Insurance Linked Securities Interviews

When it comes to building a portfolio of insurance-linked securities (ILS) and reinsurance linked investments, there is more to quality and return potential than simply following models, according to Chin Liu of Amundi Pioneer.

David Brown, Chairman and interim CEO of Bermuda-based reinsurer Hamilton Re, has said that reinsurers should be looking for “better pricing and better terms” at the end of year renewals.

Specialty insurance and reinsurance player Brit Ltd. is targeting further growth of its insurance-linked securities (ILS) activities, with expansion of the Sussex Capital platform anticipated, according to Chris Denton.

The COVID-crisis is “game-changing”, according to Hannover Re executive board member Sven Althoff. He compared it to events like 9/11 and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005 in the impact it was having on the reinsurance cycle.

Should uncertainty over eventual losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic result in the trapping of significant amounts of retro capital at the end of 2020, the upwards pressure on rates in the market should be expected to persist, Philipp Rüede of Swiss Re said.

The fact that it is primarily private equity capital looking to replenish the reinsurance industry’s coffers is unlikely to dampen the effects of rate hardening in the near term, according to Luca Albertini, chief executive of Leadenhall Capital Partners LLP.

Christian Mumenthaler, Chief Executive Officer of the world’s largest reinsurance company Swiss Re, joined us this month, to discuss how his company has fared since the pandemic, the state of the market and what his outlook and priorities are for 2021.

The backing of newcos and recapitalising of existing re/insurers by private equity is a return to more traditional practices, thinks Rupert Swallow, CEO of newly rebranded Gallagher Re.

Global reinsurer Swiss Re, which has been expanding its alternative reinsurance capital strategies in recent years, is seeing the “beginning of an influx” of capital into insurance-linked securities (ILS), something it believes will continued, Philipp Rüede, Head of the firms Alternative Capital Partners unit told us.

The global pandemic is accelerating the hard reinsurance market, according to Jean-Paul Conoscente, chief executive officer of SCOR Global P&C.