2009
Aon: Cat Bonds, Collateralized Re to Grow in 2010
Dec/31/2009 02:38 PM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds | Reinsurance
Other alternative structures, such as side cars and exposure swaps, will not fair as well. Read More...
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Despite Few ’09 Mega Cats, Data Shows Loss Trends Rising
Dec/29/2009 11:49 AM Filed in: Reinsurance | Modeling Firms
Goldman Index Lacks Longevity
Dec/29/2009 09:49 AM Filed in: Life Structures
Aon Report: Biggest Cats Continue to Be Least Insured
Dec/24/2009 07:36 AM Filed in: Reinsurance | Modeling Firms
Beyond the headline number of insured losses, developing countries suffered greatly in 2009.
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Cat Bond Market Interest or Reinsurance Market Cost
Dec/22/2009 10:32 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds | Reinsurance
The upsizing of the Travelers issuance may say more about pricing of traditional reinsurance than investor interest in catastrophe bonds. Read More...
S&P Says Euro Insurance Struggles Will Continue Through 2012
Dec/17/2009 03:31 PM Filed in: Reinsurance
Poor investment returns and Solvency II are muddying the outlook for the European insurance industry. Read More...
PERILS Enters the Market with ILW Issue
Dec/17/2009 10:34 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds
Bermuda Stock Exchange Makes Push for ILS Listings
Dec/17/2009 09:11 AM Filed in: Regulation | Catastrophe Bonds
Renewal Season’s Three Pricing Rules: Location, Location and Location
Dec/15/2009 10:32 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
Willis Re’s James Kent says pricing on U.S. risks will vary significantly based on geography. Read More...
Clark Launches Cat Review Product
Dec/08/2009 11:34 AM Filed in: Modeling Firms
RGA Triple X Loses Ratings
Dec/08/2009 11:15 AM Filed in: Life Structures
PERILS Launches Euro Windstorm Product
Dec/03/2009 05:25 AM Filed in: Modeling Firms
The insurance industry consortium set up to provide detailed European catastrophe data has come out with its first product offering. Read More...
Storm Frequency Becomes a Frequent Problem
Dec/02/2009 02:18 PM Filed in: Reinsurance | Modeling Firms
Munich Re and RMS have rolled out products that target losses from local, but severe, convective storms. Read More...
Cat Reinsurance Continues Growth With Big Price Swings
Dec/01/2009 09:03 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
Swiss Re expects even greater adoption of traditional P/C reinsurance. Cat bonds will continue on rebound Read More...
Protective Life’s ILS Ratings Pulled, but Unum Not Scared of its “Shadow”
Nov/23/2009 06:37 AM Filed in: Life Structures
Moody’s continued its rethink of the life securitization market last week with two distinctly different results.
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Glacier Warns it May Trigger Nelson Re
Nov/20/2009 05:04 PM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds
Glacier Reinsurance said in a conference call this week that it plans to trigger a $67.5 million portion of the Nelson Re catastrophe bond. Read More...
Life Insurers are Being Pushed Towards “Alternative” Capital, Deloitte Says
Nov/18/2009 07:25 AM Filed in: Life Structures
Carriers are being squeezed and they need to monitor the capital markets for securitization opportunities.
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Cat Modelers Juggle for Position
Nov/16/2009 12:32 PM Filed in: Modeling Firms
The influence of any single catastrophe modeling firm within insurance linked securities only tells a piece of the market’s story. Read More...
Carrier Solvency Becoming a Bigger Life Settlement Risk
Nov/11/2009 11:00 AM Filed in: Life Structures | Regulation
The solvency of the life insurance industry is perhaps the least-understood and most-pernicious risk for the settlement industry, professionals say. Read More...
Moody’s Pulls Ratings on Over $2.5 Billion Genworth Life Structures
Nov/10/2009 09:52 AM Filed in: Life Structures | Reinsurance
Several of Genworth Financial’s life securitizations had their ratings withdrawn last week in what may be the first of many for the life industry. Read More...
CEA Ups Reinsurance Over $200 Million, Taps Two New Firms
Nov/03/2009 06:31 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
California’s state-sponsored earthquake insurer has increased capacity. Lagging cat model changes kept premiums high. Read More...
World Bank Plans Global Push for MultiCat Program
Oct/21/2009 10:18 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds
Executives from the World Bank lay out the organization’s plans to tap the catastrophe bond market. Private market risk modeling firms and banks will play key role. Read More...
GEM Launches Survey
Oct/13/2009 09:55 AM Filed in: Modeling Firms
The open source initiative is looking for feedback on developing a global earthquake risks model.
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Third Quarter Cat Bonds Were Good, Fourth Quarter Needs to Be Great
Oct/13/2009 07:50 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds
New issues were slightly ahead of maturing bonds in the summer months. A fourth quarter rally is needed to keep pace with full year projections. Read More...
Cat Bonds May Favor Caymans
Oct/07/2009 11:14 AM Filed in: Regulation | Reinsurance
While Bermuda’s new supervisory scheme gains attention, Cayman’s cat bond track record will be difficult to overcome. Side cars may be a better bet for Bermuda.
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P/C Pros Defend Bermuda’s Domicile Dominance
Oct/05/2009 01:35 PM Filed in: Reinsurance | Regulation
Concern over the future of the insurance haven are misplaced. Professionals argue the island is well positioned despite well publicized tax flaps and defections. Read More...
Life Settlement Securitizations Need Warehousing, Liquidity to Flourish
Oct/02/2009 09:40 AM Filed in: Life Structures
Market players say few life settlement securitizations have the scale to succeed. Read More...
Bermuda Insurers Expect a Limited Role for ILS
Oct/01/2009 06:33 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds | Reinsurance
With balance sheets shorn up, the island’s reinsurance players will use catastrophe bonds and side cars as just another “tool.” Read More...
Mexico Cat Bond May Portend Similar Structures
Sep/30/2009 08:57 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds | Modeling Firms
Conservative collateral mixed with multiple perils could open the door for other government sponsors.
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Consultant Wants to Double Check Modelers’ Earthquake Math
Sep/16/2009 01:16 PM Filed in: Modeling Firms
Recent changes to the California hazard map could mean a big drop for insurer loss estimates, but Clark argues boards and management need to understand the science. Read More...
Captives Remain Market Choice for Terror Cover
Sep/11/2009 12:44 PM Filed in: Regulation | Reinsurance
As long as TRIA remains in tact, domestic captives are the vehicle of choice for terrorism cover. But NBCR remains elusive for many. Read More...
Financial Market Meltdown Pulls the Indemnity Trigger
Sep/09/2009 09:06 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds | Modeling Firms
Indemnity cat bonds are out of favor, causing industry index-based products to flourish.
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Tinderbox: California Wildfires and the Mortgage Meltdown
Sep/01/2009 02:59 PM Filed in: Reinsurance
Greek Government May Bear the Brunt of Wildfire Losses
Aug/31/2009 09:58 AM
Limited insurance and a generous government payout will likely limit the private market’s losses. Read More...
Exposure Data Initiative Makes Jump into Modeling Firms
Aug/24/2009 01:33 PM Filed in: Modeling Firms
AIR will become the first cat modeler to adopt the data standard. ACORD is hopeful that other firms will follow.
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Morakot: A Major Test of Taiwan’s Developing Nat Cat Market
Aug/11/2009 07:43 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
The storm may be the first time private reinsurers handle significant losses from Taiwan. Read More...
The Impact of Catastrophe Lines on Select Reinsurers for the Second Quarter of 2009
Aug/07/2009 09:06 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
The second quarter was a mixed bag for the world’s largest catastrophe reinsurers. Read More...
Cat Risk at Center of Offshore Tax Debate
Aug/03/2009 05:59 AM Filed in: Reinsurance | Regulation
Changes in the deductibility of foreign affiliated reinsurance could alter the playing field in transferring U.S. catastrophe risk.
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U.S. Thunderstorm Losses Echo Across Industry
Jul/28/2009 11:52 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
Insurers incurred over $6 billion so far this year; that’s $1 billion over the five year average. Read More...
Cat Bonds Continue Struggle with Hopes of a Fourth Quarter Rally
Jul/27/2009 08:25 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds
A new Guy Carp report reveals that maturing bonds continue to outpace new issuance. Pricing remains high as investors focus on peak perils. Read More...
State Lawmakers Move Ahead with Cat Finance Proposal
Jul/16/2009 11:37 AM Filed in: Reinsurance | Regulation
Industry reps argue the focus on historical losses is flawed. Plus, the public cat model bill pegged at $15 million. Read More...
Reinsurance Mergers, ILS Opportunity
Jul/07/2009 11:12 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
As mergers drain capacity for property/casualty reinsurance, the door may be opening for ILS. Read More...
P/C Insurers Fighting to Keep Fixed-Income “Available for Sale”
Jul/01/2009 09:04 AM Filed in: Regulation
S&P 2009 Insurance Industry Conference: Reserve Releases Could Leave Commercial P/C Carriers Exposed
Jun/05/2009 10:28 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
Commercial property/casualty carriers have been drawing down precious capital from reserve accounts, making them vulnerable to longer-tail claims that could haunt them for years to come. Read More...
S&P Insurance Conference: P/C Reinsurers Tout Discipline, but Concede Pricing Climate is a Cat Challenge
Jun/05/2009 09:52 AM Filed in: Reinsurance
Property/casualty reinsurers need to be more aggressive about pricing climate change into catastrophe cover or they could face large underwriting losses on the business line. Read More...
Orkney II Becomes Next Reg XXX Structure to Succumb to RMBS
May/13/2009 11:54 AM Filed in: Life Structures
The default of a Regulation XXX structure shows the market for securitizing premium-term life reserves has some additional healing before it can return normalcy. Read More...
TRIA Rollback Ups Industry Threat Level
May/12/2009 10:30 AM Filed in: Regulation | Reinsurance
The new U.S. federal budget calls for slashing the $100 billion government-provided backstop for terrorism insurance, surprising many in the property/casualty industry who thought the subsidy was safe from tinkering until 2014.
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Moody’s to Issue Life Securitization Methodology
Apr/27/2009 09:57 AM Filed in: Life Structures
AIG, Danny Pang and Due Diligence
Apr/17/2009 11:32 AM Filed in: Life Structures | Regulation
The troubles of a high profile investor and the first successful large securitization both point to the need for increased due diligence in life settlements.
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It Ain’t Easy [Quantifying] Being Green
Apr/15/2009 09:22 AM Filed in: Reinsurance | Modeling Firms
Green building practices will have an impact on rebuilding costs after a loss event, but how much remains in question for insurers.
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Connecticut Ponders Cat Fund
Apr/03/2009 10:54 AM Filed in: Regulation | Reinsurance
Risky Science Podcast: Southern California Earthquake Threat
Apr/02/2009 12:31 PM Filed in: Risky Science Podcast
The director of the Souther California Earthquake Center discusses recent earthquake swarms and the challenges of quake forecasting. Read More...
SIFMA Conference: Cat Bond Secondary Market Ballooned with Sellers
Mar/27/2009 12:58 PM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds | Reinsurance
Circumstances created a healthy secondary market for catastrophe bonds in 2008, even if it was mostly sellers. Read More...
SIFMA Conference: Collateral Remains King
Mar/24/2009 04:14 PM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds | Reinsurance
The risks and rewards of Treasuries, LIBOR Indexes and tri-party repos are being debated by the cat bond industry. Read More...
SIFMA Conference: Catastrophe Bonds at an “Awkward Age”
Mar/23/2009 02:53 PM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds | Reinsurance
Credit losses, illiquidity and sell offs have stunted the market’s growth. Participants look towards mid-year reinsurance renewals for signs of recovery. Read More...
ILS Conference Twitter Coverage
Mar/17/2009 02:11 PM
Check out RiskMarketNews Twitter page for updates on upcoming industry conferences. Read More...
States Consider South Carolina Incentive-Based Disaster Model
Mar/03/2009 11:50 AM Filed in: Regulation | Reinsurance
State Lawmakers Get Cat Model Update
Mar/02/2009 10:35 AM Filed in: Regulation | Modeling Firms
STOLI Puts Settlements on the Rocks
Feb/25/2009 09:46 AM Filed in: Life Structures
New PERILS Program Underscores Exposure Risk
Feb/20/2009 12:31 PM Filed in: Modeling Firms | Reinsurance
Australian Bushfires May Force Rethink on Prevention
Feb/11/2009 08:35 AM Filed in: Reinsurance | Regulation
Klaus Brings European Windstorm, Triggers Back Into Focus
Jan/27/2009 11:39 AM Filed in: Modeling Firms | Catastrophe Bonds
Over €2 billion insured loss is a possibility, but ILS trigger questions will need to wait. Read More...
Risky Science Podcast: The Global Earthquake Model
Jan/22/2009 08:20 AM Filed in: Risky Science Podcast
Dr. Ross Stein of the U.S. Geological Survey discusses the open platform initiative to understand earthquake risk. Read More...
New President, New Challenges for Risk Transfer
Jan/20/2009 10:21 AM Filed in: Regulation | Reinsurance
Inauguration day could be the start of major legislative and regulatory changes for U.S.-based alternative strategies. Read More...
P/C Reinsurers, Carriers Consider the Capital Markets Closed
Jan/14/2009 12:14 PM Filed in: Reinsurance
Executives argue capital is scarce, expensive and everyone is doing just fine anyway. Read More...
Repairing Cat Bond Collateral Damage
Jan/12/2009 11:09 AM Filed in: Catastrophe Bonds
Lehman Brothers’ collapse has made investors in catastrophe bonds once bitten and twice shy.
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A Great Job Market, Actuarially Speaking
Jan/04/2009 12:12 PM Filed in: People Moves
Number crunchers with an ILS background demand a higher premium as actuarial pros escape the financial industry’s employment meltdown. Read More...