More ‘Wow’ Moments Predicted for Global Insurance M&A

2017 brought the first “uncertainty” to global insurance mergers and acquisitions and very little activity – but also offered evidence that things might change in 2018, according to a new report from Ernst & Young.

“2017 was not a stellar year for insurance M&A in terms of the overall number or value of deals — with both being broadly comparable to 2016,” E&Y said in its report, adding that 2017 included the fewest deals since 2010.

Read more at https://www.advisenltd.com/2018/03/23/wow-moments-predicted-global-insurance-ma/

Erin Ayers, More ‘wow’ moments predicted for global insurance M&A (March 23, 2018).

This story in an excerpt of the original. The content originally appeared in Advisen Professional Front Page News.

Spotlight on Innovation in the Transaction Insurance Market

September 2016

Advisen executive interview: Dennis Kearns, QBE

What are the drivers of growth in the Transaction Insurance market? How big can the Transaction Insurance market get? How is the market responding to new risks? Where is the innovation coming from? How do you account for cyber exposure? How can the market make the representations and warranties (R&W) product more relevant?

Advisen EVP and Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Bole interviewed Dennis Kearns, leader of QBE North America’s Transactional Liability and Financial Institutions practices, about the factors driving the market to grow at a fast pace.

Read more and download the full Executive Interview with Dennis Kearns at http://www.advisenltd.com/2016/09/15/spotlight-on-innovation-in-the-transaction-insurance-market/

Dennis Kearns, QBE. (2016, September). Advisen Executive Interview.

Cyber Risk Can Affect M&A Valuation, Requires Focus in Due Diligence

Mergers and acquisitions in the US topped 12,000 last year and 2016 is already heating up, with a shareholder vote on Marriott International’s bid for Starwood Hotels expected this week, in a move that would create the world’s largest hotel chain. Experts say that in any M&A transaction, cyber risk must become a key focus in the due diligence process, but particularly in the hospitality industry.

Cyber criminals targeted at least five hotel chains in 2015 – Hilton, White Lodging Services, Starwood, Mandarin Oriental, and the Trump Collection. Recent reports also indicate that the Trump hotel chain has again been hacked. Hotel chains appeal to hackers as a steady business usually transacted with credit and debit cards and a high-volume blend of business and leisure travelers. Hotels mergers and acquisitions have increased as chains seek to consolidate and compete, but the security industry warns that acquiring companies need to be aware of the risks that come with the purchase.

Read more at http://www.advisenltd.com/2016/04/15/cyber-risk-can-affect-ma-valuation-requires-focus-in-due-diligence/

Erin Ayers, Cyber risk can affect M&A valuation, requires focus in due diligence (April 15, 2016), available with subscription at Advisen Cyber Front Page News.