WORLDS BEST INSURERS 2015


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Introduction
Global Winners | World’s Best Insurers 2015
Regional Winners | World’s Best Insurers 2015
Profiles


AVERTING THE FALLOUT FROM DISASTERS

Global Finance presents global and regional winners from the 2015 World’s Best Insurers Awards.

With many businesses, governments and organizations still recovering from major disasters of past years, several catastrophic events and emerging exposures in 2014 brought new challenges for executives at businesses around the world. In this context, businesses have a critical need for insurers and risk providers that can deliver sound risk management to protect earnings, help facilitate growth and ensure sustainability.

This past year alone saw, among other disasters and misfortunes, a continuation of large-scale cyber-related crimes and incidents; an Ebola epidemic in West Africa that required a coordinated international response; the expansion of terror threats throughout the Middle East, Africa and worldwide; the widening of trade sanctions against Russia and North Korea; extensive flooding in Western Europe; cyclones affecting parts of Asia; and a severe hurricane that struck Los Cabos, Mexico.

As businesses and other entities try to anticipate and manage an array of increasingly complex exposures, having the right risk providers continues to be a critical element of effective governance. “Selecting the right risk and insurance providers is a key aspect of most risk managers’ role,” says Franck Baron, group general manager, risk management and insurance at medical and travel security services company International SOS, and founding chairman, Pan Asia Risk & Insurance Management Association. “It is crucial activity as it supports the global risk financing strategy of any organization.”

Baron noted that in choosing insurers and other risk providers, executives need to be cognizant of satisfying evolving “insurance and tax regulatory requirements, compliance and the impact of solvency requirements on the insurance industry worldwide.”

The 2015 World’s Best Global Insurers were selected on the basis of responses from more than 1,500 readers of Global Finance from around the world, as well as the expertise of the magazine’s editors and reporters.

In the global category, AIG was selected as the Best Overall Insurer as well as the Best Insurer for Property and Cyberrisk. Allianz is Best Casualty Insurer and Best Employment Practices Liability Insurer. Lloyd’s was selected as Best Kidnap and Ransom Insurer and Best Environmental Liability Insurer. Chubb is Best Directors and Officers Insurer, and Zurich is Best Political Risk Insurer and Best Crime/Fidelity Insurer. FM Global is Best Supply Chain Trade Disruption Insurer. Euler Hermes is Best Trade Credit Insurer, and Aon is Best Global Insurance Broker.

In addition to the global winners, Global Finance recognized top insurers and best overall brokers in seven regions of the world, including North America, Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.


Jump To Section

Introduction
Global Winners | World’s Best Insurers 2015
Regional Winners | World’s Best Insurers 2015
Profiles


GLOBAL WINNERS

Best Global Property & Casualty Insurer

AIG

Best Global Insurance Broker

Aon

Best Global Casualty Insurer

Allianz

Best Global Property Insurer

AIG

Best Global Environmental Liability Insurer

Lloyd’s

Best Global Political Risk Insurer

Zurich

Best Global Trade Credit Insurer

Euler Hermes

Best Global Supply Chain & Trade Disruption Insurer

FM Global

Best Global Kidnap & Ransom Insurer

Lloyd’s

Best Global Directors and Officers Insurer

Chubb

Best General Employment Practices Liability Insurer

Allianz

Best Global Cyberrisk Insurer

AIG

Best Global Crime/Fidelity Insurer

Zurich


Jump To Section


Introduction
Global Winners | World’s Best Insurers 2015
Regional Winners | World’s Best Insurers 2015
Profiles


REGIONAL WINNERS

North America

Best Primary Property & Casualty
(P&C) Insurer

AIG

Best Broker

Wells Fargo

Western Europe

Best Primary P&C Insurer

Allianz

Best Broker

Marsh

Central and Eastern Europe

Best Primary P&C Insurer

Generali

Best Broker

GrECo JLT

Latin America/Caribbean

Best Primary P&C Insurer

Mapfre

Best Broker

Marsh

Asia-Pacific

Best Primary P&C Insurer

Ping An

Best Broker

Jardine Lloyd Thompson

Middle East

Best Primary P&C Insurer

Oman Insurance

Best Broker

Aon

Africa

Best Primary P&C Insurer

Old Mutual

Best Broker

Ascoma


Jump To Section

Introduction
Global Winners | World’s Best Insurers 2015
Regional Winners | World’s Best Insurers 2015
Profiles


PROFILES

GLOBAL WINNERS

REGIONAL WINNERS

GLOBAL WINNERS

Best Global Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurer: AIG

AIG’s property-casualty business counts most of the Fortune 500, Fortune 1000 and Fortune Global 500 companies among its customers. In 2013, the firm “paid an average of over $100 million in claims each business day.”

Best Global Insurance Broker: Aon

Aon combines global reach with technical expertise, industry specialization and data analytics to help businesses worldwide address increasingly complex and emerging risks. In 2014, Aon created an Ebola Liability Insurance Wrap to help healthcare institutions address potential coverage gaps.

Best Global Casualty Insurer: Allianz

The Allianz Global Claims Review 2014 reported: “Liability claims are becoming more international, complex and costly as awareness of compensation and US-style litigation continues to spread.” Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty provides capacity, industry expertise, underwriters, claims and risk consultants to address increasingly complex liability exposures.

Best Global Property Insurer: AIG

AIG launched a new line of multinational commercial property products with expanded coverage, loss prevention engineering and risk management solutions for midsize businesses with global risks.

Best Global Environmental Liability Insurer: Lloyd’s

With many countries tightening their environmental regulations, several Lloyd’s insurers offer specialty products to cover related exposures. For instance, Lloyd’s market participant Beazley offers site-specific environmental coverage for corporations, as well as professional liability insurance for environmental contractors.

Best Global Political Risk Insurer: Zurich

Companies with investments in developing countries have faced an increased risk of expropriation, confiscation and nationalization from host governments. Zurich provides coverage against such related risks as currency inconvertibility and political violence.

Best Global Trade Credit Insurer: Euler Hermes

The Euler Hermes credit database includes more than 40 million companies, which speeds underwriting and gives clients vital intelligence on trading partners. The insurer maintains a worldwide network of credit analysts.

Best Global Supply Chain Trade Disruption Insurer: FM Global

FM Global’s supply chain solution combines insurance with risk assessments and engineering capabilities at supplier locations. Its Contingent Time Element Extended coverage can provide protection from losses occurring at different tiers of suppliers in a company’s supply chain.

Best Global Kidnap and Ransom Insurer: Lloyd’s

Kidnap & Ransom insurance was pioneered by Lloyd’s to protect individuals and corporations. Hiscox, a leader in K&R, teams with consultant Control Risks to help clients mitigate risks with security advice and decisive on-the-ground action, where necessary.

Best Global Directors and Officers Insurer: Chubb

Executive risk tracks business exposures, including liabilities from mergers and acquisitions. Robert Cox, executive vice president, Chubb & Son, and chief operating officer, Chubb Specialty Insurance, states that the “threat of a data breach has created a new wave” of challenges.

Best Global Employment Practices Liability Insurer: Allianz

Through its worldwide underwriting centers, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty offers employment practices liability and other financial lines insurance for companies ranging from large multinationals to small and medium-size enterprises.

Best Global Cyberrisk Insurer: AIG

As cyberthreats become more complex, AIG continues to expand its solution set, recently adding insurance coverage for property damage and bodily injury exposures. The insurer offers end-to-end solutions to address cyber-exposures.

Best Global Crime/Fidelity Insurer: Zurich

When crimes occur, Zurich’s global claims team works with clients to mitigate the loss and helps them implement processes and best practices to prevent future incidents or help speed up their detection.



REGIONAL WINNERS

North America

Best Primary Property & Casualty (P&C) Insurer: AIG

American International Group had to be bailed out by the US government during the 2008 global financial crisis. But under CEO Robert Benmosche, it appears to be back on track. Its insurance operations, particularly in North America, have remained strong.

Best INSURANCE BROKER: Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo restructured its US insurance brokerage division last year, focusing on larger markets that generate higher revenue. Company leadership said the move was a prelude to growing the business. The company has had success cross-selling insurance to banking customers and managing risks for mid-market employers.

Western Europe

Best Primary P&C Insurer: Allianz

One of the world’s largest insurers remains one of its most innovative. Whether it is launching new marketing partnerships or investing in consumer service technologies, Allianz finds growth. Despite economic weakness in its biggest markets, Allianz’s gross written premiums were up nearly 5% in the third quarter last year. Germany and the United Kingdom were key contributors to the growth.

Best Broker: Marsh

Marsh boasts a 10.5% share of global brokerage revenue. It has major operations in all significant economic regions and provides services for all forms of personal and commercial risk. Operating results for Europe are not reported separately, but the Europe, Middle East, Africa region accounts for more than one-third of Marsh’s total revenues.

Central & Eastern Europe

Best Primary P&C Insurer: Generali

Generali has been forced to bolster its capital position since the financial crisis. Appointed in 2012, Assicurazioni Generali group CEO Mario Greco has raised nearly €4 billion ($4.7 billion) from asset sales and has already hit 2015 targets on solvency and profitability. The company has refocused on core European markets and is increasing its investment across the Central and Eastern European region.

Best Broker: GrECo JLT

Despite tough economic times in the region, GrECo JLT has continued to grow organically and through acquisitions in Central and Eastern Europe. One of the first insurance brokers to set up shop in a formerly communist country (Hungary), the firm has launched offices across the region. The 20% stake in the company purchased by international broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson has broadened the company’s service capabilities.

Latin America/Caribbean

Best Primary P&C Insurer: Mapfre

Since launching operations in Colombia in 1984, the Madrid-based insurer has become the largest nonlife insurer in Latin America, with a 9.5% share of the market in 2013. The region accounts for an increasing share of the company’s business and growth, and CEO Antonio Huertas Mejías plans to invest further in Mexico. Mapfre had a solvency ratio of more than 240% at the end of 2013.

Best Broker: Marsh

With 4,200 employees in Latin America, Marsh has a significant presence in most countries in the region. It maintains relationships with correspondents where it doesn’t have office locations. It is growing organically and through acquisitions in the region—most recently, brokers in Peru, Panama and the Dominican Republic.

Asia-Pacific

Best Primary P&C Insurer: Ping An

Ping An is the fastest-growing P&C insurance company in China since the monopoly of the state-owned People’s Insurance Company of China was dissolved in 1988. After taking losses of nearly $4 billion from an investment in Fortis Group in 2008, Ping An is now more focused on developing its massive and still rapidly growing home market.

Best Broker: Jardine Lloyd Thompson

The company’s roots in Asia date back to 1832, when trading house Jardine Matheson was launched in Canton. It has become an international insurance brokerage in the past two decades, but Asia has remained a key region for the company. It recently acquired businesses in emerging Asian markets and is opening its first office in India.

Middle East

Best Primary P&C Insurer: Oman Insurance

Oman Insurance is headquartered in Dubai and has offices in all the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. It is growing significantly faster than the broader Middle Eastern insurance market and is making innovative use of pricing data and analytics in its business, say market analysts.

Best Broker: Aon

Aon established its Middle East presence in 1985. Headquartered in Dubai, Aon Middle East now has offices across the region and employs more than 300 people. With its extensive resources, Aon helps clients manage the full range of commercial, personal and political risks in the Middle East.

Africa

Best Primary P&C Insurer: Old Mutual

Established as a mutual insurance company in South Africa in 1845, Old Mutual, now headquartered in London, remains one of the biggest P&C insurers in Africa. Its asset and wealth management businesses suffered badly in the financial crisis, but the company has rebounded. Committed to expanding its African insurance operations, it recently acquired businesses in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya.

Best Broker: Ascoma

The Monaco-based company has built one of the biggest insurance brokerage networks in West Africa, focusing on French-speaking countries. It currently offers support for personal and commercial insurance needs in 22 countries in the region and has deals with larger international brokers in markets it doesn’t currently serve.

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