Repeating Mistakes

Lloyd’s international casualty reinsurance underwriters are running the risk of repeating the same mistakes that have placed the market in difficulty in the past, according to a new poll of Lloyd’s reinsurance specialists.

The survey conducted by the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA), revealed that 68 percent of casualty treaty underwriters believe that by offering more relaxed terms and conditions, the market could be repeating historical mistakes.

Ninety-five percent of respondents said that they had seen softening of terms and conditions in the international casualty market and 39 percent believed that more than half of those changes were having a material impact on underwriters’ exposures.

Worryingly for the market, 71 percent of those surveyed thought that differential terms across a placement were becoming more prevalent at Lloyd’s, the LMA survey revealed. (Differential terms are when some following carriers on a reinsurance slip or on a different layer underwrite the risk on terms and conditions different to those agreed by the slip’s lead carrier.)

In terms of market conditions, underwriters felt that rates were at the bottom of the cycle, or were approaching bottom. The vast majority felt that current prices were unsustainable. Considering these conditions, underwriters were surprised that clients were not buying more international casualty reinsurance protection.

Two-thirds of underwriters said they had declined more renewal business in 2015 than the previous year. Broadening terms and conditions was the reason most commonly cited for their decision not to renew, followed by pricing considerations and poor loss experience.

“This is a fairly informal survey but its results point strongly towards a buyer’s market in which traditional underwriter discipline is under considerable pressure,” said Patrick Davison, the LMA’s senior executive – underwriting.

“The growth in the prevalence of differential terms is particularly disturbing. These create headaches for the market’s back office and the efficiency with which claims in a subscription market can be managed. Differential terms might be one indicator that some reinsurers have concluded further amendments to coverage or retentions are unsustainable,” Davison said. “This view is supported by the clear perception in the market that the bottom of the cycle is approaching, as highlighted by the increasing number of underwriters declining business.”

The LMA’s survey of members of its international casualty treaty business panel took place during August 2015. Respondents represented three-quarters (by gross written premium) of the international casualty treaty market in Lloyd’s.