JLT Re has announced the acquisition of StoneHill Reinsurance Partners LLC (StoneHill), a reinsurance intermediary specializing in Medical Professional Liability based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

TRUST Re achieved gross written premium of USD 374.3 million compared with USD 384.2 million reached in the equivalent period twelve months ago. At the same time, the Company reported USD 15.7 million profit at the end of the third quarter.

A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of "aa-" of Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd (Switzerland) and its affiliates. At the same time, A.M. Best has affirmed the related Long- and Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR; Short-Term IR) of Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd and its subsidiaries. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Belarusian National Reinsurance Organisation's (Belarus Re) Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) Rating at 'B-'. The Outlook is Stable.

Following the approval of its Euro Medium Term Note Programme (EMTN Programme), EUROHOLD Bulgaria issued successfully the first tranche under the programme on December 15, 2016.

Newline Insurance Company Ltd., which is ultimately owned by Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., announced Tuesday it has received regulatory approval to open a new branch office in Cologne. Newline, which writes international casualty and cargo coverage, is part of Fairfax-owned Odyssey Re Holdings Corp., based in Stamford, Conn.

A.M. Best is holding its outlook for the reinsurance sector at negative, citing the continued market challenges that will hinder the potential for positive rating actions over time and may eventually translate into negative rating pressures. As compression continues bearing down on investment yields and underwriting margins, the strain on profitability is evident in reduced risk-adjusted returns.

Austrian insurer UNIQA announced the Management Board resolved to sell the majority interest of 99.7% in its subsidiary UNIQA Assicurazioni SpA to the Italian mutual insurance company Societa Reale Mutua di Assicurazioni. The purchase price is of EUR 295 million before transaction costs.

CROATIA Osiguranje announced on December 12th that it has received the neccesary approval to perform in non-life reinsurence field. According to the Zagreb Stock Exchange website, the company received the approval of HANFA - (Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency) on December 9.

"Despite the ongoing difficult situation in the economy, which affected the insurance sector as well, Belarus Re in its anniversary year continues marked dynamic development. Thus, financial results have confirmed the company's solvency and reliability among the global leading reinsurers", pointed out Andrei UNTON, General Director, Belarus Re for XPRIMM.

From 1 January 2018, ALLIANZ will be the new insurance partner of HypoVereinsbank (UniCredit Bank AG), a press release of the German insurer announced on 13 December. Bank's retail and corporate customers will benefit from the broad range of ALLIANZ products and services. Customers will have access to advisers from both entities for holistic and needs-oriented consultation.

Total economic losses from natural and man-made disasters in 2016 were at least USD 158 billion. This is significantly higher than the USD 94 billion losses in 2015 and was caused by large natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes and floods, according to preliminary sigma estimates, reads a Swiss Re press release. Insured losses were also higher in 2016 at around USD 49 billion, compared to USD 37 billion in the previous year.

After recently acquiring two corporate brokers - AUCTOR SOLLERS and INTERISK -, GrECo JLT Serbia may become the number one insurance broker in Serbia. The company will be headed by Dusanka TALIC, owner and director of INTERISK. Furthermore, Igor RAICEVIC joins the board and is responsible for Finance & Administration. Dorde MANDIC and Srdan BOSKOVIC, owners of AUCTOR SOLLERS, will support GrECo JLT Serbia as partners.

Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) got the final regulatory purchase agreement, thus closing on 30 November the acquisition of the non-life company AXA Nezivotno Osiguranje a.d.o. Beograd and life company AXA Zivotno Osiguranje a.d.o. Beograd. The share purchase agreement was signed in July 2016.

Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC (MMA), the middle market agency subsidiary of Marsh, today announced it has acquired Presidio Benefits Group, a San Francisco-based employee benefits consulting firm. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Generali is seeking EUR180mn of cat bond cover for its motor third-party liability book through a Dublin-based special purpose vehicle called Horse Capital I DAC, sources told sister publication Trading Risk. ‎

Anthony BRADSHAW, Member of the Board of ALLIANZ Italy, will take over as the Chief Executive of ALLIANZ BENELUX, effective April 1, 2017, as the german insurance group announced in a press release.

POOL Re announced on November 24th, the appointment of Stephen BURR, Head of Actuarial Services. "This is a new position which had previously been fulfilled by an external consultant. BURR takes up his role with immediate effect and will report to Steve COATES, our Chief Underwriting Officer."

WILLIS Re, the reinsurance division of WILLIS TOWERS WATSON, announced the appointment of Ronnie CARROLL as Head of Structured Solutions for Europe West and Senior UK Client Advisor. He will report directly to Alkis TSIMARATOS, Managing Director, Head of Europe West.

UNIQA Group Austria announced its 3Q2016 premiums written fell by 2.3% y-o-y to EUR 4.75 billion "due to the reduction in single premium business in the life insurance segment in line with planning. While recurring Group premiums rose by 1.9% to EUR 3.94 billion, single premiums in life insurance fell by 18.8% to EUR 803.7 million".