Willis Re News

Insurance Linked Securities Market Grows to $93B in 2018: Willis Re

Growth of the insurance linked securities (ILS) market reached $93 billion in 2018, up from $88 billion during the prior year, according to the new ILS Market Update from Willis Re, the reinsurance division of Willis Towers Watson. In the …

Private Flood Insurers Not Yet Ready to Fill Massive U.S. Protection Gap

The flood insurance protection gap in the United States is massive, but the take-up rate of private flood insurance continues to be low. The relative inability of private insurers to penetrate the flood insurance market has been blamed on the …

Multiple Smaller Natural Disasters in 2018 Created ‘Unusual’ Insured Loss Picture: Willis

Insured loss estimates from major natural catastrophes in 2018 totaled roughly $71.5 billion, the highest since 2011’s annual market losses of $120 billion, according to Willis Re. However, the insured losses in 2018 are slightly less than half of those …

January Renewals Show Higher Prices for Clients with Poor Loss Records: Willis Re

Reinsurance placements at Jan. 1, 2019 highlight a pricing gap between accounts with peak peril exposures, or poor loss records, and the rest, with many reinsurers placing emphasis on the quality of client counterparties, according to the latest 1st View …

Florida Picks Up the Pieces from Powerful Hurricane Michael

It has been just over a month since Hurricane Michael slammed the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds reaching just shy of Category 5 status. The devastation from the storm that killed at least 35 people …

Insurance Linked Securities’ Issuance Reaches Record $1.6B in Q3: Willis Re

The issuance of non-life insurance linked securities during the third quarter reached a record $1.6 billion, according to a report published by Willis Re. The total exceeds the former Q3 record of $1.4 billion achieved in 2013, and is well …

Willis Research Network Renews Partnership with Global Earthquake Model Foundation

The Willis Research Network (WRN) announced it has renewed its partnership with the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation. The agreement represents a continued commitment to working collaboratively in order to develop and promote better understanding of earthquake risk. “The truly …

Momentum for Rate Hikes Dissipates During June/July Renewals: Willis Re Report

Momentum for rate increases on loss-free reinsurance accounts dissipated during the June/July property catastrophe renewals, and in some cases, pricing declined, according to a report published by Willis Re. For example, although most loss-free Florida property accounts were flat, some …

Willis Re Names Trans Re’s Vince as Deputy Head of Global Engineering

Willis Re announced the appointment of Andrew Vince as deputy head of its global engineering practice. Vince has 25 years of underwriting experience in the class, most recently as manager of engineering treaty and onshore energy at Transatlantic Re. Previously …

April Reinsurance Renewals Continue Flat Pricing Seen in January: Willis Re Report

Reinsurance buyers were able to renew loss-free programs at broadly flat pricing levels during the April 1 renewals – continuing the trend seen at the January renewals, according to a Willis Re report. Pricing was dampened by the continued amounts …