WALL ST. NEGATIVE ON RE

Neither Standard & Poor’s Financial Services Ratings Group nor investment bank Morgan Stanley is bullish on the reinsurance industry these days. S&P issued a report affirming its “negative outlook on the European reinsurance market,” and warned that it’s likely that some companies’ financial strength ratings will be downgraded. Associate Director Stephen Searby noted that despite a “9-percent growth in premium volumes in 2000,” rate increases were “patchy” and did not result in an overall improvement in the industry’s operating performance. He cited ongoing loses from the December 1999 windstorms, additional long-tail liabilities, and a deterioration in investment performance as the primary reasons for the poor results. Morgan Stanley insurance analyst Espen Nordhaus took an even more pessimistic view, warning that there would be failures in the industry as claims and damage awards continue to increase while capital investments remain stagnant or decline. The problem is particularly acute for small and medium-sized reinsurers, many of whom are “painfully under-reserved” according to Morgan Stanley, and who cannot call on a broad shareholder base to replenish their capital. Another weather event like 1999’s storms or a similar series of catastrophe losses could trigger the financial failure of a number of reinsurers.