Topic
Climate Change
Syncro starts side car-style arrangement with Lloyd’s
September 22, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterSyncro Limited, a Bermuda-based company, is establishing a Bermuda sidecar-like reinsurance arrangement to allow Lloyd’s managing agencies to increase their underwriting access to additional capacity at any point in the underwriting year. Structurally, the arrangement is similar to a side…
Aviva funds emergency relief program
September 20, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterAviva is one of the corporate donors that is funding international aid agency Oxfam’s initial response operations, which will enable it to deal immediately with disasters whenever and wherever they occur.This includes a global rapid response team of aid workers…
Lloyd’s commemorates 9-11 as “market-changing”
September 20, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterLloyd’s of London recently commemorated Sept. 11, 2001, noting how the event changed the entire face of the insurance industry.Benfield chief executive Grahame Chilton noted the effects of 9-11 on the insurance industry during Rendez-Vous, an event that marks the…
Risk managers to turn toward credit financing in future
September 20, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterOver the next 15 years, risk managers may be looking more towards credit financing as a means to backstop major catastrophes, rather than relying on more traditional forms of insurance or reinsurance, a panelist told participants at the 2006 RIMS…
Popularity of reinsurance modelling increases
September 19, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterCompanies attempting to optimize their reinsurance programs are turning to reinsurance modeling more and more, A.M. Best reports.The ratings agency notes Raju Bohra, a senior vice president at Willis Re Inc., made the observation at the 111th National Association of…
Increased sea temperatures linked to stronger hurricanes
September 13, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterCritics may dismiss the dangers of global warming, but increasing sea temperatures are nonetheless linked to more intense Atlantic hurricanes, according to the 2006 edition of the annual publication, the Hazard & Risk Science Review.Researched and edited by Professor Bill…
Forecast of hurricane severity decreased
September 12, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterThe hurricane forecast for 2006 has been revised from Tropical Storm Risk’s original prediction of above-average activity to slightly below-normal activity.The London-based group of insurance, risk management and seasonal climate experts, led by the Benfield centre, say the new forecast…
The retrocession rut hinders P&C insurers
September 11, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterThe capacity shortage in retrocessional property catastrophe reinsurance protection has “materially disrupted” the property and catastrophe insurance industry, according to an article recently published by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. The article “Responding To The Retrocessional Squeeze” reports that the…
Bermuda reinsurers show solid profits in 2006
September 8, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterSupply shortages, low catastrophe losses and buoyant investment income resulted in record first-half profits of US$4.5 billion for Bermuda’s reinsurers, according to the latest Benfield Bermuda Quarterly report.Modest catastrophe losses held the average combined ratio to 89.2%, little changed from…
Reinsurers stand their ground
September 7, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterGlobal pricing in the property catastrophe reinsurance market has been significantly influenced by extreme rate peaks in the U.S. and Mexico, which absorbed the majority of the losses from the 2005 storms, according to a recent report published by Guy…
Standard & Poor’s increases rating cap on cat bonds
September 7, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterStandard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its criteria for rating natural catastrophe bonds to increase the rating cap on such bonds to ‘AA.’ “The criteria revision is in response to the evolution of the natural catastrophe bond market,” S&P’s…
Benfield profits up, as is global demand for cat insurance
September 7, 2006 by Canadian UnderwriterBenfield Group Limited (“Benfield” or “the Group”), an independent reinsurance and risk intermediary, has reported its group operating revenue has increased 28.5% over the first half of 2006 to 252.1 million (CD$524.6 million).The Group also reported an increase of 35.3%…