Private equity firms EQT AB and Vitruvian Partners are working with advisers as they explore strategic options for their investment in cyber insurer CFC, according to people familiar with the matter.The buyout group has appointed Evercore Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to prepare London-based CFC for a potential sale or initial public offering, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private information. A deal could value the company in the region of £5 billion ($6.8 billion), they said. ...

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]

A GlobalData survey has found that a cyber protection gap persists across UK SME segments, driven by rising threat exposure and the under-penetration of cyber insurance. As SMEs deepen their reliance on digital systems and cybercrime becomes more sophisticated, many firms remain uninsured or underinsured relative to their exposure. GlobalData’s 2025 UK SME Insurance Survey found that cyber insurance penetration rises sharply in line with firm size: 13.1% of sole traders report holding cyber insurance, co ...

Market Overview - The global cyber insurance market is projected to reach up to $50 billion by 2030, increasing from an estimated $16 billion to $20 billion in 2025 [3] - The market experienced significant growth from 2020 to 2022, with a peak year-over-year growth of nearly 61% in 2021 [3] Recent Trends - Following a period of rapid premium increases due to a complex cyber threat landscape, growth slowed to 1.62% in 2023 and contracted by 7.11% in 2024 [4] - The market remains mostly buyer-friendly, but risks from ransomware and supply chain issues persist, with artificial intelligence expected to exacerbate threats [4] Future Outlook - Insurers are anticipated to refine policy language and address AI-related exposures while focusing on risk management strategies to mitigate impacts from deepfake technology and social engineering [5] - Cyber insurance prices are expected to remain flat through at least the first half of 2026, following a stabilization after three years of market softening [7] - The healthcare sector is experiencing slightly higher cyber insurance prices due to a less competitive claims environment [7]

Group 1: Acquisition Details - Zurich has made a bid of £7.7 billion ($10.3 billion) for Beazley, which could be one of the largest insurance acquisitions ever [1] - Beazley is currently urging its shareholders to reject the deal, despite a surge in its share price following the announcement [1] - Beazley has previously rejected several offers from Zurich, indicating a complex negotiation history [1] Group 2: Market Position and Strategy - Zurich is the second-largest player in the UK SME market for standalone cyber insurance, holding a 7% market share in 2025, just behind Aviva [2] - The acquisition aims to reduce Zurich's reliance on the US market and strengthen its presence in the UK, where Beazley operates as a specialty insurer [3] - Zurich ranks as the fourth-largest insurer in the UK with £3.5 billion ($4.7 billion) in gross written premium (GWP) and a market share of 4.4% [4] Group 3: Growth Potential - The global cyber insurance market is projected to grow from $22.2 billion in 2025 to $35.4 billion by 2030, highlighting a significant growth opportunity [5] - Acquiring Beazley, a specialist in cyber insurance, positions Zurich to capitalize on this expanding market [5]

Core Insights - AXIS Capital Holdings Limited has published research on how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the risk environment, based on insights from CEOs and CISOs [1][3] Group 1: AI's Impact on Risk and Cybersecurity - AI is recognized for enhancing data analytics, innovation, and operational efficiency, while also introducing new risks [4][5] - The dual nature of AI as a productivity enhancer and a source of unprecedented risk is emphasized as central to modern cyber risk [5] - AI strengthens cyber defense tools but also empowers cybercriminals, creating new vulnerabilities [6] Group 2: Survey Findings on AI Threats - AI-driven attacks are the leading concern for 29.6% of US respondents and 20.8% of UK respondents [7] - A generational divide exists, with only 23.1% of executives aged 55 and over believing AI will enhance cyber defenses, compared to 77.4% of leaders aged 35–44 [8] Group 3: Regional Differences in AI Preparedness - There is a notable contrast between US confidence and UK caution regarding AI threats, with 85% of US leaders feeling prepared compared to 44% of UK leaders [9] - 88.4% of US CEOs believe AI will strengthen protections, while only 55% of UK CEOs share this view [9] Group 4: Return on Investment and Cyber Insurance - In the US, 93.5% of CEOs and 87.5% of CISOs believe AI delivers ROI in cybersecurity, compared to 69.1% of CEOs and 74% of CISOs in the UK [10] - 94% of US respondents carry cyber insurance, while only 68.4% of UK respondents do [10] Group 5: Perspectives of CEOs vs. CISOs - CEOs view AI as a lever for productivity, while CISOs associate it with increased exposure [11] - 60.2% of CEOs feel better prepared than peers for AI-related threats, compared to 50.6% of CISOs [12] - CEOs identify data leakage as the primary AI-related threat (28.7%), while CISOs rank shadow AI as the top risk (27.2%) [12] Group 6: Trust and Concerns in AI Decision-Making - In the US, 31.2% of CEOs and 27.7% of CISOs cite AI-driven attacks as their greatest concern, while in the UK, the figures are 22% for CEOs and 19.7% for CISOs [13] - Trust in AI decision-making tools among UK CEOs is mixed, with 49.6% expressing trust and 37.4% expressing distrust [13] Group 7: Strategic Tension in Organizations - The findings highlight a strategic tension between the optimism of CEOs regarding AI and the caution of CISOs regarding security [14] - CEOs champion AI as a catalyst for innovation, while CISOs view it as a new frontier of exposure [14]

Core Viewpoint - Zurich Insurance Group AG has made a £7.67 billion ($10.3 billion) bid to acquire Beazley Plc, offering 1,280 pence per share, which represents a 56% premium over Beazley's closing price prior to the announcement [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The bid is Zurich's fifth proposal to Beazley over the past year and marks the company's largest offer since CEO Mario Greco took over in 2016 [2]. - The acquisition aims to create a "global leader" in specialty insurance with approximately $15 billion in gross written premiums [1]. - Zurich plans to fund the acquisition through existing cash, new debt facilities, and an equity placing [6]. Group 2: Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Beazley's shares surged by as much as 46%, reaching their highest level since the company's debut in 2002, while Zurich's shares fell by up to 1.9% [4]. Group 3: Strategic Fit and Valuation - CEO Mario Greco emphasized that Beazley is a complementary business to Zurich, indicating a strong strategic fit [3]. - A top 20 Beazley shareholder expressed that Zurich's offer still undervalues the company, suggesting that Beazley's peak-cycle earnings would warrant a higher bid [3]. Group 4: Financial Performance - Beazley reported net insurance written premiums of $5.2 billion in 2024 and $2.6 billion in the first half of 2025 [6]. - The company's premium income is diversified, with risks under property and specialty categories each accounting for about a third, and cyber and digital insurance representing around a fifth [7]. Group 5: Future Considerations - Zurich has until February 16 to announce a firm offer for Beazley, in accordance with UK takeover regulations [9]. - The proposed acquisition is expected to be accretive to Zurich's financial targets for 2027 [9].

Professional advice and fears surrounding new technology (such as AI) are key cyber insurance policy triggers among SMEs as per a GlobalData survey. As the market becomes more preventative, specialised cyber policies may reduce the barrier to entry and help provide adequate protection for SMEs. According to GlobalData’s 2025 SME Survey, professional advice is the most important driver prompting global SMEs to take out a cyber insurance policy. Being advised by a broker is the single most important factor ...

Core Insights - Corgi Insurance has raised $108 million in funding and received regulatory approval to operate as the first AI-native, full-stack insurance carrier focused on start-ups [1][5] - The company aims to provide comprehensive insurance solutions for start-ups, emphasizing speed, coverage quality, and price [2][3] Funding and Backers - The funding round included participation from various investors such as Contrary, Glade Brook Capital Partners, Kindred Ventures, and Y Combinator, among others [1] - The capital raised will be utilized to expand insurance offerings and enhance product development [2] Business Model and Technology - Corgi operates as a full-stack carrier, managing the design and administration of insurance products internally, allowing for flexible policy adjustments as clients evolve [3] - The company leverages AI technology for underwriting, claims processing, and policy management, enabling instant quotations and adaptable coverage options [4] Market Focus and Offerings - Corgi's insurance portfolio targets venture-backed and fast-moving companies, offering coverage options such as AI liability, directors and officers liability, and cyber insurance [4] - Since receiving full regulatory approval in July 2025, the company has reported annual recurring revenue exceeding $40 million, indicating strong demand for its innovative insurance products [5]

Core Insights - Shares of Axis Capital Holdings (AXS) are showing bullish momentum, trading above both the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMA) [1][8] - The stock has gained 20.5% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 11% [3][8] - Analysts have set a Zacks average price target of $118.18 per share, indicating an 8.7% potential upside from the last closing price [3] Company Performance - AXS is currently trading at a price-to-book multiple of 1.42, which is lower than the industry average of 1.52 but above the median of 1.37, suggesting it is undervalued compared to its peers [10] - The company has a trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) of 19%, significantly higher than the industry average of 8.1% [17] - AXS has maintained a strong dividend growth record, with 18 consecutive annual increases and a current yield of 2.3%, well above the industry average of 0.2% [16] Strategic Focus - AXS specializes in higher-value, less commoditized insurance products, targeting markets with higher margins and lower competitive intensity [13] - The company has expanded its underwriting capabilities and repositioned its portfolio over the past three years, resulting in improved performance and reduced volatility [14] - Strong client and distribution relationships are central to AXS's business model, enabling effective risk management and high service standards [15] Market Position - AXS is well-positioned in the specialty insurance market, with growth opportunities in segments such as marine cargo, cyber, and renewable energy, expected to deliver attractive double-digit returns on equity [13] - The company has a solid capital position and continues to enhance shareholder value through consistent dividend growth and share repurchases [16] Analyst Sentiment - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues indicates a 5.1% year-over-year increase, but earnings are expected to decline by 0.1% [19] - Analyst sentiment remains muted, with no movement in the consensus estimate for 2026 earnings over the last 30 days [19]