Latest QBE Headlines

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

Ratings: Am. Underwriters, Western General, North Pointe, Ameriprise, Fairfield, R.V.I. Guaranty, Mid Georgia, Hermitage

Aug 29 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B’ (Fair) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a-” from “bb+” of Arkansas’...

QBE’s First Half Results Show Gains

Aug 22 2008 // Australia’s QBE Insurance Group’s financial report for the six months ended June 30, 2008 showed increases in most areas, compared to 2007. QBE cited the following figures: — Insurance profit was up 6...

PMI Group to Sell Australian Operations to QBE

Aug 14 2008 // The California-based PMI Group announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Australian mortgage insurance subsidiary and related Australian holding company to QBE Insurance Group Limited,...

S&P: Affirms QBE’s Ratings; Praetorian Upgraded to Core Status

Jul 2 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its insurer financial strength and counterparty credit ratings on holding company QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (currently rated ‘A-‘) and QBE’s core...

The Reluctant Bride: Insurance Australia Group Rejects QBE’s Latest Offer

Jun 2 2008 // After five weeks of high level discussions, Australia’s QBE Group withdrew its offer to acquire Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG), following the decision of IAG’s board to recommend against accepting the...

Insurance Australia Group CEO Steps Down After Rejection of QBE Bid

May 27 2008 // It didn’t take long for a number of angry shareholders of Insurance Australia Group (IAG) to exert enough pressure to force the summary resignation of CEO Michael Hawker. IAG’s board rejected the A$8.2 billion...

IAG Rejects QBE Proposal as ‘Inadequate’ – Offer Withdrawn

May 21 2008 // Australian insurer QBE Group has withdrawn its offer to acquire Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG), following the decision of IAG’s Board to recommend against accepting the offer. (See IJ web site –...

QBE Ups Offer for IAG; ‘Short of Fair Value’ Says Takeover Target

May 19 2008 // Australia’s QBE Insurance Group tabled a new offer late Friday to take over the Insurance Australia Group (IAG). The “increased final proposal” offers IAG share holders 0.145 QBE shares and 90 cents cash...

Insurance Australia Group Rejects QBE Buyout Bid; Takeover Tussle

Apr 16 2008 // Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has rejected an A$7.4 billion (US$6.9 billion; €4.3 billion) unsolicited bid from rival QBE Insurance Group Ltd. as inadequate, the companies said Tuesday.IAG’s response to...

S&P: QBE, IAG Ratings Unchanged After Rejected Merger Proposal

Apr 16 2008 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that its ‘A+’ ratings on the core operating entities of QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (currently ‘A-‘ with a stable outlook) are unchanged after...

QBE Net Profits up 30% to US$1.786 Billion

Feb 26 2008 // Australia’s QBE Insurance Group announced that operating profit after tax for the year ended 31 December 2007 was up 30 percent to a record A$1.925 billion ($US1.786 billion).Other key highlights for the year were...

Business Moves

Jan 13 2008 // R.E. Chaix & Associates, Katie Freeman Insurance ServicesIrvine, Calif.-based R.E. Chaix & Associates Insurance Brokers Inc. has agreed to purchase Katie Freeman Insurance Services Inc. Neither companies’...

Best Places North Pointe Subsidiaries Ratings Under Review/Positive

Jan 10 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of North Pointe Insurance Company (NPIC) of Michigan, and the FSR of...

QBE Americas to Acquire North Pointe

Jan 4 2008 // Australia’s QBE announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire North Pointe Holdings Corporation, a NASDAQ listed, US-based P/C insurance group. The acquisition is subject to the approval of...

QBE H1 Net up 56% to $740 Million

Aug 20 2007 // Australia’s QBE Insurance Group reported a hefty 56 percent increase in after tax net profit for the half year to June 30, 2007 to a record A$921 million (US$740 million), compared to A$591 million (US$475 million)...

QBE the Americas’ President, CEO John Pollock to Retire

Aug 6 2007 // QBE the Americas has announced that president and CEO John Pollock will retire at year-end after 29 years of service to the company. Pollock will continue as chairman of the General Casualty and Unigard board of directors....

Best Affirms QBE Group Ratings

Jun 26 2007 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited, Australia’s QBE Insurance...

Business Moves

Jun 18 2007 // Blackstone Group, AlliantAlliant Insurance Services Inc., one of the nation’s largest insurance brokerage firms, announced that The Blackstone Group, in partnership with Alliant’s management and employees, will...

Business Moves

Jun 18 2007 // BB&T, ReeseBB&T Insurance Services plans to expand its metro Atlanta operation with the acquisition of Reese Insurance Associates Inc. of Riverdale, Ga., which sells commercial and personal property and casualty...

Ratings Recap: QBE (US); HSBC; Genworth; State Farm; Mystic Re II

Jun 7 2007 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of New York-based QBE Re Group U.S. and its members. Best also removed...