Latest Bermuda Headlines

All the headlines from our Bermuda Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Max Capital Wins Court Ruling Dismissing Validus Expedition Request

May 15 2009 // The Bermuda-based Max Capital Group Ltd. Has won a skirmish in its fight with Validus Holdings over the acquisition of IPC Re when the Bermuda Supreme Court dismissed the application by Validus to expedite its suit against...

Best Rates Lloyd’s Syndicates 382 (Hardy) and 1225 (AEGIS)

May 8 2009 // Syndicate 382 – Hardy Underwriting A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A ‘(Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 382,...

Validus Offers ‘Three-Part Plan’ to Expedite Acquisition of IPC Holdings

May 1 2009 // In the latest round of the fight for control of IPC Holdings, Bermuda-based Validus Holdings outlined a three-part plan to acquire IPC, which, it said, would “allow IPC shareholders to obtain the benefit of...

Validus Files Lawsuit against IPC Holdings and Max Capital

Apr 29 2009 // Bermuda-based Validus Holdings, Ltd. has fired another salvo in its attempt to derail the planned amalgamation of IPC Re with the Max Capital Group (See IJ web site –...

Ratings Recap: Steamship Mutual, AXA Ireland, Hang Seng, Tapiola

Apr 8 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its ‘BBB+’ long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings to U.K.-based marine insurer Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association...

Max Capital CEO Says Deal for IPC Better than Validus’ Offer

Apr 3 2009 // Max Capital Group’s deal to merge with rival IPC Holdings offers shareholders a better long-term deal than an unsolicited offer from Validus Holdings, Chief Executive Marston Becker said Thursday.Max’s deal is...

EU Contributes $17 Million to Caribbean Cat Risk Insurance Facility

Mar 26 2009 // The European Union has joined the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility’s (CCRIF) 16 member governments – Canada, the World Bank, the United Kingdom, Bermuda, Ireland, France and the Caribbean...

Best Affirms ACE Limited and Subsidiaries ‘A+’ Ratings

Mar 23 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Bermuda-based ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd. and ACE Tempest Reinsurance...

Ratings Recap: Everest Re (Notes), Int’l. Hannover, China Int’l., Transmonde

Mar 20 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that its ratings on Bermuda-based Everest Re Group Ltd. and its U.S.-based intermediary holding company, Everest Reinsurance Holdings Inc. (both rated ‘BBB+’...

Ratings Recap: Everest Re, NIPPONKOA, Sompo, Evergreen Re, Endurance

Mar 17 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its counterparty credit ratings on Bermuda-based Everest Re Group Ltd. and its U.S.-based intermediary holding company, Everest Reinsurance Holdings Inc., to...

Ratings Recap: Munich Re, Partner Re, IPC Re [S&P, Best], Vienna, Emirates

Mar 5 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has said that its “ratings and outlook on Germany-based global reinsurer Munich Reinsurance Co. (AA-/Stable/–) and core related entities (collectively Munich Re)...

Fitch Report ‘Remains Negative’ on Bermuda Insurance Market

Feb 13 2009 // Fitch Ratings stated in a Special Report today that its Rating Outlook for the Bermuda (re)insurance market remains negative, “reflecting uncertainty tied to the continued highly volatile investment markets and a...

Best Affirms RenRe and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Glencoe Raised to ‘A’

Jan 30 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Bermuda-based Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. (RenRe) and Dublin-based...

Hiscox Comments on Renewals, Investments, Currency, Hurricanes

Jan 27 2009 // Bermuda-based Hiscox Ltd. has issued a summary of the January renewals, its expected investment returns and the effect of currency fluctuations, as well as its hurricane loss estimates.Hiscox said it has “seen good...

London’s Reach Bolsters U.S. Specialty Lines

Jan 25 2009 // Find a need, then fill it,” is a hoary business principle, but making it work is often harder than it looks. However, a number of British insurers have taken it to heart and have built substantial profit centers...

Ratings Roundup: Syndicate 0780, Munich Re Italy, NIPPONKOA, Exchange, Aerial Re, Colonial, Bay Haven

Jan 20 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on the Lloyd’s Syndicate Assessment (LSA) on Advent Underwriting – Syndicate 0780 to stable from positive. S&P also affirmed the...

Ratings Recap: Aspen, Munich Re (Malta), Qatar, Nissan, CMI, Takaful, Int’l.

Dec 23 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Aspen Insurance UK Limited (AIUK) and Bermuda-based Aspen Insurance Limited...

Tower and CastlePoint Set Shareholder Meetings to Approve Merger

Dec 22 2008 // The New York-based insurer Tower Group, Inc. and Bermuda-based CastlePoint Holdings, Ltd. have both fixed a record date and a date for their respective special general meeting for shareholders to consider and vote on the...

Ratings Roundup: Validus Re, IPC Re, Meritz

Dec 19 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Bermuda-based Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. Best also affirmed the ICR of...

Ratings Recap: Eureko, Steamship, QBE (Notes), SOLID

Dec 2 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Netherlands-based Eureko B.V. and related core subsidiaries to negative from stable. S&P also affirmed the ‘A-‘ long-term...