Industry loss warranties (ILWs), are a type of reinsurance contract used in the insurance industry through which one party will purchase protection based on the total loss arising from an event to the entire insurance industry above a certain trigger level rather than their own losses.[1]
For example, the buyer of a "$100million limit US Wind ILW attaching at $20bn" will pay a premium to a protection writer (generally a reinsurer but sometimes a hedge fund) and in return will receive $100million if total losses to the insurance industry from a single US hurricane exceed $20bn. The industry loss ($20bn in this case) is often referred to as the "trigger". The amount of protection offered by the contract ($100million in this case) is referred to as the "limit".
ILWs could also be constructed based on an index not linked to insurance industry losses. For example, Professor Lawrence A. Cunningham of George Washington University suggests adapting similar mechanisms to the risks that large auditing firms face in cases asserting massive securities law damages.[2]
These agreements are usually documented as reinsurance contracts between the parties but can also be described as financial derivatives. If so, in addition to the industry loss trigger the contract will include an "ultimate net loss clause" which specifies that the protection buyer must demonstrate that they have lost a specified amount as well. ILWs are sometimes referred to as original loss warranties or Original Market Loss Warranties, but this usage is becoming increasingly rare.
The first contracts of this type were traded in the 1980s. This market remained fairly small (though influential in price setting for reinsurance as these contracts are more consistent than most reinsurance treaties) through Hurricane Katrina. The entry of many hedge funds into the market (for which ILWs are a preferred trading vehicle) along with the breakdown of the retrocessional reinsurance market (reinsurance for reinsurers) led to the growth of the ILW market.
The ILW market has no recognized exchange or clearing source to track volumes. Size estimates range from $2bn to $10bn outstanding (Aon plc, Nephila). The pre-Katrina market in terms of outstanding contracts was likely near the low end of that range and the post Katrina market is likely to have moved upward within that range.
Loss measurementedit
In the United States the Property Claims Services, a division of the Insurance Services Office (ISO), is generally the source for industry loss estimates for perils. SIGMA, a division of Swiss Re, is often the source for such losses outside the US, with Munich Re's NatCAT Service appearing more and more often on ex-US business.
Common contracts and market dynamicsedit
The benchmark contract for the market for a number of years around Hurricane Katrina was $20bn US Wind and Quake. A number of other US Wind and Quake zones as well as Japanese Quake and European windstorm and various second event coverages also trade in the market.
Many catastrophe bonds are triggered by industry-based triggers and trade with reference to pricing in the ILW markets.
These contracts are often negotiated directly between parties. In addition, brokers including Willis and Access Re publish estimated bid and offer levels and attempt to arrange trades. Catastrophe bond traders including Swiss Re and Goldman Sachs may also trade these instruments.
Typesedit
Live cat contract - are contracts traded while an event is in progress—usually a hurricane approaching land.
Dead cat contract - are traded on an event that had already occurred, but for which the total amount of industry loss is not yet known. Some market participants refer to contracts against perils which are out of season (for example, hurricane contracts outside of hurricane season) as dead cats.
Back-up covers - provide protection for events that occur following the occurrence of a catastrophe.
^Iranya Joseph (November 13, 2017). "Understanding Industry Loss Warranties (ILW's)".
^Lawrence A. Cunningham, Securitizing Audit Failure Risk: An Alternative to Damages Caps, William & Mary Law Review (2007)
External linksedit
Access Reinsurance Inc
Guy Carpenter ILW blog
Conference on Insurance- and Risk-Linked Securities (the Bond Markets Association)
On the Basis Risk of Industry Loss Warranties (2000 article by Lixin Zeng)
Hedging Catastrophe Risk Using Index-Based Reinsurance Instruments, Casualty Actuarial Society Forum, Vol. Spring, 245-268 (2003 by Lixin Zeng)
International Society of Catastrophe Managers
Reinsurance Guru - reinsurance news and analysis Web-site
Industry Loss Warranties coverage from Artemis.bm 2
April 11, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Industry loss warranty news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Industry loss warranties ILWs are a type of reinsurance contract used in the insurance industry through which one party will purchase protection based on the total loss arising from an event to the entire insurance industry above a certain trigger level rather than their own losses 1 For example the buyer of a 100million limit US Wind ILW attaching at 20bn will pay a premium to a protection writer generally a reinsurer but sometimes a hedge fund and in return will receive 100million if total losses to the insurance industry from a single US hurricane exceed 20bn The industry loss 20bn in this case is often referred to as the trigger The amount of protection offered by the contract 100million in this case is referred to as the limit ILWs could also be constructed based on an index not linked to insurance industry losses For example Professor Lawrence A Cunningham of George Washington University suggests adapting similar mechanisms to the risks that large auditing firms face in cases asserting massive securities law damages 2 These agreements are usually documented as reinsurance contracts between the parties but can also be described as financial derivatives If so in addition to the industry loss trigger the contract will include an ultimate net loss clause which specifies that the protection buyer must demonstrate that they have lost a specified amount as well ILWs are sometimes referred to as original loss warranties or Original Market Loss Warranties but this usage is becoming increasingly rare Contents 1 History 2 Loss measurement 3 Common contracts and market dynamics 4 Types 5 See also 6 Sources 7 External linksHistory editThe first contracts of this type were traded in the 1980s This market remained fairly small though influential in price setting for reinsurance as these contracts are more consistent than most reinsurance treaties through Hurricane Katrina The entry of many hedge funds into the market for which ILWs are a preferred trading vehicle along with the breakdown of the retrocessional reinsurance market reinsurance for reinsurers led to the growth of the ILW market The ILW market has no recognized exchange or clearing source to track volumes Size estimates range from 2bn to 10bn outstanding Aon plc Nephila The pre Katrina market in terms of outstanding contracts was likely near the low end of that range and the post Katrina market is likely to have moved upward within that range Loss measurement editIn the United States the Property Claims Services a division of the Insurance Services Office ISO is generally the source for industry loss estimates for perils SIGMA a division of Swiss Re is often the source for such losses outside the US with Munich Re s NatCAT Service appearing more and more often on ex US business Common contracts and market dynamics editThe benchmark contract for the market for a number of years around Hurricane Katrina was 20bn US Wind and Quake A number of other US Wind and Quake zones as well as Japanese Quake and European windstorm and various second event coverages also trade in the market Many catastrophe bonds are triggered by industry based triggers and trade with reference to pricing in the ILW markets These contracts are often negotiated directly between parties In addition brokers including Willis and Access Re publish estimated bid and offer levels and attempt to arrange trades Catastrophe bond traders including Swiss Re and Goldman Sachs may also trade these instruments Types editLive cat contract are contracts traded while an event is in progress usually a hurricane approaching land Dead cat contract are traded on an event that had already occurred but for which the total amount of industry loss is not yet known Some market participants refer to contracts against perils which are out of season for example hurricane contracts outside of hurricane season as dead cats Back up covers provide protection for events that occur following the occurrence of a catastrophe See also editAlternative risk transfer Reinsurance Catastrophe bond Reinsurance sidecarSources edit Iranya Joseph November 13 2017 Understanding Industry Loss Warranties ILW s Lawrence A Cunningham Securitizing Audit Failure Risk An Alternative to Damages Caps William amp Mary Law Review 2007 External links editAccess Reinsurance Inc Guy Carpenter ILW blog Conference on Insurance and Risk Linked Securities the Bond Markets Association On the Basis Risk of Industry Loss Warranties 2000 article by Lixin Zeng Financial Innovation article by EnsureEgypt Hedging Catastrophe Risk Using Index Based Reinsurance Instruments Casualty Actuarial Society Forum Vol Spring 245 268 2003 by Lixin Zeng International Society of Catastrophe Managers Reinsurance Guru reinsurance news and analysis Web site Industry Loss Warranties coverage from Artemis bm2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Industry loss warranty amp oldid 1080403481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
