Quiet Hurricane Season Will Lower Reinsurance Prices

The quietest U.S. Atlantic hurricane season in decades will lead to a low double-digit fall in related catastrophe reinsurance pricing in the key 2014 renewals, according to experts at Fitch Ratings.

The ratings agency said industry earnings in 2013 will be boosted by lower catastrophe payouts, but much of the extra profit is likely to be returned to investors through dividends and share buybacks, rather than being used to further bolster capital.

The Atlantic hurricane season ended on November 30 without the formation of a single major hurricane and with the fewest named hurricanes since 1982. This will maintain the pressure on U.S. excess of loss catastrophe pricing, which has already weakened in part due to surplus capacity from the growth of catastrophe bonds and other reinsurance alternatives, Fitch said.

Fitch believes a low double-digit price drop in the January renewal would be in line with the declines reported at the mid-year 2013 renewals. It also expects to see more favorable terms and conditions for reinsurance buyers, including larger limits, multiyear agreements and better terms on the reinstatement of cover.

Other regions have been harder hit by natural catastrophes in 2013, including wind storms and flooding in Europe, Canada and Australia. Prices in affected reinsurance lines are likely to rise, while in unaffected international catastrophe reinsurance lines these losses should limit price softening to a single-digit drop, according to Fitch. The ratings agency said it expects reinsurers to maintain underwriting discipline in 2014 and not look to increase capacity much further on catastrophe exposed programs either in the US or internationally.

Lower catastrophe losses will result in improved operating results in 2013 for most reinsurers. However, Fitch said, capital levels are already strong and limited demand means there are likely to be few opportunities to use new capital to generate additional business. This means reinsurers are likely to increase the amount of capital they return to shareholders in the near term, according to the analysts.

Source: Fitch Ratings