Alternative Capital: The Next Evolution - PartnerRe

1 Alternative capital : The next Evolution In recent years, Alternative reinsurance capital has become more Things changed after hurricane Katrina issuer-friendly with a series of innovations that have reduced costs, in 2005. The loss resulted in a dearth broadened coverage and introduced more efficient and flexible of traditional reinsurance capacity and a products. Niraj Patel, ILS Portfolio Manager, sets out the ways in which sharp increase in price. Some buyers Alternative capital is adapting to meet the ever-evolving needs of the particularly Florida insurers were unable to secure sufficient reinsurance insurance industry. In this paper he illustrates how Alternative capital at any price. This created a void which has become an integral part of many insurers' risk-transfer strategy. catastrophe bonds quickly filled. Sidecars and other types of insurance securitizations also emerged during this period.

2 National and global insurers, recognizing the merits of diversifying sources of capacity, began allocating a portion of their reinsurance budget to catastrophe bonds and other forms of Alternative capital . Alternative capital continued to steadily penetrate the market even as pricing for reinsurance dropped. Today, it accounts for over 20% of the property catastrophe market and is expected to continue to gain market share. Until recently, the market for reinsurance prohibitive for all but the largest insurers. resembled a closed eco-system; participation Early investors appreciated the merits of Alternative capital growing at a faster was limited to a well-defined group of buyers uncorrelated bonds, but the scale of the rate than traditional reinsurance capital and sellers. Rated reinsurance companies, market was too small to consider it an Total global reinsurance capital currently capitalized with private and public asset class so catastrophe bonds were stands at $565 billion as of 2Q 2015, equity provided the capacity, and price relegated to the periphery of the eco- up from $455 billion in 20112 (Exhibit 1).

3 Fluctuations were based on the availability system present, but not causing too This growth has persisted despite of capital from these reinsurers. much of a disruption. capital management actions such as Since the turn of the century, new 600. Alternative capital participants collectively referred to as Traditional reinsurance capital Alternative capital have entered the 500. Outstanding capital ($ bn). eco-system generating innovations and permanently altering the structure of the 400. reinsurance market. 300. An early form of Alternative capital 200. was the catastrophe bond1, a 144a private placement, structured to provide 100. reinsurance protection. Although these early catastrophe bonds were innovative, 0. 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 IH. they were also complicated and expensive to issue. While they had their merits, Exhibit 1: Traditional and Alternative reinsurance capital .

4 Source: Aon Benfield the cost of this untested product was 1 . For background on catastrophe bonds, reader can refer to a number of available primers. One such primer can be accessed at Currents/So-You-Want-to-Issue-a-Cat-Bond /. Rule 144A is a safe harbor exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 for certain offers and sales of qualifying securities by qualified institutional buyers (QIBs). 2 . Source: The Aon Benfield Aggregate Results for the six months ended June 30, 2015. PartnerReviews November 2015. Alternative capital : The next Evolution continued share buybacks and dividends. The determining factor has been the low level of catastrophe losses since 2011. 70. Collateralized reinsurance Reinsurance prices have dropped as reinsurance capital has grown. 60 Collateralized ILW. Alternative capital has also grown during Sidecars Outstanding amount in USD billions this period.

5 As of 2Q 2015, it is estimated to be $68 billion, providing 22% of the 50. Cat bonds property catastrophe capacity in the market3. The most commonly recognized 40. form of Alternative capital catastrophe bonds issued as 144a private placements have grown at a 20% rate since 2002 30. (Exhibit 2). Buyer's perspective 20. Catastrophe bonds have always had traits that made them a viable complement to traditional reinsurance (see box below). 10. The cost and complexity associated with issuance, however, initially limited their 0. usage to certain large insurers. As these 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015. hurdles have come down, growth has been Q2. achieved due to increased utilization by repeat issuers and new issuers accessing Exhibit 2: Growth of Alternative reinsurance capital . Source: Aon Benfield capital markets for the first time.

6 As the efficiency, effectiveness, and is generally quoted net of these frictional A sponsor of a catastrophe bond flexibility of accessing Alternative capital expenses. This is similar to other fixed (ceding company) typically bears the has improved, many insurers have started income securities, in that the quoted following costs: thinking of Alternative capital as an integral, spread is the spread investors earn, if not a dominant, part of their overall assuming that security is purchased at par. 1. The spread over risk-free rate paid to reinsurance strategy. This differs from traditional reinsurance, the investors. where it is common practice to quote This is the premium the ceding company Every component of the cost has been a rate gross of brokerage and other pays for its reinsurance protection. driven down expenses. This gross rate needs to be In a typical catastrophe bond, the ceding adjusted down by brokerage, taxes and 2.

7 Frictional costs, including: company bears expenses associated with other expenses to arrive at a net premium a. The marketing and placement agent the issuance. Catastrophe bond spread the reinsurer would achieve. fees, which can be thought of as equivalent to reinsurance brokerage. Benefits of catastrophe bonds to sponsors b. The costs of establishing a special Insurance companies have been attracted to catastrophe bonds for their risk- purpose vehicle, including: transfer needs due to the following advantages they offer: legal fees indenture and other documents a. D iversification of sources of risk capital : Catastrophe bonds expand the trustee source of capacity available to the insurer; mitigating the reliance on traditional reinsurance products; c. The cost of additional service providers, b. Reduced counterparty risk: Catastrophe bonds are fully collateralized, which including: provides robust protection, even in extreme loss scenarios that could impair the independent, third-party modeling financial viability of professional reinsurers; and agent that performs risk c.

8 Multi-year coverage: Whereas reinsurance is typically offered on an annual characterization of the security basis, catastrophe bonds often provide protection for a multi-year period. calculation agent rating agency 3 . Based on estimated property catastrophe reinsurance capacity of $310 billion. PartnerReviews November 2015 2. Alternative capital : The next Evolution continued The spread, or risk premium, the capital markets, has reduced cost trigger. Catastrophe bonds have also demanded by investors has dropped and increased flexibility. Shelf offering started including new, often unmodeled, over the last few years involves creating a platform for multiple perils ( inclusion of volcanic eruption Since the early days in mid-1990s when note issuances, thereby amortizing fixed and meteorite impact in USAA's insurance risk was first securitized, costs over many issuances.)

9 Moreover, a Residential Re transactions issued in catastrophe bonds have gone through shelf program offers a ceding company 2014-2015). These non-modeled or less multiple market and reinsurance cycles the ability to opportunistically purchase well-modeled perils require traditional and are now an accepted asset class. additional reinsurance cover as pricing reinsurance underwriting practices such Whereas in the past, there was a novelty changes over time. Finally, it encourages as actuarial analysis to characterize premium charged, this has been eliminated ongoing dialogue between the ceding risks. Finally, there has been a continued through competition. The investor base company and investors, which increases broadening of terms and conditions (such has broadened and many investors have familiarity and can result in improved as hours clause, definition of perils, increased their allocation as they pricing and terms for repeat issuances.

10 Covered territory and subject business). have recognized the attractiveness of These changes have brought the coverage catastrophe bonds relative to other asset A significant number of catastrophe bonds provided by catastrophe bonds closer to classes, such as high-yield corporate bonds. are now issued without a rating due to the traditional reinsurance. Finally, as a truly diversifying asset class comfort level investors have developed, in a multi-asset portfolio, investors probably hiring of high-quality underwriting talent, While indemnity triggers are considered have tolerance for even lower risk premiums. and availability and affordability of risk more issuer friendly , due to the modeling platforms. elimination of basis risk, it is interesting From a reinsurer's perspective, this to note that parametric triggers have pricing trend may appear aggressive, The net result is that in recent years, the recently made a comeback but this but it is important to recognize that price differential ceding companies have time due to ceding company, rather than catastrophe bonds are typically a small to pay for reinsurance protection through investor preference.