Global catastrophe losses remained below historical averages in the first half of 2026, but significant regional disasters, record-setting events and rising insured losses highlighted the evolving nature of catastrophe risk, according to Aon plc's Global Catastrophe Recap: First Half of 2026 report. Global economic losses reached $111bn during H1 2026, 25% below the 21st-century average and the lowest first-half total since 2018. However, the period recorded 23 billion-dollar economic loss events, in line with long-term averages, and 13 billion-dollar insured loss events, exceeding the historical average of 10. Aon said the figures showed that global loss totals alone do not fully capture the impact of disasters on communities, infrastructure, businesses and supply chains.
Japanese insurer Sompo International Holdings Ltd. announced on 21 July that a wholly owned subsidiary had entered into an agreement to acquire Fator Seguradora in Brazil. Completion of the transaction remains subject to approval from the relevant regulatory authorities.
Aon has promoted Mr David Crofts to the role of Global Head of Capital Solutions for Financial Sponsors, effective 1 August 2026.
Aon has expanded Mr Vlad Bobko's responsibilities to include Global Head of Strategy for Political Risk, War Risk and Crisis Management for Risk Capital, in addition to his current role as CEO of Central and Eastern Europe and Nordics.
Global insurers delivered strong premium growth and improved profitability in 2025, but the industry's recent gains are largely cyclical and mask unresolved challenges that it confronts, according to new research released by Bain & Company.
The government of Zambia has used a $600m loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, coupled with its own resources, to buy back a $1.36bn sovereign Eurobond.
The first half of 2026 marked the fifth consecutive quarter without a single insured CAT loss exceeding $10bn, reflecting a period of relatively benign loss activity for the global insurance industry.
DUAL Group, an MGA, has launched its global transactional risk offering with long-term backing led by Liberty.