Europe’s four largest reinsurers—Swiss Re, Munich Re, Hannover Re and SCOR—reported strong results in 2024, benefitting from good rate adequacy and continued underwriting discipline on policy terms and attachment points. According to a new AM Best report, they are also maintaining their ambitious profit targets for 2025, despite the material impact of the California wildfires in first-quarter 2025 and signs of rate softening.

The Best’s Market Segment Report, “The European “Big Four” Reinsurers Maintain Their Risk Appetites”, is part of AM Best’s look at the global reinsurance industry ahead of the Rendez-Vous de Septembre in Monte Carlo. Other reports, including AM Best’s ranking of top global reinsurance groups and in-depth looks at the insurance-linked securities, Lloyd’s, life/annuity, health and regional reinsurance markets, will be available during August and September.

The report notes that all four reinsurers continue to benefit from business written through the hard reinsurance market, with strong pricing, terms and conditions, which allow them to maintain robust performance metrics for their property/casualty reinsurance segments. Also, with a healthy interest rate environment, improved underwriting discipline and increased demand for longevity and mortality risk protection, it is expected that life business will continue to be a source of profitability and diversification for the “Big Four”.

To access a complimentary copy of this special report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=356963.

For global reinsurance reports ahead of Rendez-Vous de Septembre, as well as video coverage of the event, please visit AM Best’s Reinsurance Information center.

Lastly, AM Best will host its annual reinsurance market briefing at Rendez-Vous de Septembre on Sept. 7, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. (CEST) in Monte Carlo. For more information, please visit the event website.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250821476190/en/

Mathilde Jakobsen
Senior Director, Analytics
+31 20 808 3118
mathilde.jakobsen@ambest.com

Ghislain Le Cam, CFA, FRM
Senior Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0268
ghislain.lecam@ambest.com

Richard Banks
Director, Industry Research – EMEA
+44 20 7397 0322
richard.banks@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Logo

Tags

More Like This

Best's Market Segment Report: Europe’s Big Four Reinsurers Continue to Benefit From Hard Market Conditions

Best’s Market Segment Report: Strong Technical Profits Bolster Momentum for Global Reinsurers

AM Best Publishes Annual Review of Global Reinsurance Industry; Analysis Highlights Companies’ Favorable Results, Financial Reporting Shifts

Best's Market Segment Report: Big Names Dominate European Insurance Landscape As Overall Profits Slip

Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Maintains Outlook for Global Reinsurance Industry to Positive

Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Revises Outlook for Global Reinsurance Industry to Positive

Best’s Market Segment Report: Adoption of New Industry Accounting Standard Forces Change in AM Best’s Annual Ranking of Top Reinsurers

Best’s Market Segment Report: AM Best Maintains Stable Outlook on Global Reinsurance Industry