Business Insurance

Hackers try to break into AstraZeneca’s systems

North Korean hackers are suspected to have attempted a cyber attack on British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca plc, which is developing COVID-19 vaccine.

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

VIG to buy Aegon’s Eastern European businesses

Austria-based Vienna Insurance Group AG will acquire Dutch insurer Aegon NV’s insurance business in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Turkey for €830 million ($993 million).

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

ILS funds set up reserves to tackle European BI claims

Some insurance-linked securities funds have created reserves for potential exposure to COVID-19 pandemic-related business interruption losses from a few major European catastrophe reinsurance programs.

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

Pandemic affects post-Brexit supply chain plans

A survey by U.S.-based broker Lockton Cos. LLC has found that the post-Brexit supply chain preparations of 46% manufacturers in the U.K. were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

Most business underinsured for catastrophes: Aon

A report by Aon Africa says that businesses in South Africa remain exposed to uninsured losses due to poor risk-preparedness despite increasing volatility.

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

Indonesian volcano erupts, spews ash 2.5 miles into sky

Mount Ile Lewotolok volcano in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, erupted on Nov. 29, spewing smoke and ash 2.5 miles into the sky.

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

Heavy rains cause flash floods on Italian island

Heavy rains caused flash flooding and landslides in the Italian island of Sardinia.

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

Insurers call for pandemic risk pool

Insurers in Egypt have proposed the establishment of a pandemic risk pool.

Posted: Nov 30, 2020

The BI Top 10: Week of Nov. 23, 2020

Zurich Insurance Group AG’s effort to expand its property/casualty business through the acquisition of a MetLife Inc. unit leads this week’s Top 10, followed by a report indicating reinsurance markets may be heading into a multiyear hardening.

Posted: Nov 27, 2020

Reinsurers would take brunt of COVID-19 second wave

Analysts at U.K.-based investment banking firm Barclays PLC said that reinsurers would take the brunt of claims from a second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

Posted: Nov 27, 2020

Lloyd’s get nod for EU access post Brexit

The High Court of England and Wales has approved Lloyd’s of London’s transfer of European Economic Area policies to its Belgium-based subsidiary Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA.

Posted: Nov 27, 2020

Poultry industry on alert after bird flu outbreak

The European poultry industry is on alert as a highly contagious form of avian influenza spreads across Europe, raising fear of significant economic losses.

Posted: Nov 27, 2020

Philippines sees $70 billion in losses from typhoons, pandemic

Stella Quimbo, Marikina City representative, said that the recent typhoons and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused an estimated 3.4 trillion ($70.5 billion) in economic losses to the Philippines.

Posted: Nov 27, 2020

Teva fined $70 million for anti-competitive practices

The European Commission has fined Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and its American subsidiary more than €60 million ($71 million) for anti-competitive practices.

Posted: Nov 27, 2020

Hailstorm causes over $180 million in damages

The South African municipality of Msunduzi has suffered an estimated 2.8 billion South African rand ($181.5 million) in damages from a hailstorm that battered the region on Nov. 18.

Posted: Nov 27, 2020

China, Singapore can cooperate on disaster risk insurance

Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, has suggested that Singapore and the Chinese municipality of Chongqing can work together on disaster risk insurance.

Posted: Nov 27, 2020

Insurers in talks to extend credit insurance backstop

The German government and insurers are discussing a six-month extension of the COVID-19 credit insurance backstop.

Posted: Nov 26, 2020

IT firm expects $60 million hit from ransomware

France-based information technology company Sopra Steria Group SA expects a gross negative impact of up to €50 million ($59.3 million) on its operating margins from the recent ransomware attack.

Posted: Nov 26, 2020

North P&I Club plans 10% rate hike

U.K.-based marine insurer North of England P&I Association Ltd. plans a 10% general increase in protection and indemnity rates for the 2021/22 policy year.

Posted: Nov 26, 2020

Carrefour sued for $37 million after man’s death

A state attorney general has sued retailer Carrefour Brasil, a unit of French company Carrefour SA, for 200 million Brazilian real ($37.6 million) after a Black man was beaten to death at one of its stores by security guards.

Posted: Nov 26, 2020

UK to reform capital rules for insurers after Brexit

The U.K. is considering making changes to Solvency II capital regulations for insurers as soon as the Brexit transition period culminates.

Posted: Nov 26, 2020

Glove maker shuts plants after mass COVID-19 outbreak

Malaysia’s Ministry of Health will close all 28 factories of Malaysia-based rubber glove manufacturer Top Glove Corp Bhd after 2,453 of its employees test positive for COVID-19.

Posted: Nov 26, 2020

Engineering firm fined for unfair market practices

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission has fined France-based naval engineering company Gaztransport & Technigaz SA 12.5 billion South Korean won ($11 million) for unfair market practices.

Posted: Nov 26, 2020

AIG unit prevails in New York case concerning excess policy

New York’s highest state court affirmed a lower court decision in favor of an American International Group Inc. unit, ruling it was not obligated to pay additional interest under its excess policy in a case in which the primary policy was voided.

Posted: Nov 25, 2020