Cory Anger, Global Head of ILS Origination and Structuring at GC Securities* Contact Industry Must Adapt to Emerging Segmentation Phase Pricing declines continued in the insurance-linked securities (ILS) segment of alternative capital. In turn, this has prompted questions about the sustainability of lower pricing and capacity post-catastrophe event, suggesting that traditional reinsurers’ models and the traditional reinsurance and alternative capital mix of capital sources still need to evolve. Maintaining premium rate adequacy and stable capacity requires better access to the expanding sources of capital and awareness of the benefits of better risk syndication and segmentation, according to David Priebe, Vice Chairman at Guy Carpenter and Cory Anger, Global Head of ILS Origination and Structuring at GC Securities. This year the capital and premium rate level adequacy and cedents’ efforts to fully access and utilize the capital most efficiently,” says Mr. Priebe. “GC Securities’ review of target returns of superannuation funds (1) reveals that the largest and most stable portion of alternative capital - pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and endowments - is still priced adequately despite significant premium rate reductions since 2012,” says Ms. Anger. “Pricing is likely to remain adequate even with projected rate declines (subject to industry loss activity) for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017.” “Traditional reinsurers are able to lower their cost of capital through their own use of alternative capital as they replace equity capital with collateralized retrocession (2), sidecars, collateralized quota share reinsurance and repositioning of books of business through strategic underwriting practices,” asserts Mr. Priebe. “Despite the companies’ use of alternative capital, however, traditional reinsurer equityholders’ returns have not improved.” According to a GC Securities analysis at mid-August 2016, Bermuda reinsurers’ 2016 average return on equity is estimated at approximately 7.6 percent, down from 10 percent in 2015. “Alternative capital sources can accommodate further premium rate reductions and still maintain price adequacy,” says Ms. Anger, “but traditional reinsurers may not be able to withstand rate declines with their already subpar equity returns.” Link to Part II>> Click here to register to receive e-mail updates >> Notes: 1. Based on review of superannuation funds’ annual reports. For example, the New Zealand Superannuation Fund has a minimum return hurdle of Treasury Bill return plus 2.7 percent over any 20-year moving average period; Australia’s Future Fund seeks to achieve an annual return of at least Consumer Price Index plus 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent; and U.S. pension funds targets as disclosed in their annual reports. 2. Two thirds of the industry’s overall retrocession limits are sourced from alternative capital, according to Guy Carpenter. *Securities or investments, as applicable, are offered in the United States through GC Securities, a division of MMC Securities LLC, a US registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/NFA/SIPC. Main Office: 1166 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. Phone: (212) 345-5000. Securities or investments, as applicable, are offered in the European Union by GC Securities, a division of MMC Securities (Europe) Ltd. (MMCSEL), which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, main office 25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HS. Reinsurance products are placed through qualified affiliates of Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC. MMC Securities LLC, MMC Securities (Europe) Ltd. and Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC are affiliates owned by Marsh & McLennan Companies. This communication is not intended as an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any security, financial instrument, reinsurance or insurance product. **GC Analytics is a registered mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.