US Reinsurance Market “Healthy” While Facing New Threats & Opportunities The U.S. reinsurance market is very healthy. That according to Frank Nutter, President of the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA). Mr. Nutter says capital positions have been “strong and growing” thanks, in part to alternative capital vehicles. Market conditions are “very competitive” due to the amount of supply outpacing demand. Catastrophe losses continue to be a challenge, a threat, for … Read More
Reinsurance upgraded to “Stable” as A.M. Best cites possible “inflection point” According to Stefan Holzberger, Chief Rating Officer at A.M. Best, the property-casualty sector of the insurance industry saw improvements in performance. And with levels of capitalization “robust”, A.M. Best is maintaining a “Stable Outlook” on the Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Reinsurance sector from a credit perspective. The reinsurance sector was only recently upgraded to “Stable” from “Negative”, despite heavy … Read More
“Healthy” Bermuda market opportunistic as it fights “protectionism” – ABIR CEO John Huff, President and CEO of the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) discusses the health of the Bermuda market, as well as the challenges and opportunities he sees going forward. According to Mr. Huff, the Bermuda market is “very healthy.” The market is thriving even after the significant natural catastrophes of 2017 and 2018 “nat cats” including Hurricane … Read More
Fragmentation of business model forcing insurers to be flexible…pivot quickly. Fragmentation is a major issue within the insurance industry today, according to Phil Reynolds, CEO & Co-Founder of BriteCore. Traditionally carriers sold products through agents, and were backed by reinsurers. Now, insurtechs are challenging traditional distribution and underwriting models, while reinsurers are going directly to the market through MGAs (Managing General Agents). There is a lot of flux. As a … Read More
RAA’s Nutter discusses “blended model” and “new normal” in reinsurance sector. Reinsurance Association of America (RAA) president Frank Nutter comments on the evolution of the “blended model” in reinsurance with alternative capital contributing to the way reinsurance provides capacity to insurance companies, not just in the catastrophe area. He sees reinsurance companies diversifying into the insurance business, viewing capital markets as “largely competitive…and complementary.” Mr. Nutter admits that reinsurers have struggled … Read More
Industry learning as it copes with $100B in losses from 2017 hurricanes – RMS. The 2017 Hurricane Season brought over $100 billion in insured losses. According to John Kapitan, an SVP at RMS, “the (insurance) industry has coped well.” There are numerous improvements in the industry since the storms of 2004/2005. The industry is better capitalized, (over $600 billion). From a risk management perspective, Mr. Kapitan says few insurers or reinsurers were surprised by … Read More
Will 2017 be a record CAT year? – I.I.I. CEO comments. 2017 has been a very active year for catastrophes…and traditional seasons are shifting. That according to Sean Kevelighan, President and CEO of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). Mr. Kevelighan points to 367 tornadoes in the first quarter of 2017, which surpasses the average of 93 by a large margin. The I.I.I. had estimated an active hurricane season, and forecasts were … Read More
Major CAT loss unlikely to move buyer’s market in reinsurance – RAA President. Frank Nutter, President of the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA), says the reinsurance market has not changed much in previous years. “Capacity exceeds demand…It’s a buyer’s market.” Reinsurance brokers report that the “rate threshold” has not been reached as of January, and probably won’t be for the foreseeable future. He believes that even a major catastrophe probably would not likely … Read More
Does Brexit / U.S. election signal unraveling of belief that “international trade is good”? – ABIR CEO. WRIN.tv catches up with Bradley Kading, President and Executive Director of the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR), to discuss the state of the Bermuda (re)insurance market, international concerns over Brexit and the U.S. presidential election, and opportunities he sees on the horizon. The Bermuda market suffered from soft pricing in 2016, with the ability to earn a profit … Read More
Reinsurers look to economy, privatized flood insurance and cyber for growth. WRIN.tv speaks with Frank Nutter, President and CEO of the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA), about the state of the reinsurance market, capital growth, a US/EU covered agreement, and growth. According to Mr. Nutter, the market remains highly competitive. Capacity and capital increased in 2016, which contributed to rates being flat to down – a good thing for buyers. Capital … Read More
Property Reinsurers face up to climate change, “leveling” ILS and broker placement platforms. With the property reinsurance market experiencing soft pricing for some time, WRIN.tv spoke with Jim Larkin, Head of Property Underwriting at Munich Re America, about the impact of Hurricane Matthew, and other factors affecting the market. While it is unclear if Hurricane Matthew would have any impact on reinsurance renewals, Mr. Larkin believes the storm was a reminder about the … Read More
New Technologies, Terror Risk and emerging opps in cyber, flood & mortgage risk – Holborn’s Dougherty WRIN.tv speaks with Arthur Dougherty, SVP at Holborn, about new technologies, terror risk and emerging markets in cyber risk, flood and mortgage insurance. Hurricane Matthew could have had a big impact on the reinsurance market, but it changed course and the size of the loss will not have an effect on the market. While some cedents may have significant losses, … Read More
New technology, cyber risk and jury verdicts are influencing casualty market – Munich Re’s Casualty Head Sustained increases in casualty pricing in the auto insurance lines are due in part to losses penetrating primary insurance and penetrating the umbrella level. That, according to Gerry Skalka, SVP and Head of Casualty Underwriting at Munich Re. He also notes higher awards from jury verdicts are having an impact on casualty pricing. He remains confident that the market will … Read More
(Re)insurers seeking growth are running to emerging risks…rather than away – Aon Benfield’s Head of Strategy With losses from Hurricane Mathew and other catastrophe losses, 2016 has seen the highest loss activity in three years. Even so, according to Andrew Marcell, Global Head of Strategy at Aon Benfield, the impact on rates in property reinsurance will be fairly minimal. There are numerous emerging risks from new technologies and the sharing economy. For instance, Aon reports a … Read More
BI is back! Editor Souter reports “good news” for RMs at PCI…and dawn of new day at industry pub. Business Insurance (BI) relaunched its trusted industry magazine this month. BI Editor Gavin Souter joined WRIN.tv at the PCI Annual Meeting in Dallas to report on the “good news” he heard for risk managers at the conference, and to share insights into the changes and editorial focus at the “re-new BI.” Mr. Souter says that news from PCI will be … Read More
Lessons from Matthew, Protection Gap & (Re)Insurance Growth Strategies with Swiss Re’s Ningen Monica Ningen, Head Property Underwriting US & Canada at Swiss Re, discusses how Hurricane Matthew served as a reminder for insurers. She also addresses the Protection Gap and product development and distribution strategies evolving in the insurance and reinsurance market. Hurricane Matthew, while not as big a loss as was predicted, was a reminder that a big event is possible. As a … Read More
Matthew’s $4-6B losses to hit primary insurers & NFIP – now backed by reinsurance. Hurricane Matthew was the largest tropical storm to hit the Southeastern US in over a decade, causing billions of dollars in insured losses and threatening the National Flood Insurance Program, which recently announced it would acquire reinsurance. CoreLogic estimates that Matthew will have caused an estimated $4 to 6 billion in insured property losses, 90 percent from wind, 10 percent from storm … Read More
Low interest rates pressure insurers/reinsurers…Munich Re “pushes boundaries of insurance” for growth WRIN.tv spoke with Munich Re America’s Michael Quigley, Head of Property Underwriting, and Stephan Hochburger, SVP & Client Executive, about threats and opportunities in insurance and reinsurance. In the current environment, Mr. Hochburger sees the biggest threat to insurers and reinsurers low interest rates and excess capital, as well as lower reserve levels. “Digitalization” is a new threat, but it … Read More
Swiss Re exec on Mutual market share, disruptive technologies, nat cat market and growth Keith Wolfe, President US P&C at Swiss Re, provides an overview of a recent Sigma Report on the Mutual sector, the impact of disruptive technologies, the nat cat market and growth. Commenting on Swiss Re’s Sigma Report, Mr. Wolfe that says the Mutual Insurance sector is stronger than ever, with an increase in market share since the 2008 financial crisis. Mr. Wolfe sees technology and … Read More
Outlook “Negative” for reinsurers in search of relevance – Rating Agencies The 2016 Monte Carlo Rendez-vous drew many of the industry’s top reinsurance professionals to discuss the state of the market. The top ratings agencies also released their verdict on the market. A.M. Best maintained its negative outlook due to weak operating fundamentals exacerbated by continued weakened demand from primary insurers as they retain more business to leverage their own excess capacity. According to … Read More
