Citi signs deal to sell 24% equity stake in Banamex | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]Citi Bank logo appears in this illustration taken December 1, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]Feb 23 (Reuters) - Citigroup [(C.N), opens new tab] said on Monday it had entered into agreements to sell a 24% stake in Banamex to a group of institutional investors and family offi ...

Chubb Appoints Scott Henck Global Chief Actuary [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationCynthia Bentley promoted to succeed Henck as North America Chief Actuary; Paul O'Connell to RetireZURICH, Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb Limited (NYSE: CB) today announced that Scott Henck, Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary, North America, has been appointed Senior Vice President, Chubb Group and Chief Actuary. He succeeds Paul O'Connell, who is retiring after a 40-year career in the property and casualty ...

Summary of APi Group Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: APi Group (NYSE: APG) - **Industry**: Safety services, inspection, and monitoring Key Points Company Performance and Growth - APi Group has grown from approximately $4 billion to nearly $8 billion in revenue over the past five years, demonstrating significant growth while enhancing company culture focused on leadership development [16][17] - The company aims to maintain a mid- to high-single-digit growth rate in the inspection service sector, with no concerns about running out of market opportunities, as they hold less than 5% market share in major metropolitan areas [37][39] Business Model and Differentiation - APi Group's competitive advantage lies in its "inspection-first" approach, which differentiates it from competitors, many of whom are small, family-owned businesses that focus on installation projects rather than building robust inspection departments [25][31] - The company has developed a strong branch network that supports its inspection services, which is a key differentiator in the market [31] Financial Performance - The fourth quarter of 2025 was noted as the best quarter of the year in terms of year-over-year margin expansion, with strong momentum in both service inspection and project work [43][45] - The company expects to see continued margin improvement in specialty services throughout 2026, driven by various operational efficiencies [156] Market Opportunities - Critical infrastructure and healthcare sectors are highlighted as key growth areas, with increasing opportunities in life sciences and data centers [51] - Data centers currently account for approximately 8% of revenue, with expectations to reach 10% in 2026 [83] Branch Optimization - APi Group is focused on improving the profitability of its branches, with a goal for all branches to achieve a minimum margin of 20%. The median margin for North American safety branches is currently 17% [85][94] - The company is making progress in addressing low-margin branches, particularly in international markets where 40% were previously underperforming [96][99] M&A Strategy - The company has a robust pipeline for bolt-on M&A, with a focus on acquiring businesses in the fire and security space at reasonable multiples (5x to 7x EBITDA) [201][207] - Recent acquisition of CertaSite, which generates over 90% of its revenue from inspection and service work, aligns with APi's strategic focus [210][212] Technology and Innovation - APi Group is investing in AI to enhance operational efficiency and improve service delivery, with a dedicated AI team focusing on tools for field leaders [242][245] - The company is also implementing new business systems to support its growth and AI initiatives, with a pilot rollout expected in the first half of the year [251] Future Outlook - The company remains committed to its long-term goals outlined in the 10/16/60+ plan, emphasizing the importance of organizational discipline and consistent execution [256][263] - APi Group is open to larger transformational deals but will remain disciplined in its approach to ensure strategic fit [225][238] Emerging Trends - The company recognizes the importance of adapting to market changes and leveraging customer relationships, particularly in data centers, where both safety and specialty services are increasingly integrated [241] Additional Insights - The leadership development journey has been ongoing since 2003, with a focus on promoting from within to ensure strong branch leadership [104][107] - The company has learned valuable lessons from past project management experiences, particularly regarding government contracts, which have influenced its current operational strategies [138][142]

Summary of The Hartford Insurance Group Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG) - **Date**: February 10, 2026 - **Event**: U.S. Financial Services Conference Key Points Industry Performance - The Hartford has outperformed its peers over the last decade, achieving a 355% increase compared to the S&P 500 equal weight index's 255% and other competitors like Travelers and Chubb [1][2] Investment in Technology - The Hartford has made significant investments in technology, particularly in software and artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency [2][6] - A $250 million investment was made in Duck Creek for personal lines business, indicating a focus on modernizing core platforms [7] - The company is transitioning to a cloud-native infrastructure, aiming for 80% completion by the end of 2027 [12] AI Integration - The Hartford has been implementing AI for two years, focusing on personal productivity tools and end-to-end process transformation [9][10] - AI is expected to enhance customer experience and operational productivity, with a focus on data organization to support AI applications [8][10] Market Position and Growth - The Hartford is capturing more market share across small, middle, and large global specialty markets due to its technological capabilities and customer-oriented approach [13] - The company anticipates higher retention rates and increased market share, particularly in the small business segment [13] Financial Performance and R&D Spending - The Hartford's R&D spending has increased from approximately $350 million to over $500 million annually, with no expected decrease in the near term [16][17] - The company maintains a stable acquisition cost for agents, with commission rates remaining steady at around 14%-14.5% [37] Personal Lines Strategy - The Hartford is expanding its personal lines offerings through the Prevail launch, aiming to provide comprehensive coverage while maintaining competitive pricing [42][47] - The company is currently in 10 states with plans to expand to 30 by early 2027 [46] Economic Outlook - The current economic environment is viewed positively, with low unemployment rates and strong GDP growth expected [65][66] - The Hartford's business is closely tied to employment, particularly in workers' compensation and disability insurance, which are seen as strengths [66] Social Inflation Concerns - Social inflation is acknowledged as a real issue affecting claims costs, with trends indicating increasing litigation rates and higher settlement amounts [76][77] Capital Allocation - The Hartford plans to maintain a competitive dividend, having increased it by 15% recently, while also focusing on share repurchases [82][83] - The company emphasizes the importance of investing in business growth while balancing capital returns to shareholders [82] Conclusion - The Hartford is positioned for continued growth through strategic investments in technology and a focus on customer experience, while navigating economic challenges and maintaining a strong financial foundation [66][82]

Group 1: Core Offering - Cowbell has launched its Prime One cyber insurance program in the Australian market, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with annual revenues of up to A$100 million [1] - The insurance policies are underwritten by Zurich Australian Insurance, combining Zurich's financial strength with Cowbell's technology-driven underwriting and claims processes [1] Group 2: Coverage and Features - The coverage offers limits of up to A$5 million per claim and utilizes an AI model to assess each client's cyber risks [2] - Each Prime One policy includes access to Cowbell's resilience resources, which aim to enhance cybersecurity preparedness before incidents occur [2] - Cowbell Factors provides AI-based risk assessments tailored to individual businesses, while Cowbell Insights offers specific recommendations based on the organization's risk profile [2] Group 3: Additional Services and Leadership - Cowbell Resiliency Services offers guidance on micro penetration testing, cybersecurity training, vendor risk management, and connections to trusted cybersecurity providers through the Cowbell Rx marketplace [3] - Anthony Wall has been appointed as head of underwriting for the local operation, bringing experience from AIG, Munich Re, and Chubb [3] - Alric Lal has been named head of business development for Australia, with a background from UBT, Marsh, and Aon [4] Group 4: Strategic Partnerships and Vision - Cowbell's partnership with Zurich aims to provide Australian organizations with a reliable foundation for cyber resilience, supported by continuous underwriting and risk intelligence [5] - Cowbell's CEO, Jack Kudale, emphasized that cyber protection should be straightforward, instilling confidence in businesses [4]

Core Viewpoint - Venbrook Group, LLC has appointed Awais Farooq as Chief Claims Officer to enhance its global claims operations and improve client outcomes [1][2]. Group 1: Appointment and Role - Awais Farooq will oversee Venbrook's global claims operations, focusing on strategy, service enhancement, and delivering stronger outcomes for clients [2]. - Farooq has nearly two decades of experience in leading claims teams and transforming organizations, previously serving at Crawford & Company as Senior Vice President of Strategy & Transformation [2][3]. Group 2: Leadership and Vision - Jason Turner, Founder and CEO of Venbrook Group, expressed enthusiasm about Farooq's appointment, highlighting his proven track record in delivering superior claims outcomes [3]. - Farooq aims to leverage data and technology to enhance services, provide customer advocacy, and deliver exceptional outcomes in the claims division [3].

Core Insights - Chubb is a leading global insurance company with a comprehensive range of products, including property and casualty, accident and health, reinsurance, and life insurance [1] - Goldman Sachs maintains a "Buy" rating for Chubb and raises the price target from $351 to $366, indicating positive market sentiment [1][5] - Chubb's stock price is currently $331.28, reflecting a 0.56% increase, and has reached a year-high of $334.28 [3][5] Financial Performance - Chubb's market capitalization is approximately $130.38 billion, showcasing its significant presence in the insurance industry [4] - The stock has fluctuated between a low of $327.49 and a high of $334.28 today, indicating strong performance and investor confidence [3] Strategic Initiatives - Chubb has partnered with Arctic Wolf to enhance its cyber insurance offerings, selecting Arctic Wolf as a preferred Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider for policyholders with over 100 employees [2] - This collaboration aims to minimize cyber risk and leverage advanced threat detection capabilities, strengthening Chubb's position in the competitive cyber insurance market [4][5]

Core Insights - Arctic Wolf has been selected by Chubb as a preferred Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider for its cyber policyholders with over 100 employees, highlighting a mutual commitment to reducing cyber risk [1][5] Group 1: Partnership Details - Chubb's decision to partner with Arctic Wolf is influenced by the effectiveness of the Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform, which significantly reduces the likelihood and impact of major cyber incidents [2] - The Aurora Platform processes over nine trillion security events weekly, consolidating thousands of daily alerts into an average of one actionable ticket per customer per day, thereby enhancing operational efficiency [2] Group 2: Service Offerings - Arctic Wolf operates global security operations centers across North America, EMEA, and APAC, providing 24/7 operations and local personnel to support its services [3] - The company has a dedicated "insurance alliance" team that collaborates with brokers and carrier partners to promote the adoption of their security products [3] Group 3: Cyber Threat Insights - Both the Q2 2025 Chubb Cyber Threat Intelligence Report and the 2025 Arctic Wolf Threat Report identify unsecured Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and compromised VPN credentials as primary causes of major cyber incidents like ransomware [4] - Arctic Wolf's Concierge Experience and Security Journey provide ongoing guidance to customers, helping them implement critical security controls to enhance their security posture and reduce risk over time [4] Group 4: Customer Benefits - Joint customers of Arctic Wolf and Chubb may qualify for preferred pricing and promotional benefits aimed at strengthening their security posture and mitigating cyber risk [6]

Core Insights - Chubb Limited reported a fourth-quarter 2025 core operating income of $7.52 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.9% and showing a year-over-year improvement of 24.9% [1][2] - Total operating revenues increased by 7.4% year over year to $15.3 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.7% [1][2] Financial Performance - Net premiums written rose by 8.9% year over year to $13.1 billion, exceeding both internal estimates and the Zacks Consensus Estimate [4][9] - Record net investment income reached $1.7 billion, an increase of 8%, while adjusted net investment income was $1.8 billion, up 7.3% year over year [4][9] - Property and casualty (P&C) underwriting income hit a record $2.2 billion, up 39.6% year over year, significantly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.8 billion [5][9] - The P&C combined ratio improved by 450 basis points year over year to 81.2%, better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 83.6% [6][9] Segment Performance - North America Commercial P&C Insurance saw net premiums written increase by 4.3% year over year to $5.1 billion, with a combined ratio improvement of 180 basis points to 78.8% [7] - North America Personal P&C Insurance reported a 6.1% increase in net premiums written to $1.72 billion, with a combined ratio improvement of 850 basis points to 74.1% [10] - North America Agricultural Insurance experienced a significant 45.1% increase in net premiums written to $459 million, driven by growth in crop insurance [11] - Overseas General Insurance net premiums written increased by 10.8% year over year to $3.8 billion, with a combined ratio improvement of 460 basis points to 83% [12] - Life Insurance net premiums written rose by 16.9% year over year to $1.8 billion, with segment income increasing by 19.3% in constant dollars [12] Full-Year Highlights - For the full year 2025, Chubb's core operating income was $24.79 per share, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24.83, but showing a year-over-year increase of 10.8% [13] - Total net premiums written for the year reached $54.8 billion, up 6.6%, while P&C underwriting income improved by 11.6% year over year to $6.5 billion [13] Financial Position - As of December 31, 2025, Chubb's cash balance was $2.5 billion, a decrease of 3.1% from the previous year, while total shareholders' equity grew by 16.7% to approximately $80 billion [14] - Book value per share increased by 18% to $188.59 [14] - Operating cash flow for the quarter was $4.06 billion, with adjusted operating cash flow at $4.17 billion [15] Capital Deployment - In 2025, Chubb returned $4.91 billion to shareholders, including $3.39 billion in share repurchases and $381 million in dividends [16]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record earnings for both the quarter and the year, with core operating income of nearly $3 billion, or $752 per share, up about 22% and 25% respectively [5] - Total company net premiums grew almost 9%, with Property & Casualty (P&C) up 7.7% and life up about 17% [5] - For the full year, operating income was just shy of $10 billion, or $24.79 per share, up about 9% and 11% respectively over the prior year [8] - Per share tangible book value grew 25.7% last year [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - P&C underwriting income was $2.2 billion, up 40%, with a record low combined ratio of 81.2% for the quarter [5] - Life division produced $322 million of pre-tax income in the quarter, up just shy of 20% [15] - Adjusted net investment income rose 9% to almost $7 billion for the year [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International P&C premiums were up 10.8%, with consumer premiums up 18.7% and commercial lines up almost 7.5% [12] - In North America, total P&C premiums were up over 6.5%, with agriculture up over 45% [13] - Premiums in major accounts and specialty grew 3%, with major account business up 0.5% [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on improving its competitive profile while continuing to invest in growth opportunities across various business lines [15] - The management highlighted the importance of digital transformation and technology integration to enhance operational efficiency and customer engagement [52][82] - The company is optimistic about growth in underwriting income contributing to EPS growth despite competitive pressures in certain markets [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to generate strong growth in operating earnings and double-digit growth in EPS and tangible book value for 2026 [15] - The management acknowledged the challenges posed by rising loss costs and the need for careful pricing strategies in the personal lines business [28] - The company remains cautious about geopolitical factors and foreign exchange volatility but is focused on maintaining a strong operational foundation [58][60] Other Important Information - The company returned $1.5 billion of capital to shareholders in the quarter, contributing to a total of $4.9 billion for the year [16] - Pre-tax catastrophe losses were $365 million for the quarter, with a total of $2.9 billion for the year [17] - The company expects adjusted net investment income in the first quarter of 2026 to be between $1.81 billion and $1.84 billion [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sustainability of U.S. commercial lines margins in 2026 - Management indicated that while some lines may face pricing pressures, the broad business mix helps mitigate risks, and they are confident in maintaining strong combined ratios [24] Question: Implications of excess profit laws on personal lines profitability - Management emphasized the importance of measuring personal lines over extended periods and cautioned against politicizing affordability issues, highlighting rising loss costs as a significant factor [28] Question: Growth opportunities in Latin America outside of Mexico - Management discussed partnerships with local banks for consumer insurance distribution and highlighted broad-based growth opportunities across various countries in Latin America [34] Question: Competitive dynamics in Asia - Management noted the significant growth potential in Asia, emphasizing the need for a strong local presence and the challenges of competing in diverse markets [36] Question: Trends in financial lines and workers' compensation pricing - Management acknowledged the variability in financial lines and noted a strong quarter for workers' compensation, particularly in middle market and small commercial segments [101] Question: Impact of foreign exchange volatility on operations - Management stated that they do not hedge revenue or income but match assets and liabilities in the same currency, which helps manage foreign exchange risks [58] Question: Digital transformation and its impact on the organization - Management highlighted the importance of cultural adaptation and the willingness of employees to embrace digital transformation as a key factor in the company's future success [92]