Topic Catastrophes
Standard & Poor’s increases rating cap on cat bonds
September 7, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterStandard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its criteria for rating natural catastrophe bonds to increase the rating cap on such bonds to ‘AA.’ “The criteria revision is in response to the evolution of the natural catastrophe bond market,” S&P’s…
Benfield profits up, as is global demand for cat insurance
September 7, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterBenfield Group Limited (“Benfield” or “the Group”), an independent reinsurance and risk intermediary, has reported its group operating revenue has increased 28.5% over the first half of 2006 to 252.1 million (CD$524.6 million).The Group also reported an increase of 35.3%…
What’s New: In brief (September 06, 2006)
September 6, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterKingsway Financial Services Inc. has appointed Denis Cloutier to the position of vice president and chief actuary, Canadian Operations as well as Tom Duffy to the position of vice president, Kingsway America Inc., and chief actuary, U.S. Operations. Cloutier joined…
Reinsurers head-to-head with P&C cycle
September 5, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterManaging the property and casualty cycle is said to be the most difficult endeavor that reinsurers will face throughout 2006 and 2007, according to a recent report published by Fitch Ratings Agency.The report “Reinsurance Review and Outlook: Cycle ManagementA Bumpy…
Colorado State downgrades 2006 hurricane predictions
September 5, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterColorado State University’s hurricane forecast team has downgraded its original 2006 forecast for the Atlantic basin based on changing climate signals and below-average activity in the first third of the season.The forecasting team of Philip Klotzbach and William Gray has…
Canadian travellers warned of hurricane season
August 30, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterCanadians are being urged to review their travel plans and take necessary precautions when visiting regions forecasted to be affected by hurricanes.The warning comes from The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities…
Global warming to complicate control of wildland fires
August 30, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterA recent report published by an assembly of global fire ecologists indicates recent climate change will hinder our ability to manage wildland fire and apply prescribed fire across the landscape.The Association for Fire Ecology’s report, “San Diego Declaration on Climate…
Aon places FM Global cat bond
August 29, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterFM Global privately placed its second US$300 million catastrophe bond, in response to the increasingly unusual earthquake activity in the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Northwest regions. Aon Capital Markets served as lead manager to place the most recent cat bond.FM…
Swiss Re gets stable, A+ rating after GE acquistion
August 23, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterA.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa” of Swiss Reinsurance Company (Swiss Re) (Switzerland) and its rated subsidiaries, following the company’s completed acquisition of GE Insurance…
US$5-billion underwriting loss for U.S. P/C industry in 2005
August 21, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterThe U.S. property and casualty industry reported a US$5-billion underwriting loss and a combined ratio of 100.9% in 2005, according to a recent study by rating agency A.M. Best.The result represents a US$10.5-billion reversal from 2004’s underwriting profit, and a…
Fitch notes U.S. P&C industry’s resilience in 2005
August 15, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterThe U.S. property/casualty insurance industry “exceeded all expectations in 2005,” Fitch Ratings says in a recent report, “demonstrating considerable resiliency by reporting record net income for the second consecutive year despite enduring the highest insured catastrophe losses in recorded history.”…
Hurricane losses humble reinsurers, A.M. Best
August 14, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterThe global reinsurance industry is still struggling to manage its catastrophe exposure even almost a year after hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma struck, according to a recent report from A.M. Best Co.The 2006 global reinsurance report called “Reinsurers Humbled, But…