First Up & Down Chart 2024–2025: Solvency II SCR Ratios for 20 EU & UK Groups
Solvency II Wire released the first “Up & Down” chart comparing Solvency II SCR ratios for 20 European and UK insurance groups between 2024 and 2025. The visual ranks firms by percentage change in their SCR ratio, highlighting capital‑strength shifts independent of absolute size. Seven insurers posted higher SCR ratios year‑on‑year, including two UK groups, while the remaining firms saw declines. The data are drawn from each company’s 2024 and 2025 SFCR filings.
Antitrust: The Implications of Regulatory Termination Fee Insurance
Regulatory Termination Fee (RTF) insurance is an emerging product that moves the risk of reverse termination fees from buyers to insurers. The policy’s premium is typically modest, leaving buyers only a small deductible. By insulating buyers from the full fee,...
Michael J. Epstein: No Forewarning Necessary? The AI Line the Courts Are Drawing—And Why It Won’t Stay Put
Gartner’s latest report warns that AI-related incidents are accelerating, with "death by AI" lawsuits projected to surpass 2,000 worldwide by the end of 2026. Traditional commercial policies are increasingly carving out AI liabilities, leaving firms exposed to costly claims. To...
The BALANCE Model, GLP-1 Coverage, and the Peptide Regulatory Collision: What Every Health Tech Operator and Investor Needs to Know...
CMS launched the BALANCE Model, a voluntary 1115A demonstration that waives the Part D exclusion on weight‑loss drugs and negotiates a net price of $245 per month for GLP‑1s such as Zepbound, Ozempic and Wegovy. To trigger a Medicare rollout...
What Insurers Want to See: Practical Steps to Reduce Your Cyber Insurance Costs
Law firms that adopt measurable cybersecurity practices can lower cyber‑insurance premiums and secure more favorable policy terms. Insurers now price risk based on behavior—such as multifactor authentication, password hygiene, and employee phishing training—rather than merely cataloguing technology stacks. Ongoing system...
Facultative Reinsurance Expands Role in Asia Pacific as Insurers Pursue Growth and Stability: Aon
Aon’s Q1 2026 analysis shows facultative reinsurance usage climbing across Asia Pacific as insurers chase growth and hedge volatility. The flexible cover enables higher limits and entry into emerging sectors such as data centres, renewable energy, and war‑risk marine cargo....
Eiopa Sets Out Technical Specifications for Small and Non-Complex Insurers
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (Eiopa) has published detailed technical specifications aimed at small and non‑complex insurers across the EU. The guidelines outline streamlined reporting templates, risk‑assessment methodologies, and proportional supervisory expectations. They also introduce a simplified Solvency...
The Baldwin Group Launches Member-Owned Captive for Construction Clients
The Baldwin Group, together with Innovative Captive Strategies, has launched Azimuth Re, Ltd., a member‑owned group captive designed for construction firms. The captive targets contractors that spend $250,000 or more each year on workers’ compensation, general liability and auto premiums...
Fuse Introduces Contractors and Construction Vertical to Expand Insurance Intelligence Platform
Fuse, an AI‑driven commercial insurance intelligence platform, has added a Contractors and Construction vertical that aggregates real‑time data across General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Builder’s Risk, Surety, Professional Liability and Pollution lines. The launch follows a surge of three $10 million‑plus verdicts...
Marsh Risk’s Cyber ECHO Facility Now Offers up to $200m of Insurance Capacity
Marsh Risk has expanded its Cyber ECHO facility to offer up to $200 million of insurance capacity, making it the largest cyber‑risk facility worldwide. Launched in 2016, the platform now supports more than $55 billion of coverage for over 1,500 clients across...
ARPC Cyclone Reinsurance Pool Claim Payments Exceed $1bn
Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC) has paid more than AU$1 billion (≈US$660 million) in cyclone reinsurance claims since the pool launched in July 2022. The payouts cover 20 declared cyclones and support households, small‑medium enterprises and strata owners across northern Australia. Created...
Indian April 1 Renewal One of the Most Competitive in Recent Years: Guy Carpenter
India’s insurers enjoyed one of the most competitive April 1 renewal cycles on record, with risk‑adjusted rates dropping 20‑30% for non‑proportional excess‑of‑loss (XoL) lines. The softening was driven by a surge in local reinsurance capacity, especially after the establishment of GIFT...
Rising U.S. Legal Volatility Undermines Insurers’ Ability to Price Risk: Swiss Re’s Ningen
Swiss Re’s U.S. P&C chief Monica Ningen warned that escalating legal volatility is eroding insurers’ ability to price risk. Commercial liability losses surged to $143 billion in 2023, outpacing natural‑catastrophe losses. The frequency of "nuclear" verdicts—awards over $100 million—rose 33% from 2022,...
Climate and Sustainability Roundup: Policy Push Progresses on Protection Gaps
Swiss Re reports the global insurance protection gap fell to a record low in 2025, with 49% of the estimated $220 bn in natural‑catastrophe losses covered by insurance. The improvement reflects stronger industry participation, yet large uninsured portions persist, especially in...
Maryland Legislators Consider State Registry for Captives
Maryland lawmakers are moving a bill that would compel the Maryland Insurance Administration to conduct a comprehensive study of captive insurance entities operating in the state. The study could pave the way for a formal state registry of captives, mirroring...
Australian Regulator Imposes Capital Add-On to Sovereign Insurance
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has imposed a A$2 million (US$1.4 million) capital add‑on on Sovereign Insurance Australia (SIA) due to a heightened risk profile. APRA identified serious deficiencies in SIA’s risk‑management framework, operational risk handling, and regulatory reporting. The insurer,...
Steve Jobs and The Garden of Apples
The post promotes a niche insurance product that pays investors when stock markets decline, citing an example where a $200 investment grew to $2,000 during a downturn. It offers a free, limited‑time guide that walks users through the strategy without...
The Continuing Rise of Collective and Mass Actions Outside the U.S.
Collective and mass actions are rapidly expanding beyond the United States, with hundreds of securities class or group lawsuits filed since 2021 across Europe, Australia, and the Asia‑Pacific. The European Union’s new collective redress directive and the United Kingdom’s opt‑out...
The CY 2027 MA Rate Announcement as an Entrepreneur’s Prospectus
CMS released the CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D rate announcement on April 6, 2026, confirming a 2.48% net average payment increase—about $13 billion more than 2026. Beyond the headline, the rule introduces several operational mandates: unlinked chart‑review diagnoses are excluded from...
The CY 2027 Final Rule Is Out. What Changed, What's New, and Why It Matters If You Sell to Health...
CMS released the Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule, rolling back four health‑equity requirements, removing 11 of 12 STAR measures and adding a depression‑screening metric, and inserting supplemental‑benefit provisions from the prior year’s proposal. The agency also...
Considering Fraud Risk and Appetite
The article argues that fraud risk appetite is rarely expressed in pure monetary terms; instead, firms rely on percentages, trends, and cost‑benefit analysis. It cites three real‑world cases—a head‑of‑sales whose fraud was tolerated for revenue reasons, a convenience‑store chain that...
China Captive Activity Driven by Economic Conditions, Global Expansion
Chinese companies are accelerating the creation of captive insurers as macroeconomic headwinds and a push for global expansion reshape risk strategies, according to Ludan Wang of Datong International. Historically, China lagged behind regional Asian peers and far behind the United...
Non-Life Insurers and Reinsurers Drives Growth at India’s GIFT City
Insurance and reinsurance premium volumes at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) surged from $102 million in 2020 to $1.2 billion in 2025, an over 11‑fold increase. The expansion is driven primarily by non‑life lines such as trade credit, marine and aviation...
Zenkyoren Launches Guernsey-Based Reinsurer to Diversify Risk Portfolio
Japan's leading mutual insurer JA Kyosai, operating as Zenkyoren, has launched a Guernsey‑based reinsurance subsidiary, Zenkyoren Re Ltd, managed by Aon Insurance Managers. The new entity will initially underwrite overseas natural catastrophe risks for International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation...
Yuzu Health, General Catalyst, and the Quiet Bet on Health Insurance Plumbing
Yuzu Health announced a $35 million Series A round co‑led by General Catalyst and Chemistry, bringing total capital to $40 million. The startup operates a vertically integrated third‑party administrator (TPA) that has built its entire software stack in‑house, processing over $1 billion in claims...
U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead
SEC Chair Paul Atkins will unveil a proposal this April to let public companies file semi‑annual instead of quarterly reports, a move that has drawn opposition from major asset managers such as BlackRock and Fidelity. Meanwhile, House Financial Services Chair...
Later Acts that Are Not “Wrongful” Don’t Bar D&O Run-Off Coverage
A New York federal court ruled that subsequent acts after a run‑off policy cut‑off date do not bar coverage unless they are unlawful. Judge Jed Rakoff found AmTrust’s 2019 preferred‑share delisting was a lawful corrective disclosure, so the insurer’s reliance...
Specialty AI Insurance Emerges as Key Tool to Tamp Down Risk
Specialty AI insurance is gaining traction as firms grapple with a wave of algorithmic failures and mounting regulatory scrutiny. Insurers are increasingly carving out AI exclusions from standard policies, prompting the launch of dedicated AI coverage products. Gartner analyst Alissa...
The Sequence Opinion #836: Insurance for AI Agents ? Not as Crazy as You Think
Software engineering is undergoing a paradigm shift as developers increasingly rely on large language models to write code through natural‑language prompts, a practice dubbed “vibe coding.” By 2026, these models are capable of autonomous, multi‑step research loops, evolving into “vibe...
Headline Vs. Study, Economics Edition
A JAMA research letter examined the CMS BALANCE model, estimating that treating 550,000 to 3.6 million Medicare beneficiaries with semaglutide could generate savings sufficient to offset program costs. The study presented a range of possible budget outcomes and concluded that additional...
How Autonomous Technology Will Change Trucking Liability Law
The rise of autonomous trucking technology is reshaping liability law, moving responsibility from solely the driver to a broader set of parties including OEMs, software developers, and carriers. As Level 4 trucks automate driving functions, courts are likely to see more...
Liberty Mutual Unveils New Leadership Structure to Align Global Risk and Capital Capabilities
Liberty Mutual announced a new leadership structure that places Global Risk Solutions (GRS) and Liberty Mutual Investments (LMI) under the strategic oversight of Vlad Barbalat, who will also remain Chief Investment Officer. Matthew Moore stays President of GRS, while Adam Winn and...
D&O Insurance: Not a “Securities Claim” If No Securities of the “Company” Involved
A Maryland district court dismissed Supernus Pharmaceuticals' attempt to secure D&O insurance coverage for an antitrust lawsuit, holding the claim did not qualify as a “Securities Claim” under the policy. The court focused on the policy’s definition, which requires the...
The Infinite Game of Land Underwriting
Land investors are discovering that relying on a simple average price‑per‑acre can misprice deals, especially in volatile markets like East Texas where comparable sales range from $4,000 to $7,500 per acre. The author outlines a 1‑to‑5 scoring system that weights...
ARPC CUO Mike Pennell to Retire After Long-Standing Service
The Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC) announced that Chief Underwriting Officer Michael “Mike” Pennell will retire later this year after more than two decades of service. Pennell was instrumental in building and managing the national Terrorism Reinsurance Pool and later...
Santam Syndicate 1918 Appoints Nigel Tatlock as Head of Property
Santam Group has appointed veteran underwriter Nigel Tatlock as Head of Property for its newly launched Lloyd’s syndicate 1918, which received underwriting permission in late 2025 and will commence business on January 1, 2026. Tatlock arrives with more than four...
Chubb Is Excluding the Risk Its Own CEO Says AI Will Solve
Carriers are formally excluding generative AI liabilities from commercial general liability policies, with Verisk/ISO endorsements taking effect on January 1, 2026. At least six major insurers, including WR Berkley, AIG and Great American, have filed AI exclusion endorsements with state...
D&O Lessons From the Beyond Meat SCA
A securities class action filed in January 2026 accuses Beyond Meat’s board and executives of misleading investors by failing to disclose a material asset impairment before the third quarter of 2025. Plaintiffs allege the company continued to tout cost‑reduction initiatives...
Telematics and Trust: The UBI Revolution
In 2024, more than 21 million U.S. drivers—representing a 28% compound annual growth since 2018—are sharing telematics data with insurers, moving usage‑based insurance (UBI) from niche to mainstream. Trust has become the primary catalyst, with 53% of policyholders expressing high confidence...
The Gold Standard of Care: Why Comprehensive Insurance Is Vital for Modern Boarding Businesses
The pet boarding sector has shifted from basic kennels to upscale hospitality, raising client expectations and operational complexity. As services expand to grooming, medical care, and digital bookings, the range of potential liabilities widens dramatically. Comprehensive insurance—including liability, Care Custody...
ACM’s SportGuard Programme to Be Utilised Across Array of Sports
Alliance Captive Management (ACM) has launched its SportGuard programme, initially built for equestrian events, with a strategic plan to extend it across a broad spectrum of sporting venues. The captive‑backed solution offers a streamlined approach to managing participant accident exposure,...
Ardonagh’s Orvia Underwriting Strengthens Leadership Team with Senior Hires
Ardonagh’s newly launched pan‑European MGA, Orvia Underwriting, announced six senior appointments, including Paul Nolan as Chief Underwriting Officer, Werner Richter as Managing Director for Germany, Ivan Mullen as Chief Technology Officer, Caolán O’Callaghan as Chief Actuary, Sharna Bullen as Director...
Kairos Risk Solutions Acquires Molto Re, Names Josh Madson as MD, North America
Singapore‑based Kairos Risk Solutions announced the acquisition of Molto Re, a boutique reinsurance adviser, to strengthen its North American presence. The deal brings Molto Re’s client relationships and specialized expertise into Kairos’ portfolio, complementing its AI‑driven risk solutions. Concurrently, Josh...
Jan 1 Themes Persist at April Renewals as Property Cat Rate Decreases Accelerate: Gallagher Re
Gallagher Re’s April 1 reinsurance renewals show Japanese property catastrophe programmes ran loss‑free, prompting risk‑adjusted rate cuts of 15‑17.5%. Across other regions, property cat rates fell 7.5‑25%, accelerating the declines first seen on Jan 1. Buyers seized the soft market to reshape...
Fitch Upgrades Athora’s IFS Ratings to A+ Following PIC Acquisition
Fitch Ratings upgraded Athora Life Re Ltd. and its parent entities to an A+ Insurer Financial Strength rating and to an A long‑term issuer default rating, following the completion of its acquisition of Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC). The agency said...
In Support of Insurance Reform in Hawaii
United Policyholders testified before Hawaii legislators supporting Senate Bill 2964, which aims to curb widespread homeowner underinsurance revealed after the Maui wildfires. The bill does not mandate higher coverage levels but requires insurers to provide clear, up‑to‑date cost estimates for...
DNV Outlines Foundations for Achieving Trustworthy AI
DNV released a position paper outlining how traditional risk‑management principles can be adapted to assure AI‑enabled systems in safety‑critical industries. The research emphasizes a continuous, lifecycle‑wide assurance model that captures the full AI ecosystem, from data and algorithms to human...
GenAI Takes Underwriting Into a New Phase
Generative AI is reshaping property‑and‑casualty underwriting by accelerating quote turnaround, automating data‑driven decisions, and embedding capital‑allocation logic directly into the underwriting workflow. Insurers are moving from annual portfolio reviews to monthly or even weekly cycles, using AI to continuously align...
April 2026 ITL FOCUS: Underwriting
Generative AI, first introduced to underwriting in late 2022, has rapidly accelerated efficiency by automating data collection and triaging submissions. Recent AI agents now perform actions on behalf of underwriters, enabling continuous underwriting that flags real‑time changes such as a restaurant...
Ci DataHub: New Sponsored Captive Among Utah’s Latest Additions
Utah’s regulator approved two new captives in March—Whitecap Assurance, LLC on March 3 and Cassandra Assurance, Inc. on March 24—bringing the state’s 2024 total to six formations. The approvals include Utah’s first licensed cell company, expanding the market’s structural options. Utah’s favorable...