ROSGOSSTRAKH, one of the largest Russian non-life insurers is set to buy the local life insurance unit of German reinsurer MUNICH Re - ERGO Life, in a move to re-enter the life insurance segment.

According to the Head of VTB, Andrey KOSTIN, the merger of insurance businesses VTB and SOGAZ may be completed in October this year. As KOSTIN said, the parties already agreed on all issues in the merger.

According to the first half year result, the average Motor Hull policy in Russia fell to the lowest cost in the past 6 years, meaning RUB 34,800, reported RBK.

The State Duma Committee on Financial Market recommended a bill to cancel the prohibition on reinsurance of MTPL risks, as well as to include information about MTPL reinsurance contracts in the data transferred by insurers to the automated data system, reported ASN portal.

The rating agency S&P improved ROSGOSSTRAKH's long-term credit rating in local currency from B to B+, the forecast was also changed from positive to stable, stated ASN portal.

Total GWP by the Russian insurers in 1H2018 amounted to RUB 731.78 billion (~EUR 10 billion; +13.28% y-o-y in local currency vs. 9.5% a year ago), according to the Central Bank of Russia.

Victor DUBROVIN was appointed as the acting general director of SBERBANK Life insurance. Alexey RUDENKO, previous general director, left the position due to transfer to another job, stated the insurer's press service.

Total GWP for the first half year amounted to RUB 731.78 billion (~EUR 10 billion; +13.28% y-o-y in local currency), according to the Central Bank of Russia. Total paid claims went down by 14% to RUB 235.78 billion (EUR 3.2 billion).

The agro insurance segment based on the Central Bank dropped by 36% to RUB 1.66 billion in the 1H 2018. The biggest contribution to the segment was made by agro insurance without state support (+2.8% to RUB 904.3 million), according to the National Association of Agriculture Insurers (NAAI).

For the first half year 2018, Motor Hull GWP amounted to RUB 80.1 billion (+3.1% y-o-y). According to the Central Bank, Motor Hull premiums saw growth for the first time in the last 3 years (in 2016, for example, premiums decreased by 9%, in 2017 - 4.8%).

End investors, Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) funds, and buyers - the three groups active in ILS - have predominantly weathered 2017 loss activity with a view that reinsurance products backed by 'alternative' capital have become mainstream, according to a new Global ILS Market Survey by Willis Towers Watson.

Swiss Re expects the global reinsurance industry to consolidate as the distinction between insurers and reinsurers become increasingly blurred, an executive from the Swiss Group said in Baden Baden, reports Reuters.

Current market conditions are putting increasing pressure on returns with some companies viewing consolidation as a potential solution, James NASH, CEO of International at Guy Carpenter said in his opening remarks at the Baden-Baden 2018 Reinsurance Meeting hosted by the global risk and reinsurance specialist.

E+S Ruckversicherung AG, the Hannover Re Group's unit handling German business, continues to expect a positive premium development in the German market for the January 2019 renewals, albeit at a somewhat more diminished pace than in 2018.

The market volume for cyber insurance is expected to grow up to USD 8-9 billion by 2020, Doris HOEPKE, member of Munich Re's Board of Management stressed in Baden Baden adding that, "The demand for cyber risk cover is growing continuously. We therefore see it as our duty to develop solutions."

After severe storm damage in Japan and the United States, Munich Re is looking with a little more optimism to the next renewal season. "I expect at least a stable renewal round in 2019," Board member Doris HOEPKE said in Baden-Baden. Until recently the reinsurer's expectations were leaning towards a stagnant season.

"You don't have to be big to be beautifully relevant or financially successful, but you do have to be focused," Pina ALBO, Group CEO of Hamilton Insurance Group said, addressing the question of whether bigger is necessarily better at the Reinsurance Symposium in Baden-Baden.

Five new titles are available this year on the XPRIMM Baden-Baden press stands opened in the Kurhaus Casino and in Baden Baden main locations, presenting the latest statistical data and comprehensive analysis for the CEE, SEE and CIS insurance markets.