October 2011/5

With a flurry of proposed reinsurance start-ups looking to launch in 2012 with hedge fund and private equity backing, General Re's CEO has warned cedants about the long-term commitment of some investors in the sector.

Cat modelling agencies AIR Worldwide and Eqecat estimate that insured losses from last week's earthquake in Turkey will come to between $55mn and $200mn, meaning that reinsurers will be spared yet another significant international earthquake loss.

With Thailand's industrial heartlands still swamped and Bangkok fighting peak tides on the Chao Phraya river, the Thai Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) has increased its insured loss estimates from the country's worst flooding in 50 years.

Stockmarket optimism proved short-lived last week after Eurozone leaders finally announced its long-awaited financial restructuring plan on Thursday (27 October).

Insurers' slow adoption of the RMS Version 11 (V11) wind model on both sides of the Atlantic is influencing reinsurance demand and supply in the lead-up to the 1 January renewals.

A number of US regional insurers with reinsurance programmes that renew on 1 January bought increased limits at mid-year to hedge concerns over tighter capacity and higher rates for new cover.

The heavy tornado and hail catastrophe losses in 2011 have woken US insurers up to a "new peak risk" that will change attitudes to severe weather, according to industry experts.

US insurers looking to aggregate covers as a solution to the spate of frequency losses that have decimated earnings this year may find it difficult to secure affordable capacity, The Insurance Insider understands.

Persistently low interest rates and the spectre of inflation are prompting casualty (re)insurers to push for underwriting profitability - a goal that may necessitate rate increases of up to 25 percent across the class, according to industry experts.

Reinsurers at the PCI annual meeting in New Orleans were optimistic that reinsurance rates - at least for property cat business - would maintain their upward trajectory at the key 1 January renewals and into 2012.

Jardine Matheson's move to build up its cornerstone stake in JLT will remove the share price prop provided by the potential for a big three takeover offer, Panmure Gordon analyst Barrie Cornes has said.

Aon Corporation and Arthur J Gallagher reversed their fortunes of a year ago to post stronger organic growth than Willis Group in the third quarter.