LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Earlier this spring, Arkansas joined a handful of U.S. states in adopting the new insurance business transfer model called the Insurance Business Transfer (IBT) Act. The law provides insurance companies an organized and efficient process to transfer blocks of insurance business from any jurisdiction to another insurance company in Arkansas, benefiting … [Read more...] about Arkansas Insurance Department Lauds New Insurance Business Transfer Law
Latest Industry News
As the SPAC Market Cools, What Comes Next?
2020 was called the "Year of the SPAC" but 2021 is already on track to surpass it. At the Summer Membership Meeting, Jack Vales, Partner at Dentons, moderated a lively discussion covering all you need to know about the rapid rise of SPACs in the educational session entitled “SPAC-tacular Ascent: The Rise of SPACs.” Fellow Dentons partners Ilan Katz and Ira L. Kotel joined the … [Read more...] about As the SPAC Market Cools, What Comes Next?
Insurance M&A deals reach $24.6B in first-half 2021
“The pace and magnitude of insurance dealmaking continued to accelerate in the first half of the year as sellers look to capitalize on the high valuations driven by strong demand for insurance businesses,” Mark Friedman, PwC insurance deals leader, said in a statement. (Photo: nespixt/Adobe Stock) Five megadeals in the first half of 2021 are just the beginning of what’s … [Read more...] about Insurance M&A deals reach $24.6B in first-half 2021
Reinsurance rate growth to boost run-off market: KBW
According to reports from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW), industry executives are optimistic about the prospects for the run-off reinsurance market, which they say should benefit from rising pricing trends. KBW recently hosted a series of meetings with Florida and Bermuda re/insurance executives about their outlook on various sectors of the market. One of the key … [Read more...] about Reinsurance rate growth to boost run-off market: KBW
Developments in Restructuring Plans and Cross-Class Cram Down: Virgin Active
The English High Court has sanctioned the restructuring plans proposed by the Virgin Active group following a hearing contested by a group of the gym chain's landlords. The decision represents the first use of the restructuring plan procedure, introduced during the summer of 2020, to restructure a lease portfolio, demonstrating the utility of the tool for debtors when … [Read more...] about Developments in Restructuring Plans and Cross-Class Cram Down: Virgin Active
From the Front Lines
On February 2nd Allstate Insurance Company filed the first plans of division in the U.S. market to restructure its insurance operations representing a significant step forward for the insurance industry to expand the application of restructuring mechanisms. The Allstate plans of division were filed with the Illinois Department of Insurance (the “Department”) pursuant to the … [Read more...] about From the Front Lines
The Basic Cybersecurity Controls that Every Company MUST have
When it comes to cybersecurity, companies must not underestimate the importance of basic controls. Employees and employers are exposed in the pandemic-induced work from home environment to new cyber risks, raising the stakes for cyber best practices and education. Cyber criminals typically follow a playbook where they seek out the lowest hanging fruit. They’re attacking … [Read more...] about The Basic Cybersecurity Controls that Every Company MUST have
State Regulatory Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mitigating Risk for Businesses and Individual Insureds
The widespread effects of the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic have been unlike anything the world has experienced in more than a century. Governments worldwide have been forced to grapple with this unprecedented scenario and many have implemented measures aimed not only at curtailing the spread of the virus, but also designed to aid individual insureds and businesses to … [Read more...] about State Regulatory Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mitigating Risk for Businesses and Individual Insureds
How COVID Impacts Insurance in Unforeseen Ways
Having recently marked the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems like an opportune time to consider how the pandemic has impacted the insurance industry. While business interruption (BI) lawsuits (totaling more than 1,500 as of March 31, 2021) have dominated the headlines, the pandemic’s effects stretch far beyond BI claims. Indeed, the pandemic has impacted … [Read more...] about How COVID Impacts Insurance in Unforeseen Ways
Uncertainty > Risk: Lessons for Legal Thought from the Insurance Runoff Market
Abstract: Insurance ideas inform legal thought: from tort law, to health law, to theories of distributive justice. Within legal thought, insurance is often conceived as an ideal type in which insurers distribute determinable risks through contracts that fix the parties’ obligations in advance. This ideal type has normative appeal because, among other reasons, it explains how … [Read more...] about Uncertainty > Risk: Lessons for Legal Thought from the Insurance Runoff Market
SPAC spree presents opportunities for insurance industry
The following is an editorial by Alicja Grzadkowska, senior news editor at Insurance Business. To reach out to Alicja, email her at alicja.grzadkowska@keymedia.com. Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), otherwise known as blank-check firms, have been making waves in the insurance industry lately. You may have seen several notable developments involving SPACs … [Read more...] about SPAC spree presents opportunities for insurance industry
States introduce changes to promote legacy deals for insurance sector
Mergers and acquisitions among ongoing insurance sector companies are triggering more interest in runoff transactions to seal off old liabilities, and the trend has been boosted by legislation in various states seeking to simplify the process. Legislation passed in 2018 in Oklahoma led to the first transaction being approved in the state last year and several other states … [Read more...] about States introduce changes to promote legacy deals for insurance sector
Buoyant insurance M&A market rolls on amid abundant capital, hardening rates
Mergers and acquisitions activity in the insurance sector was strong in 2020 despite COVID-19 and is expected to remain robust in 2021 as rising commercial insurance rates bolster earnings, making insurers attractive targets, and “deployable capital” remains abundant, analysts and others say. Insurance technology investments have also grown, providing another avenue to enter … [Read more...] about Buoyant insurance M&A market rolls on amid abundant capital, hardening rates
DeepOcean: The UK’s First Cross Class Cram Down Restructuring Plan
On 28 January, the English High Court handed down the first ever judgment sanctioning a restructuring plan under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006 (“CA 2006”) (“Plan”) invoking the new cross class cram down procedure introduced into UK law in June 2020. Trower J’s judgment in the DeepOcean restructuring has been highly anticipated, and is the first time the court has set … [Read more...] about DeepOcean: The UK’s First Cross Class Cram Down Restructuring Plan
Premia to acquire Armour Re; secures Aquiline-led equity investment
Reinsurance run-off group, Premia Holdings Ltd., has agreed to acquire Armour Re Ltd., a Bermuda-based P&C legacy reinsurer and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Armour Group Ltd., in an all-share transaction. Armour Group is an Aquiline Capital Partners LLC portfolio company and in concurrence with the acquisition, an investor group led by Aquiline is making a growth equity … [Read more...] about Premia to acquire Armour Re; secures Aquiline-led equity investment
New German Restructuring Regime (StaRUG): An Introductory Guide
The new German stabilizing and out of court restructuring regime came into effect on 1 January 2021. The “Stabilization and Restructuring Framework of Companies Act”, known as StaRUG1 , heralds a new phase in the German restructuring landscape, introducing a framework of tools including a new restructuring plan, which will enable debtors to restructure and cram down minority … [Read more...] about New German Restructuring Regime (StaRUG): An Introductory Guide
Global Insurance Run-off Survey 2021
Welcome to the thirteenth edition of PwC’s Global Insurance Run-off Survey, which has been produced in conjunction with IRLA and AIRROC. The growth in legacy activity predicted in the last edition of this survey has materialised, boosted by significant investment in both new and existing legacy players. The market has maintained its momentum, with over 100 legacy deals publicly … [Read more...] about Global Insurance Run-off Survey 2021
2021 Insurance Outlook: Accelerating recovery from the pandemic while pivoting to thrive
In our 2021 insurance outlook, 200 industry leaders weighed in on their companies’ COVID-19 recovery efforts. How can the emerging lessons serve as a catalyst for business transformation? READ MORE... … [Read more...] about 2021 Insurance Outlook: Accelerating recovery from the pandemic while pivoting to thrive
NAIC Adopts New Rule Allowing Rebating
The NAIC Executive Committee unanimously adopted an amendment to the NAIC Unfair Trade Practices Model Act (Model Law #880) on December 9, 2020. This amendment will allow insurers and producers to “rebate” consumers. With the exception of California and Florida, and until most recently, states have enforced strict anti-rebating laws, considering non-compliance as a serious … [Read more...] about NAIC Adopts New Rule Allowing Rebating
Captive International US Focus 2020
Captive International reports on the increasingly vibrant US legacy market, where captives are divesting themselves of older liabilities to focus on new opportunities. Check out the "Embace your Legacy" article which quotes AIRROC's 2020 Person of the Year, Paul Corver and Executive Director, Carolyn Fahey. READ MORE... … [Read more...] about Captive International US Focus 2020
