Reinsurance

• Offshore Insurer Tax Debate Revived with Introduction of House, Senate Bills

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 22, 2013

  The fault lines between domestic and offshore insurers again opened due to bills in the House and Senate of legislation that would reduce the tax benefits foreign insurers receive by ceding U.S. property and casualty premiums to their foreign affiliates.

• Emerging Markets Stoking Insurance Growth: Munich Re

  By Jonathan Gould, Reuters  |  May 16, 2013

  Emerging markets will see the highest growth in premiums for insurance companies this year and next, while Europe lags, according to the world's biggest reinsurer, Munich Re.

• Aon: April 2013 Insured Storm Losses Half 2012; Tornadoes Down

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 9, 2013

  This year’s April storm losses were significantly lighter than the past two years when record number of tornadoes touched down in the U.S. causing billions of dollars in damage, according to Aon Benfield.

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  RMS CEO: New Risk Management Platform to 'Crush Latency'

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 9, 2013

  Risk Management Solutions has unveiled a new, open platform it says will enable insurers to manage models and exposures in minutes rather than months.

• As Cat Bond Market Evolves, Investors Break from Traditional Market Pricing

  By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 8, 2013

  Interest in the catastrophe-bond market is picking up, the investor base is expanding, and “non-traditional” capacity is pushing down reinsurance-renewal pricing as institutional investors show a willingness to break from price levels set by the traditional market, a new report says.

• Low Damage Claims Help Munich Re Beat Expectations in Q1

  By Reuters  |  May 7, 2013

  Munich Re reported forecast-beating net profit of $1.3 billion in the first quarter as low damage claims offset an 11 percent drop in income from investments.

• Berkshire Hathaway Income Up 49%; Insurance Earnings Strong

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 6, 2013

  Berkshire Hathaway says its first-quarter net income rose 49 percent on the strong performance of its insurance businesses, and the company says it has the capacity and desire to write more business.

• P&C Carriers Add Jobs in March; Agent/Broker Employment Continues to Decline

  By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 6, 2013

  Property and Casualty carriers added 900 jobs in March -- a month that saw employment shrink in most other sectors of the insurance industry, according to an analysis of the latest figures from the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• XL Q1 Net Income Soars; CEO IDs Factors Beyond Low Losses

  By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 3, 2013

  XL Group’s 2013 first-quarter net income nearly doubled compared to the same period a year ago as operating income soared thanks to lower levels of large losses.

• Endurance Q1 Net Income Jumps 23.8% on Lower Catastrophe Losses

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 3, 2013

  Endurance reports $92.1 million in net income at the close of the year’s first quarter—a $17.7 million increase in net income compared to the first quarter of 2012.

• Swiss Re Enjoys Solid Q1; P&C Re Results Increase

  By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 2, 2013

  Swiss Re says its 2013 first-quarter net income climbed to $1.4 billion, compared to $1.1 billion for the same period a year ago, with improvements in the group’s property and casualty reinsurance business acting as a key driver for the results.

• RenRe Q1 Net Income Down on Lower Underwriting, Investment Income

  By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 2, 2013

  RenaissanceRe reports 2013 first-quarter net income fell to $190.5 million compared to $201.4 million for the same period a year ago, as decreases in underwriting income, written premiums and investment income offset an improvement in weather and energy risk-management operations.

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  Markel Closes Alterra Deal and Opens Large-Commercial, Reinsurance Units

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 1, 2013

  Markel Corp. says it has completed its $3 billion buy of Alterra Capital Holdings and reports a 54.7 percent increase in first quarter profit.

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  Half Full, or Half Empty?

  By Bonnie Cavanaugh  |  May 1, 2013

  In a development that is eliciting some mixed feelings, some $35 billion in capital has recently entered the reinsurance market from hedge funds and pension funds. Soom see it as a boon for reinsurance clients, but others remain cautious.

• PartnerRe Net Income Tumbles 35%; Arch Group Up 56%

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 30, 2013

  Two Bermuda reinsurers reported sharply different earnings as PartnerRe says first quarter net income fell 35 percent on investment declines while Arch Capital Group saw its net income grow 56 percent as its reinsurance business grew.

• Bermuda Insurers See Improved Q1 Combined Ratios, Higher Net Income

  By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 26, 2013

  Three Bermuda insurers reported higher first-quarter earnings as combined ratios improved thanks in part to lower catastrophe losses.