Sarfraz Thind

Articles by Sarfraz Thind

  • Solvency II equivalence under threat

    06 February 2015

    Europe's politicians are demanding a greater say in which countries can be deemed equivalent to Solvency II, amid fears that the European Commission is not moving fast enough with decisions that are crucial to insurers worldwide. Sarfraz Thind reports

  • 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

  • Will Solvency II boost the growing life ILS market?

    30 May 2014

    Life insurance securitisation has made a comeback since 2008, albeit in a different form. With Solvency II rules predicted to push life companies to transfer risk off their books, participants hope life ILS could grow to rival cat bonds. Sarfraz Thind reports

  • Gen Re's Tad Montross: why we need Solvency III

    09 April 2014

    Solvency II has focused too much on modelling and should be revisited, says Gen Re CEO Tad Montross. He tells Sarfraz Thind about "model mania", risk culture and how to run a reinsurer in a chronically soft market

  • RSA's Irish losses - bad luck or bad management?

    19 March 2014

    RSA's risk management was put under the spotlight last year by a host of unfortunate events, not least an accounting scandal that contributed to a £200m loss at its Irish division. Exonerated by external auditors, the incident has nonetheless raised questions around RSA's risk culture. Sarfraz Thind reports

  • Insurers raise the heat on weather derivatives

    24 January 2014

    Rain or shine, the past year has seen a host of insurers jumping into the weather derivatives markets. Weather risks offer significant synergies with existing business lines and deal flow is on the up. Sarfraz Thind reports

  • The technologies reshaping insurance

    18 October 2013

    The insurance industry doesn't often evoke science fiction. But recent technological advances have been so drastic they could have leapt from the pages of Isaac Asimov. Sarfraz Thind reports

  • New capital muscles into the reinsurance business

    12 July 2013

    Hedge funds, pension funds and wealth managers are among the newer investors reshaping the way that reinsurance operates and prices risk. These non-traditional investors like the returns available and the lack of correlation with other capital markets. But do they fully appreciate the risks? Sarfraz Thind reports

  • Protests against FTT build up steam

    21 June 2013

    Europe's Financial Transaction Tax has now been adopted by 11 states. Many insurers argue that the tax will make running their businesses more difficult and costly -- to the detriment of their customers. With less than six months left until the official implementation date, Sarfraz Thind looks at whether the industry has time to make its voice heard

  • Generating return in a cold climate

    03 May 2013

    Low interest rates are prompting insurers to look to further afield in their hunt for yield. For those with resources and dedication, two major areas of focus right now are corporate loans and infrastructure lending. But are these the assets of the future that many say they are? Sarfraz Thind reports