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SCOR joins exclusive club with highest S&P ERM score; but what do ERM assessments actually mean?
On the 21st November S&P moved its ‘A+’ rating for SCOR’s core carriers to a positive outlook. A return to the ‘AA’ range would...
Litmus Analysis
Dec 1, 20133 min read
Without fresh capital RSA's S&P rating may be downgraded further to 'A-'
On Wednesday 13th November S&P downgraded RSA’s financial strength rating to ‘A’ from ‘A+’ and placed it on credit-watch negative....
Litmus Analysis
Nov 15, 20133 min read
Reinsurers and GSII: Global, certainly; important, for sure; but ‘systemically’ risky?
The IAIS, with its proposal for additional risk-adjusted capital rules for major re/insurers, seems to be joining the regulatory...
Litmus Analysis
Oct 14, 20133 min read
Lloyd's on the cusp of ‘AA’ range ratings; this could be a game-changer
During the summer both A.M. Best and Fitch assigned ‘positive’ outlooks to their current Lloyd’s market ratings. S&P did so last year....
Litmus Analysis
Sep 19, 20133 min read
The Litmus First XI - Top Tips for Managing the Relationship with your Rating Agency
The Numbers 1. Make sure the agency capital model is completed properly Obvious, but we’ve seen a number of examples where there...
Litmus Analysis
Sep 14, 20133 min read
Litmus Analysis Quick Reference Guide - to non-life re/insurer key metrics and ratios
Analysing a non-life re/insurer can be a complicated process; however some of the most important information is the data in the public...
Litmus Analysis
Sep 11, 20131 min read
The Perils of Ineffective Use of Ratings
This article, in the pdf accessed through the link below, gives guidance to re/insurance practitioners on the basics of ratings and how...
Litmus Analysis
Sep 4, 20131 min read
Reinsurer profitability and the interest rate myth; part 2
Back in March we suggested that the supposed structural link between low investment returns and poor profitability for reinsurers was a...
Litmus Analysis
Aug 13, 20132 min read
International Group of P&I Club Ratings Updated on S&P New Criteria: At Last, Sense has Prevailed.
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) recent release of the details of its review of the ratings of the 11 out of 13 members of the International Group...
Litmus Analysis
Aug 6, 20133 min read
Lloyd’s, Aon, the Berkshire ‘side car’ and the history of the London Market; what really is the strategic concern?
The late ‘80’s was a very particular time and place in the City of London. ‘Big Bang’ and the Lawson boom set the tone for the UK’s...
Litmus Analysis
Jul 8, 20133 min read
Ratings of Catlin, Lancashire, Partner Re and Platinum Underwriters highlight the fundamental impact of ERM vs. capital on S&P’s reinsurer ratings
This is a technical article reviewing recent actions by S&P in implementing their new criteria on the reinsurance sector. If you are...
Litmus Analysis
Jun 29, 20134 min read
Spanish reinsurer rating updates highlight sovereign rating impact and differences between S&P and AM Best
As S&P continues to roll out ratings reflecting its new insurance criteria, those of Spanish reinsurers Nacional Re and Mapfre Re give a...
Litmus Analysis
Jun 23, 20133 min read
Behind the veil - just how transparent can the new Standard & Poor's criteria be?
The article below refers to Standard & Poor’s (S&P) new criteria document ‘Criteria | Insurance | General: Insurers: Rating Methodology’,...
Litmus Analysis
Jun 13, 20136 min read
Is your rating at risk?
Controversial though they can be, financial strength ratings, and particularly those from S&P and AM Best, continue to be central to the...
Litmus Analysis
May 9, 20134 min read
Reinsurer profitability and the interest rate myth
The challenge that low interest rates pose to the insurance industry seems to be considered as axiomatic. Company leaders, equity analyst...
Litmus Analysis
Mar 6, 20132 min read
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