Analysis

• Going off-trail on internal models

  17 July 2014

  Over the past three years, about one in three UK insurers intending to build an internal model have scrapped their plans. More could follow before April next year, when the formal applications are due. Hugo Coelho investigates.

• Protecting the diversification credit through driver-based dependency modelling

  15 July 2014

  For many insurers, the credit for diversification in their solvency capital has become essential to the viability of the business. But justifying the credit, both internally and to regulators, is becoming more difficult. Paul O'Connor describes how driver-based modelling can help

• Bidding farewell to Lime Street

  10 July 2014

  In his last media interview before departing to join Standard Life as CFO in August, Lloyd's director of finance and operations Luke Savage talks to InsuranceERM editor Marcus Alcock about the market's recent upgrade, outperforming its peers, and the final leg of preparations for Solvency II.

• Beleaguered German insurers off the hook for reserve sharing

  03 July 2014

  The government is looking at reforms to counteract the continuing low interest rate environment. Hugo Coelho investigates

• PRA ignores insurers on matching adjustment rules

  30 June 2014

  The UK's regulator has failed to clarify the rules for applying the matching adjustment, but has set out conditions for repackaging assets and is inviting firms to engage in a trial application. Hugo Coelho reports

• Data quality is not just about compliance

  25 June 2014

  Ensuring and maintaining data quality standards is a vital part of the process for validating internal model and standard formula calculations and for validating their use in decision-making. But there are many more issues to consider than mere regulatory compliance, as Dominic Rau explains

• Hedge funds bring risk and return to reinsurance business

  24 June 2014

  Hedge funds are changing the nature of reinsurance. The heavy emphasis on investment returns might serve them well in declining reinsurance markets, but there are risks involved with this approach. Sarfraz Thind reports

• Pushing for professionalism in risk management

  18 June 2014

  Risk managers are under growing pressure to prove their competencies with regulators and rating agencies, say Amlin's Alex Hindson and Aviva's José Morago. They talk to Christopher Cundy about how qualifications can help

• Capturing climate change in cat models

  17 June 2014

  According to Lloyd's, insurers should be including climate change in their catastrophe models. But with the uncertainties and differing timescales, it is not that simple in practice. Katie Kouchakji reports

• UK insurers substantially on track for ideal ORSA

  10 June 2014

  Many still see it as a burden rather than a benefit, says LCP's Catherine Drummond, and Lloyd's firms tend to be more negative about its usefulness. She talks to Christopher Cundy about the findings of a recent survey