Insurance: M&Action.
Two significant mergers have been confirmed this month and a third is on the cards. Speculation is rife about a spate of consolidation in the insurance industry.
Asset Risk: I see ships.
BRAVE Partners believes that Allianz is leading the way in investment strategy. Bloomberg reported: "Allianz flight from stocks leads it to Chicago parking meters and wind farms". At BRAVE Partners, physical assets are the New Black
Insurance: Wooof!
The expectation of claims in professional indemnity and credit lines might finally be materialising. BRAVE Partners believes that this is the time for an insurer to take good quality financial risks. Insurers might are shying away. This leaves the door wide open for private capital.
Pensions: Readers: Digest!
The Reader’s Digest UK pension scheme is looking for someone to fill the £ 125m funding deficit in the face of the collapse of its sponsor and a Chapter 11 filing by its sponsor's US parent. This highlights the issues around pension deficits within international businesses.
ILS: Cat-bond-atrophy.
Thomson Reuters reports the cat bond investors are demanding more detailed data before investing. The surprise to BRAVE Partners is that it has taken this long. The firm has long espoused that a seasoned underwriter is an essential ingredient when investing in insurance risks.
Pensions: Born for life.
Several institutions have formed the Life and Longevity Markets Association (LLMA). BRAVE Partners applauds the move. Insurance companies are the natural market for longevity. However, the firm still remains skeptical as to how much capacity there is. BRAVE Partners suggests an asset strategy to mitigate longevity risk.
Carbon trading: The state of the [global] union.
Obama seems to have pulled further away from cap-and-trade in his State of the Union address.
Insurance