage, a state court has ruled.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

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