All GR Focus articles – Page 3
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GR Focus
No pain, no gain
The implementation of Europe-wide capital adequacy regulation, Solvency II, will be a huge landmark for the insurance industry. Set to be implemented by 2012, it will have a significant impact on the capital structures of insurance companies and how risk is managed. As organisations endeavour to become Solvency II-compliant, many ...
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GR Focus
The cashmere market
Rates are plummeting again across the reinsurance industry as the soft market tightens its grip. Brian Boornazian looks at each line and makes his predictions for 2008.
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GR Focus
To return or not to return?
Roger Sellek examines the pros and cons of returning capital to shareholders in today’s rapidly softening market.
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GR Focus
Settling or sinking?
Do softening reinsurance rates spell a return to the pricing nadir of 1999/2000, or are reinsurers simply giving something back after two good years? asks Jason Howard.
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GR Focus
GR Focus - Fragile world
Climate change is rising up the insurance agenda but so far the industry has lacked a holistic approach to the risks it poses. Inaction will be extremely expensive, warn Keith Leung and Ed Messer.
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GR Focus
Avoiding a bloodbath
Fears that falling rates may herald another bloodbath underestimate the technical knowledge that reinsurers have acquired, argues Raj Ahuja.
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GR Focus
Back to the future
Hurricane Katrina’s floating casinos were an expensive lesson in how poor data quality can cost insurers millions of dollars. Two years on, Matthew Grant looks at what has improved.
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GR Focus
Derailing TRIA
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act will sunset on 31 December 2007. A bill proposing its renewal for the next 15 years should provide much needed stability. But only if it does not mandate insurers to cover attacks using weapons of mass destruction. Ben McKay explains why.
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GR Focus
Global terror map
Terrorist threats are constantly evolving, making life for insurers particularly difficult. Exclusive Analysis presents a snapshot of terror trends around the globe and what they could mean for insurers and reinsurers.
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GR Focus
A terrorist’s mind
Political risk underwriters do not attempt to get inside a terrorist’s mind. Solid underwriting principles apply as much to this sector as any other. David James describes the evolution of a market with confused origins and an uncertain future.
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GR Focus
Thinking and acting global
How global is reinsurance really? Sean Mooney looks at how the industry scores against the Stanford School of Business' key criteria for successful global businesses.
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GR Focus
There's no place like home
The London market can no longer rely on its global distribution channels, warns Luke Savage. The rapid development of local insurance markets around the world is providing new competition
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GR Focus
The lure of zero tax
Attractive tax rates have lured many insurance companies offshore. However, as Ronald Gift Mullins discovers, there is an expensive flip-side to every penny
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GR Focus
Back on the boardroom table
Claims has long been regarded as a poor relation at Lloyd’s, forgotten by the boardroom and unrecognised by the investor. Emma Jones investigates whether this is still true.
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GR Focus
Rising to the challenge
Allstate has been subpoenaed twice over its handling of Katrina claims in Mississippi and media reports have been less than favourable. Despite having settled 98% of cases, insurers continue to garner what Alex Soto believes is unfair criticism
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GR FocusClaims - Laying new foundations
The litigation is all but over and rebuilding has begun. Helen Yates asks what lessons have been learnt from the claims disputes arising from the World Trade Center loss.
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GR Focus
Coming of age
The Equitas deal has thrust run-off into the international limelight and thrown open a door of possibilities. Philip Grant explores how legacy management came of age
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GR Focus
Preventing scheme attacks
Non-US schemes of arrangement are increasingly vulnerable to attack from US cedants, via Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code. Selinda Melnik offers some advice for scheme success
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GR Focus
Exiting Bermuda style
With so many adolescent players, Bermuda is not an obvious centre for discontinued business. But Katrina provided some highly-visible run-off activity, which illustrates the market’s growing sophistication, explains Charles Thresh
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GR Focus
Risking The Future
With brokers still smarting from the effects of Eliot Spitzer's investigations, rampant diversification plans are underway throughout the industry. Some brokers are even looking to transform themselves into risk consultancies. Nick Thorpe reports.
