Lloyds' insurer Amlin says prices rising, quake claims up

LONDON (Reuters)—Amlin P.L.C., the biggest Lloyd's of London insurer by market value, on Thursday reported higher prices across its main markets and said earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand this year could cost it $83 million more than previously thought.

Amlin, which issued a profit warning in August due to bigger-than-expected catastrophe claims, said prices rose by an average of 0.9% as customers renewed their policies in the first 10 months of 2011, after a decrease of 1.9% in the same period last year.

The company also said estimated claims from the March 11 Japanese earthquake and tsunami had risen to $206 million from its previous estimate of $156 million, while its projected exposure to the quake that struck New Zealand in February had climbed to $338 million from $305 million.

"While this year's performance has been impacted by an exceptionally high level and frequency of catastrophe events, the overall outlook for underwriting is improving," Chief Executive Charles Philipps said in a statement.