Analysing a non-life re/insurer can be a complicated process; however some of the most important information is the data in the public accounts. This quick reference guide gives an overview of the more commonly used metrics and ratios. by its nature the guide summarises the descriptions provided.
Read more →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 financial centre’s own version of American Yuppiedom. Mobile phones the size of bricks, red braces, big hair, cocktails of dubious
Read more →This is a technical article reviewing recent actions by S&P in implementing their new criteria on the reinsurance sector. If you are interested in understanding this further, would like further clarification or would like to comment please feel free to mail us at info@litmusanalysis.com. (*/** indicate references
Read more →As S&P continues to roll out ratings reflecting its new insurance criteria, those of Spanish reinsurers Nacional Re and Mapfre Re give a specific illustration of the impact of the sovereign rating. Many market participants have viewed the two reinsurers as fundamentally ‘A’ range security prior to
Read more →The article below refers to Standard & Poor’s (S&P) new criteria document ‘Criteria | Insurance | General: Insurers: Rating Methodology’, dated 7 May 2013. In changing its criteria, S&P’s three stated goals have been to increase transparency, to make the ratings more prospective and to enhance consistency.
Read more →Controversial though they can be, financial strength ratings, and particularly those from S&P and AM Best, continue to be central to the transaction process in reinsurance globally and in many primary markets. The confirmation this week of fundamental changes in S&P’s ratings process is therefore, to borrow
Read more →The challenge that low interest rates pose to the insurance industry seems to be considered as axiomatic. Company leaders, equity analyst and rating agencies all routinely highlight the challenges this causes. For investment related life insurance products; fair enough. Indeed for those life companies that have offered
Read more →Amidst all the furore in the UK around the closures of fire stations and hospital accident and emergency departments (‘A&E’) I remembered a pet theory of mine, which came upon me once in the CII halls in Aldermanbury. If you’ve ever been there you will know that
Read more →This is an article written by Stuart Shipperlee in November 2012, before this blog existed. Nevertheless the content is still relevant and presages potential important news later this year. At its latest seminar this week, S&P confirmed again that rating changes, including some downgrades, are highly likely
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