September 2013/3

The traditional stand-off between brokers and reinsurers over where prices are headed has been replaced by a proxy war of words over the impact of alternative reinsurance capital. The Insurance Insider compares and contrasts their views...

Another significant dynamic in the reinsurance market that has not been given sufficient attention is the impact of higher interest rates on the industry's balance sheet, according to Guy Carpenter's global head of business intelligence David Flandro.

With so much focus on the property cat reinsurance evolution being driven by alternative capital, other lines of business appear to have been sidelined in much of the Monte Carlo chatter this year.

Scor plans to increase its capacity for cat risk while reshaping its retrocession programme in favour of greater quota-share cover to protect earnings.

Lloyd's insurer Ark Underwriting is making rapid progress in overhauling the capital structure of Syndicate 4020 as it awaits final sign-off on the financing of its management buyout, The Insurance Insider understands.

Former Willis CEO Joe Plumeri has halved his holding in the company since he relinquished that role at the turn of the year.

Endurance Specialty's appetite for property cat business is "unchanged", according to the Bermudian's reinsurance CEO Jerome Faure.

Ace has dropped Atrium from its reinsurance security list after the Lloyd's underwriter was sold to run-off acquirer Enstar, The Insurance Insider has learned.

With its A- ratings under negative review by AM Best, Bermudian reinsurer SAC Re is thought to be hot in pursuit of a new partner to replace beleaguered hedge fund SAC Capital.

ILS market nears peak: S&P; Rothesay sale; CLIPS: US price rises slow...; ... but momentum holds says MarketScout; Endurance Asia Pac cat; Solvency II delay; Brit Bermuda launch; Canopius boosts profit; Power claims; Aon Benfield lures; Woods hire; EUR180mn hail loss; Flood Re bill drafted; Lancashire deal approval; Clark leaves Deloitte; Montpelier Re launch; AQR Re hires CUO; Uniqa EUR700mn+ equity raise; Argo expands political risk

Following an extensive consultation with the market, Lloyd's has said that the most likely successor to CEO Richard Ward will be a candidate with a background in the sector.

Just under a quarter of reinsurers and reinsurance brokers said profitability would improve in the Middle East and North Africa over the next 12 months, according to a survey published by the Qatar Financial Centre.