May 2025

S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its ‘A+’ long-term insurer financial strength and issuer credit ratings on the core operating entities of the Switzerland-based insurance groups Helvetia and Baloise. The credit rating agency also affirmed the ‘A-‘ long-term issuer credit rating on Baloise Holding AG, as well as Helvetia Global Solutions Ltd’s ‘A’ long-term insurer financial…

Independent insurance broker Lockton has announced the appointment of Bård A. Poulsson as International Marine Lead, effective September 1, 2025. Based in Oslo, Poulsson will work to strengthen Lockton’s Global Marine focus on client needs in the Nordic region and our strategic expansion internationally. The executive has over 31 years of marine insurance expertise, relationships…

Global commercial insurance rates fell 3% in the first quarter of 2025, following a 2% decline in Q4’24, marking the third consecutive quarterly decrease after seven years of rising rates, according to Marsh’s Global Insurance Market Index. Marsh noted that this continues the moderating trend first seen in Q1’21, driven by heightened competition in the…

The Ardonagh Group, a large independent insurance distribution platform, has acquired Zurich-based broker SRB Assekuranz Broker AG (SRB). According to Ardonagh, SRB, which focuses on corporate customers, primarily in the industrial sector, shares a long-standing relationship with and will operate as part of MDS Group, its platform for Latin America and Rest of World. Founded…

RLI Corp. has reported an underwriting income of $70.5 million for Q1 2025, on an 82.3% combined ratio, compared to $77.7 million on a 78.5% combined ratio in Q1 2024. In Q1 2025, the Property segment contributed $56.9 million to underwriting income, followed by $11.5 million from the Surety segment and $2.1 million from the…