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Zurich expects business operating loss of about US$100 million in Q4 2015 due to nat cat claims


January 20, 2016   by Canadian Underwriter


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Zurich Insurance Group said on Wednesday that it expects its General Insurance business to record a business operating loss in the fourth quarter of 2015, due to natural catastrophe claims, including those related to recent storms and floods in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and a significant level of large losses.

Zurich expects aggregate losses of approximately US$275 million within its 2015 results, related to storms Desmond, Eva and Frank in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Photo: @lborouniPR.

As a result of the adverse nat cat experience and the high level of large current accident year claims, Zurich now expects the General Insurance business to report an operating loss of approximately US$100 million for Q4 2015. Zurich will provide further information on the drivers of the fourth quarter General Insurance results, an update on the actions under way as a result of the General Insurance review and expectations for 2016 with the Group’s annual results, expected to be released on Feb. 11.

Based on preliminary estimates, Zurich said that it expects aggregate losses of approximately US$275 million within its 2015 results, related to storms Desmond, Eva and Frank in the U.K. and Ireland. The storm events in late 2015 brought heavy rainfall and caused severe flooding parts of North England, Scotland and Ireland, Zurich noted in a statement.

The estimates are net of reinsurance and before tax and will be recorded in the Group’s annual results. “While these amounts represent Zurich’s current best estimate of the cost for the above events, the nature of many of the losses and the extended remediation period to complete repairs means that the final cost remains uncertain,” the statement said.

In addition to the U.K. and Ireland floods, there have been a number of other natural catastrophe events in the quarter, including a tornado in Australia.

Further, Zurich said, it has continued to experience a very high level of large current accident year losses in the fourth quarter. These large losses mainly relate to a large credit and surety loss, and several significant property claims, principally impacting Global Corporate and certain European countries. “The profitability of business underwritten in 2015 continues to impact results, but this will improve over the course of 2016 as the steps taken to reduce exposure to large losses take effect,” Zurich said.

The insurer also said that it has “accelerated a number of steps in its efficiency program, with an aim of exceeding the previously communicated cost savings target for 2016 of US$300 million.” This should result in charges of approximately US$475 million in Q4, primarily within General Insurance. The Group also anticipates incurring a one-time impairment charge attributable to the write-off of its German Life business goodwill of approximately US$230 million. These charges will be recorded outside of fourth quarter business operating profit.

“While the 2015 results for General Insurance are disappointing,” Zurich concluded, “operating performance for both Farmers and Global Life should be in line with expectations, and the Group’s capital position remains very strong across all key metrics.”


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