Latest QBE Headlines

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

Best Upgrades QBE Optima’s Ratings to ‘A-‘; Outlook Stable

Aug 16 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “a-” from “bbb” of QBE Optima Insurance Company,...

QBE Launches Packaged Protection for Business Owners

Aug 9 2012 // QBE is now offering business owners protection all in one package. Owners of small- to medium-sized companies may now insure their businesses and business vehicles, and provide workers’ compensation to their...

Florida Court OK with Insurer Not Following Hurricane Deductible Notice to a ‘T’

Jun 18 2012 // The failure to strictly follow the requirements for providing policyholders with information about their hurricane deductible does not mean the deductible is unenforceable, Florida’s high court has ruled.The Florida...

Florida Court: No Penalty for Insurer Not Following Deductible Disclosure to a ‘T’

Jun 6 2012 // The failure to strictly follow the requirements for providing policyholders with information about their hurricane deductible does not mean the deductible is unenforceable, Florida’s high court has ruled.The Florida...

QBE Expands Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Apr 20 2012 // QBE is expanding its offering of employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) for small- and medium-sized businesses that want easy and affordable protection. Among QBE’s enhanced EPLI offerings is access to an...

QBE Forming Global Reinsurance Business – QBE Re

Mar 8 2012 // The QBE Insurance Group announced that it is combining its worldwide reinsurance operations under a single management team and unified brand, QBE Re. The new reinsurer will “comprise the current statutory businesses...

HSBC Sells General Insurance Business to AXA, QBE for $914 Million

Mar 7 2012 // HSBC has agreed to sell its general insurance businesses to French insurer AXA Group and Australia’s QBE Insurance Group for $914 million in cash, as Europe’s biggest bank moves ahead with its plan to divest...

HSBC Close to $1B Insurance Sale to AXA, QBE: Reuters

Mar 1 2012 // British bank HSBC Holdings Plc is nearing a deal to sell its general insurance business for about $1 billion, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, with French insurer AXA SA and Australia’s QBE Insurance...

Best Sees No Ratings Change for QBE Despite Lowered Profit Estimates

Jan 24 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has commented that the ratings of Australia’s QBE Insurance Group Limited and its main insurance subsidiaries are unchanged following the market update issued by QBE on...

Australia’s QBE Slashes 2011 Forecast; Shares Dive

Jan 12 2012 // Australia’s QBE Insurance Group said on Thursday its 2011 net profit would fall by as much as 50 percent after record catastrophe claims and it would cut its final dividend, sending its shares down as much as a...

Australia’s QBE Insurance Shares Halted; Balboa Concerns Cited

Jan 12 2012 // Shares in QBE Insurance Group, Australia’s top insurer, were placed in a trading halt on Thursday ahead of the release of its preliminary 2011 results and amid concerns about an investigation into over-charging...

Ratings: QBE Del Istmo, Asia Capital Re, Lloyd’s Syndicate 570 (Atrium)

Jan 9 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” to Panama-based QBE Del Istmo Reinsurance Inc, Del Istmo Assurance Corp and Liffey...

Lloyd’s Ascot in Underwriting Deal for Power Generation with Brit, QBE, Sciemus

Jan 4 2012 // lloyd’s insurer Ascot Underwriting Ltd. announced that it has formed the Strategic Power Consortium, which it described as a “dedicated technical underwriting vehicle for the power and utilities...

QBE to Acquire Puerto Rico-based Optima Insurance Group

Dec 22 2011 // The QBE Insurance Group announced that it has agreed to acquire Optima Insurance Group, an underwriting group in Puerto Rico that posted an estimated $100 million in gross written premium in 2011.QBE said the...

Best Affirms QBE’s US Subsidiaries Ratings; Upgrades North Pointe

Oct 13 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a+” from “a-” of Harrisburg,...

Best Affirms QBE and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable

Oct 12 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe)...

Best Removes Balboa Insurance and Members Ratings from ‘Under Review’

Oct 11 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings of “a” of Balboa Insurance Group...

Ratings: Commerce Protective, Stonington/Lantana, Farmers Mutual, One Beacon Lloyd’s, Texas Medical

Sep 8 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘B+’ (Good) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to ‘bbb-‘ from ‘bbb’ of Pennsylvania-based Commerce...

Travelers UK Names Sawyer Professional Indemnity Manager

Sep 7 2011 // Travelers UK branch announced that David Sawyer has been appointed Assistant General Manager responsible for the management of the professional indemnity portfolio for Travelers Insurance Company Ltd. He joins Travelers...

QBE 1st Half Net Profits up 53% to US$673 Million

Aug 19 2011 // QBE, Australia’s global insurance group, announced a 53 percent increase in the half year net profit after tax of US$673 million. The group noted that this figure was “within the range provided to the market on...