Help

BI’s Article search uses Boolean search capabilities. If you are not familiar with these principles, here are some quick tips.

To search specifically for more than one word, put the search term in quotation marks. For example, “workers compensation”. This will limit your search to that combination of words.

To search for a combination of terms, use quotations and the & symbol. For example, “hurricane” & “loss”.

Login Register Subscribe

Reinsurance outlook stable despite catastrophes: Aon Benfield

Reprints
Reinsurance outlook stable despite catastrophes: Aon Benfield

There is no fundamental shift in the dynamic of the property/casualty reinsurance market, despite the huge catastrophe losses of 2017, and underwriting capacity remains “intact” for all lines of coverage, according a report issued Tuesday by Aon Benfield.

The reinsurance brokerage said the reinsurance sector was well-capitalized ahead of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in August and September last year, and that global reinsurance capital stood at $600 billion on Sept. 30, 2017, which was 1% higher than the end of 2016.

The hurricane losses were spread among insurers and reinsurers, the report said. “The California wildfires added to the bill in the fourth quarter, but the sense remains that these were earnings events for the industry,” the report said.

Of the $600 billion in capital, $518 billion was from traditional reinsurers and $82 billion was from alternative capital providers such as collateralized reinsurance vehicles, catastrophe bonds, sidecars and industry loss warranties, according to the report.

Aon Benfield estimates that natural catastrophes generated $128 billion in insured losses in 2017, slightly less than the $136 billion estimate of Swiss Re Ltd. and the $135 billion estimated by Munich Reinsurance Co. 

Windstorm losses accounted for $83 billion of the total, Aon Benfield said.

The losses had a limited effect on pricing, the report said: “Reinsurance pricing has moved up in lines and territories most affected by recent losses, but we expect this trend to be relatively short-lived, given the amount of new capital entering the sector.”

Reinsurance brokers reported price increases at Jan. 1 renewals, but the hikes were lower than had been expected.

 

 

 

 

Read Next

  • Insurers, reinsurers to get 5% to 20% hikes: Morgan Stanley

    Commercial property/casualty and reinsurance pricing will improve 5% to 20%, largely as a result of substantial 2017 catastrophe losses, but increases could be blunted by the presence of ample alternative capital, according to research Wednesday from Morgan Stanley Co.