1. March
2013
GLOBAL INSURANCE SOLUTIONS
REINSURANCE MARKET REVIEW
HISTORY OVERVIEW CASE STUDY
From the 1990 and Financial statistics, Non-sanctioned
up to now classes of business, potential capacity
loss history
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2. HISTORY OF
THE RUSSIAN INSURANCE MARKET
The history of the modern Russian insurance & reinsurance left to the domestic players. At the moment there are over
market started in 1990. We can consider the Russian 200 insurance companies operating in Russia, and over 50 of
reinsurance market to become relatively independent around them accept risks from abroad.
1992 when the first national reinsurance companies began to Now, we would like to come to the main factors
appear. promoting the further development of the Russian
Currently, the Russian reinsurance market is represented reinsurance market and its integration into the global market.
by three groups of operators providing inward reinsurance 1. On the 1st of January 2012 the minimum requirement for
services. The first group is composed of Russian composite the share capital for companies licensed to operate as
insurance companies, also involved in reinsurance. The second inward reinsurers was increased from USD 4.07 Mio to
group consists of Russian specialized reinsurance companies USD 16.3 Mio. This will lead to the increase of
(licensed exclusively for reinsurance). And finally, foreign reinsurance capacities, improve reliability of the
insurance and reinsurance companies can be referred as the reinsurance market and force occasional (weak) players
third group. to leave the market.
Division of market sectors between these groups and their 2. Lately western reinsurance companies started to
specialization can be described in general as follows: reconsider the terms of reinsurance treaties concluded
Foreign reinsurers are involved in reinsurance of large with Russian insurers. Top international reinsurers have
property, engineering and marine risks. Russian begun to pay more attention to terms and limits of
specialized reinsurers operate in reinsurance of indirect sections. As a result, some specific risks
motor, financial risks, cargo, engineering, property previously reinsured abroad within the extensive
USD 16 mio
and other risks etc. And composite insurance treaty limits, can return to the Russian
minimal paid-up
companies do not occupy any particular market capital for reinsurance market.
niche and do not have any specialization. On one reinsurers 3.The introduction of new compulsory types of
hand, their source of inward reinsurance has been insurance led to the prompt development of the
based on the reciprocity of risk exchange with other Russian insurance market. The introduction of
insurers; on the other hand, some of composite players have compulsory liability insurance for hazardous industrial
built up sufficient capacities to reinsure significant lines of facilities (HIV) can greatly contribute to the Russian
business. reinsurance market growth, as under this law a national
It's fair to say that Russia has developed a sound reinsurance pool will be formed. Since the law on
reinsurance market, where one can find companies of different compulsory HIV liability insurance was introduced at the
value and specialization. This is confirmed by the percentage 1st of January, 2012, over 138,000 of compulsory
for premiums transferred from Russia to foreign reinsurers: the insurance contracts have been already signed with the
results of the first half of 2011 show 57% of reinsurance overall written premium exceeding RUB 5.6 billion (USD
premiums have been transferred abroad, and 43% have been 190 Mio).
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3. The Russian reinsurance market directly depends on the Comparing the Western reinsurance market to the Russian
general stability and growth rate of the domestic insurance one we can identify a number of differences. Generally speaking
market. The reinsurance industry surprisingly easy to it is possible to place a major risk in the Russian market at a
overcame the difficulties of recent years. Many companies lower cost and with more reasonable deductibles. According to
have come out of the financial crisis with relatively good Western reinsurers, the difference between Russian and Western
results. Russian insurance market recently has been showing facultative reinsurance lies mainly in the area of the cost of
a clear positive trend. It is steadily growing at some 15-17% reinsurance coverage for certain risks. Due to some internal and
per year and gradually approaches the international external factors Russian reinsurance industry enjoys lower
operational standards. production costs leading to rather attractive pricing for
The Russian market has successfully overcome the test reinsurance products. This does not mean that our reinsurance
of paying large losses. For example, Russian reinsurance is cheap, but if compared to the international market, does not
market has covered more than half of a USD 31 Mio loss due seem that expensive.
to 2006 accident at Azovstal Metallurgical Palnt in Ukraine. A Russian reinsurers have learned to operate in accordance
substantial part of the USD 75 Mio loss caused by fire at the within the best Western standards and have made transparent
warehouse of Protek Company - the largest pharmaceutical their financial performance. At the same time the cost of
distributor in the country, was also paid up by Russian reinsurance in the Russian market is lower (And this cost is
reinsurers. inevitably included into the basic rate for the original insured).
Concordia an Industrial Complex in Kaliningrad region With this in view, it appears rather dubious whether to consider
suffered a huge fire on June 11, 2010. Total sum insured the fact that the risk is reinsured in the international market (at a
under the policy of Military Insurance Company exceeded higher price and with no guaranteed reliability) to be really
USD 100 Mio. advantageous for the client.
The main part of the risk was placed under a treaty with Another important advantage of our market is our highly
the leaders of Russian and international markets. As a result educated and professional staff grown up in Russian reinsurance
Concordia received from the insurer reimbursement in the companies. In addition to the traditionally good basic education
amount of USD 70 Mio. many Russian underwriters, lawyers, financial officers have
That’s why we can say that Russian companies are able passed training abroad and/or have got academic degrees. To
to provide reliable reinsurance cover for larger risks. operate in the international market it is vitally important to speak
Rating of financial stability is an important indicator of foreign languages fluently. The majority of Russian underwriters
the company’s financial standing. With the assistance of the engaged in foreign reinsurance speak English or other
international rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's, international languages. In any case brokers are ready to assist
Fitch Ratings, A.M.Best and Moody's Russian reinsurance in this issue.
market has made a good step forward in this direction. Today foreign business is an important trend which supports
Today nearly two dozen insurance and reinsurance the positive development of the national reinsurance market. The
companies in Russia including almost all national market share of foreign risks in the portfolio of Russian Reinsurance
leaders are rated by international agencies. Let me remind companies has been steadily growing for the last six years and
you that Russia's sovereign rating is BBB in accordance to reached almost one third of the overall reinsurance premiums
the S&P scale. Besides, there are a number of reinsurance written by them in 2012 - 32%.
operators in Russia who being one of the industry leaders, In view of the growing demand for alternative capacities in
have no international ratings. the world market the share of risks coming to Russian reinsurers
Such companies, e.g. Soglasie, from abroad (mostly from the Middle East and South-East Asia)
Military Insurance Company (VSK) and some others are is getting larger and larger.
without doubt strong players in the reinsurance market. In conclusion we would like to mention the unique feature of
However, thanks to their specialization in servicing domestic the Russian reinsurance market. From the very beginning of the
clientele they have never applied for the international rating. 1990s our reinsurance market has been completely open to
Nevertheless this in no way prevents them from actively foreign players, and all this time Russian companies have been
accepting inward risks from abroad. directly competing with the leaders of the international
Today Russian reinsurance market does not claim to be reinsurance industry. And not they only did survive, but just in 20
a worldwide leader. However, along with leading markets we years have covered the path that Western reinsurers have been
always need supporting markets. And as a supporting passing for centuries. And now Russian reinsurers are catching
capacity, we are quite successfully. up the leaders of the market.
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9. MAJOR RUSSIAN INSURANCE LOSSES
Over the past twelve years the 2010
Russian insurance & reinsurance market
USD 1.5 Mio - explosion
has become a mature, well-managed
at metal producing plant in
and regulated part of Russian economic
Ukraine
life. In 2012 more then 10 bn USD have
USD 2.2 Mio - loss of an
been paid by Russian companies to
Indonesian space satellite
their clients both locally and abroad.
USD 200 Mio - loss on a
Russian Insurers have accumulated a
hydro plant in Russia
unique experience of handling all types
USD 70 Mio - loss as
of losses - marine, space, engineering, Max loss
a result of an
property, power generation, aviation,
earthquake over 315 million US
CAT. Due to the vast territory of Russia Dollars
USD 35 Mio - loss
as a result of
and different types of climate zones our
at new power plant explosion on a
surveyors know how to deal with losses metal producing
USD 100 Mio - loss
in tundra, the desert, mountains or even plant
at meat producing plant 2005
within conditions of permanent frozen
USD 2.5 Mio - helicopter USD 2.5 Mio - marine loss
ground. Below you will see a brief
crash USD 2 Mio - damage of the Boeing 767
overview of some of the losses paid by
aircraft
the Russian market in the past twelve 2009
years, believe us - this is just a small
USD 34.2 Mio - partial loss of a Russian 2004
number of them - for a more in-depth
space satellite USD 1.2 Mio - marine loss
analysis we would need much more
USD 16.4 Mio - loss of an Аirbus 310-324 USD 1.1 Mio - marine loss
time and space than this presentation
USD 10 Mio - loss due to fire at logistic USD 1 Mio - marine loss
allows us. In any case we would be
center in Russia
delighted to answer any questions you
USD 10 Mio - agriculture loss in Russia 2003
may have or supply you particular
USD 1.1 Mio - marine loss
details on any of the mentioned losses. 2008 USD 0.9 Mio - cargo loss
USD 3.5 Mio - marine loss
2012
USD 2.7 Mio - marine loss 2002
USD 38.5 Mio - total loss of a Russian
USD 2.2 Mio - marine loss USD 9 Mio - CAT event in Peru
space satellite
USD 3 Mio - cash in transit USD 7 Mio - explosion at metal producing
USD 5.2 Mio - agriculture loss in Russia
plant in Russia
USD 2 Mio - CAT loss in North Korea 2007
USD 315.4 Mio - explosion at metal 2001
2011
producing plant in Russia USD 1 Mio - fire in a shopping center
USD 28.7 Mio - loss of AN-148 aircraft
USD 12.2 Mio - total loss of a Russian
USD 70 Mio - total loss of a Russian
space satellite 2000
space satellite
USD 12.2 Mio - total loss of a Russian
USD 2.3 Mio - agriculture loss in Russia 2006 space satellite
USD 75 Mio - loss due to fire at logistic USD 9 Mio - loss during construction of
center in Russia an irrigation system
USD 4.4 Mio - total loss of a Russian USD 1.9 Mio - loss during construction of
space satellite a business center
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10. GLINSO OVERSEAS
risks from South-East Asia is a
great example.
The markets which were
GLINSO Insurance Brokers started
treated outsiders 20 years ago
overseas activities since early 2011, one and
are strong competitors to
a half year after incorporation.
Europe or London now. We
Today we are working with over one
believe a worldwide force in
hundred fifty companies capable to deal with
whole insurance industry is by
inward reinsurance. We have strong
far greater then classic scheme
partnership relations with over 30 countries,
to secure all the business in a
and are proud to add - with no overdue claim
limited number of the usual big
payments.
companies.
We are very happy with our positive
Diversification is a must
working experience with Russian, Indian,
for insurance business itself Over 30
African, Chinese reinsures.
enforcing the effect of large
Where traditional markets find some partner
numbers. And history shows
types of business unworthy of their time, countries
diversification is strongly
Russians enjoyed a trustworthy profitable
required not only for
business for the last years. Selective marine
mathematical reasons, but for
political risks also.
We are also very interested in additional
Diversification high level capacity which non-classical
is a must for insurance overseas Reinsurers can surely provide.
business itself enforcing We are hoping for a very positive, strong
the effect of large and longterm cooperation with the market and
numbers law. hope our suggestions will be taken into
account.
GLINSO REINSURANCE MARKET REVIEW
21 Noviy Arbat str., Office 1233
Moscow, 119019, Russia