From Catlin to Mitsui, the final 15 of our Top 50 have had a mixed year
36. Catlin
First-half pre-tax profit was down from £240m to £86m because of catastrophes including the Chile earthquake. Combined ratio worsened nine points to 97%.
37. Arch Capital Group
Arch is likely to take part in the forecast acquisition frenzy in Bermuda. Gross written premium for 2009 was £284.6m.
38. Legal & General
First-half general insurance business operating profit more than doubled to £14m from £6m last year, thanks to improved underwriting and claims management.
39. Onex Corp
Down from 25 last year, the owner of London General Insurance reported gross written premium of £273.8 in 2009.
40. Standard Life
Standard Life sold its personal medical insurance arm in May for £138m to a subsidiary of South African Discovery Holdings that runs PruHealth.
41. Lancashire Holdings
Gross written premium at the aviation, energy, marine and property insurer increased by 19.6% year-on-year in the first half of 2010. The combined ratio was 77.4%.
42. GMAC
MMA is in talks to buy GMAC’s loss-making UK motor business Provident Insurance for £70m. GMAC must repay the US government for a $17.2bn (£11.5bn) bailout.
43. MMA
The French insurer posted an operating loss of £24.2m last year, partly because of private motor market issues. Gross written premium fell 9% to £227.1m.
44. HCC International
US-owned HCC more than doubled its 2009 profit after tax to £18.8m, thanks to rate increases in credit and political risk.
45. Berkshire Hathaway
First-half earnings rose from $268m (£168.9m) last year to $688m, with all four insurance businesses making profit after Berkshire Hathaway Re made a loss in 2009. It could buy RBSI.
46. Loews Corp
Berkshire Hathaway bought Loews subsidiary CNA Financial’s asbestos and environmental pollution risks for a $2bn (£1.3bn) fee in July. In October Loews announced positive earnings for H1 2010.
47. Domestic & General
Domestic & General is the largest breakdown cover provider for household electrical and gas equipment, according to Datamonitor. Gross written premium in 2009 was £177.3m.
48. SCOR
The French reinsurer had a net combined ratio of 102.8% for H1 2010, up from 96.8% the year before. Gross written premium for the UK business in 2009 was £161.2m.
49. Aioi Insurance
The motor and general insurance company had a £153m gross written premium in the UK in 2009. It was in a merger at the end of 2009 (see below).
50. Mitsui Sumitomo
Mitsui merged with fellow Japanese insurers Aioi and Nissay Dowa to form MS&AD Insurance Group. Profit was up 2.3% in Q2 2010 compared with the previous year.
Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
