Surplus for the ALIRT P&C Composite rose moderately in the first six months of 2015 as operating earnings, net capital gains and other miscellaneous income were partially offset by sizeable net capital paid out to parent organizations, according to a new report from ALIRT Insurance Research. The research also found that underwriting results, on both a reported and accident year basis, outperformed those of the prior year period given more severe weather-related losses through the first half of 2014. Continued sizeable prior year reserve releases also contributed to the relatively strong underwriting results. In addition, direct and net premium rose slightly on an annualized basis, reflecting the impact of sluggish economic growth and a continued decline in year-over-year price increases.

The ALIRT P&C composite includes 50 large U.S. property and casualty (P&C) insurers, representing approximately 40% of total industry net written and 50% of total industry surplus. The merger and acquisition (M&A) activity within the P&C industry, both in the U.S. and worldwide has had a significant impact on the players. Of particular note, says the report, are the acquisitions made by nontraditional buyers, including two China-based investment funds along with an Italian reinsurance group. Within the Lloyd's market, Chinese, Indian and Arab interests have made inroads through the found of special purpose syndicates or direct investments in existing syndicates.

[Related: Overall, 2014 was a pretty good year for the P&C industry, says ALIRT report]