MEDIA & EVENTS

Nanotechnology
Underwriting & Risk Management Considerations
July 26, 2012

Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating materials on the nano scale—materials so small that they can only be seen with powerful specialized microscopes. It has a broad range of applications, from altering the look and feel of a cosmetic, to coating surfaces so they are more resistant to bacteria, water or dirt, to improving drug absorption and effectiveness.

It is among the fastest-growing areas of science and technology and, as with any new technology, presents new and unique risks. The breadth and variety of nanotechnology applications make it especially challenging to risk managers and underwriters.

Topics discussed:

• Overview of nanotechnology – its applications and exposures
• State of loss activity and the judicial landscape
• Coverage issues
• Underwriting and risk management considerations

2012 Half-Year Natural Catastrophe Review
July 13, 2012
» Access Webinar presentation

Munich Re and the Insurance Information Institute jointly present an overview of natural catastrophe activity for the first six months of 2012.

While the first six months of 2012 do not nearly reach the record-setting levels of 2011, wildfire, thunderstorm, drought and hurricane activity during this period continues a trend of rising frequency and loss accumulation. With the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, the most damaging wildfire in Colorado history, and extreme flooding in Florida, losses continue to mount.

Topics discussed:

• Overview of US natural catastrophe activity including a review of Tropical Storms Beryl and Debby and an update on the impact of “local” severe-weather events.
• Overview of global catastrophe activity including major global events and a comparison of first-half activity with prior years.
• Economic implications of US natural catastrophes for first half of 2012.
• Impacts of high catastrophe losses on underwriting performance and profitability of the US P/C insurance industry in 2012 and historically.

Cyber Risks - Data Compromise
May 23, 2012

Virtually every business has data on clients, employees and others which can be stolen, electronically “hacked” or lost through accidental or inadvertent release.

Concerns about data breaches are so great that now most states have laws requiring business owners to notify affected persons. And federal legislation with similar mandates is pending. Beyond these requirements, a business with a data breach needs to protect its own reputation.

Join us as we present a panel discussion concerning the insurance risks created by data compromise, including a discussion on underwriting considerations, the legal and judicial landscapes and coverage options.

Topics discussed:

• Describe the cyber risk landscape including a brief overview of data compromise, identity theft, and cloud computing.
• Review the current state of data compromise litigation and recent legislative action.
• Discuss the various coverage issues insurers should consider when underwriting cyber policies.
• Identify the challenges that small business and insurance companies face with cyber risk claims.

U.S. Tort Trends And Developments- An Underwriting Perspective
February 8, 2012

Rising tort costs are a fundamental challenge to the insurance industry and the U.S. economy. The number of lawsuits filed along with rising jury awards drive up insurance costs and can impact the growth of the economy.

Even with tort reform gaining momentum in the states, the amounts and types of insurance coverages once considered adequate may not be sufficient in light of today’s tort system.

Topics discussed:

• Focus on the dynamics, characteristics and key drivers of the tort system.
• Discuss recent trends and developments in key areas of the tort environment.
• Discuss challenges posed to underwriters by the U.S. tort system.

Emerging Exposures in Public Schools
January 17, 2012

One of the primary responsibilities of a school administrator is to ensure that the school environment is safe for student learning. Obviously, meeting this obligation becomes more difficult in the face of reduced funding, an evolving legislative and judicial environment, and changing social norms. While liability issues are not new to school districts – busing, violence, and bullying, to name just a few issues - several relatively new concerns have appeared that challenge the administrators ability to manage the environment effectively and minimize insurance liability.

Join Munich Re’s Patty Gerrond and Mike Wiederhold as they provide an overview of some of the key emerging issues impacting public schools.

Topics discussed:

• Provide an overview of these three issues along with summaries of recent court decisions and headline events that have brought these issues to the forefront of public dialogue.
• Discuss some of the relevant underwriting and loss control issues involved with each topic.
• Highlight several other issues public schools face including failure to educate, school bullying, violence and child abuse.

2011 Natural Catastrophe Year In Review
January 4, 2012
» Access Webinar presentation

Munich Re and the Insurance Information Institute jointly present an overview of natural catastrophe activity for 2011.

Accumulation of very severe natural catastrophes make 2011 the highest-ever loss year on record.

Topics discussed:

• Overview of U.S. natural catastrophe activity including an update on “local” severe-weather events and their impact on insured losses.
• Overview of global catastrophe activity including major global events and a comparison of first half activity with prior years.
• Economic implications of U.S. natural catastrophes for 2011.
• Impacts of high catastrophe losses on underwriting performance and profitability in 2011 and historically.
• Impacts on high catastrophe losses on capacity/capital in the US P/C insurance industry as well as in the global property catastrophe reinsurance markets.
• A review of record Federal Disaster Declaration activity in 2011 and historically.

Solar Energy - Underwriting & Risk Management Considerations

Munich Re and Hartford Steam Boiler jointly present an overview of the underwriting considerations associated with solar energy.

November 1, 2011 - Introduction to Solar Energy

November 8, 2011 - Photovoltaic Installations - Equipment Overview and Property Insurance Exposures and Underwriting Considerations

November 16, 2011 - Photovoltaic Installations - Casualty Insurance Exposures and Underwriting Considerations

Topics discussed:

• The technology used in the production of solar energy.
• The risks associated with construction and operation
• The relevant property and casualty underwriting considerations that insurers must address to enable the continued use of this renewable energy source.

The focus of the webinar series will be on photovoltaic installations installed on commercial and residential properties.

Hydrofracking - Underwriting & Risk Management Consideration
October 19, 2011

As the country searches for ways to lessen its dependence on foreign oil, technology has enabled drillers to extract natural gas from deep within the earth’s core. This large quantity of natural gas is extracted in a process known as hydrofracking. “Fracking” the rock shale with high volume streams of water mixed with sand or chemicals fractures the rock and allows gas to escape to the surface where it is captured for processing.

Hydrofracking, while generally seen as a viable alternative energy solution, is not without controversy as serious concerns have been raised over the safety and environmental impact of the hydrofracking process.

Topics discussed:

• Provide a summary overview of hydrofracking operations.
• Discuss the standard coverage and underwriting issues that insurers should consider.
• Review the current state of hydrofracking litigation including recent legislative and regulatory action.
• Review relevant claims issues with hydrofracking operations

2011 Half-Year Natural Catastrophe Review
July 12, 2011
» Access Webinar presentation

Munich Re and the Insurance Information Institute jointly present an overview of natural catastrophe activity for the first six months of 2011.

Accumulation of very severe natural catastrophes make 2011 a year of unprecedented losses.

• Globally, the approx. US$ 265bn in economic losses up to the end of June exceed the total figure for 2005, previously the costliest year to date (US$ 220bn for the year as a whole). Even without the earthquake in Japan, which contributed heavily to the overall figure ($210bn), overall losses still exceed the 10-year average.
• Insured losses total US$ 60bn, more than double the first-half amount from 2010 and over four times the 10-year average.
• In the U.S., 100 events produced $27bn in overall losses and $17.5bn in insured losses, both results well above the 10-year averages ($11.8bn/$6.6bn).

Topics discussed:

• Overview of U.S. natural catastrophe activity including an update on “local” severe-weather events and their impact on insured losses.
• Overview of global catastrophe activity including major global events and a comparison of first half activity with prior years.
• Economic implications of U.S. natural catastrophes for the first half of 2011.
• Discussion of impacts on global insurance and reinsurance markets.

Agribusiness - Underwriting & Risk Management Considerations
April 15, 2011

Farm and ranch owners continue to struggle with combating the effects of global competition, smaller margins, fluctuating weather patterns, and disease to crops and livestock. Even with an uptick in commodity prices over the last few years, these owners continue to seek additional means to produce higher yields and/or increased revenue. We provide an overview of the underwriting and risk management considerations related to several important current agribusiness issues:

• Agritourism
• Organic farms
• Antibiotic use in animals

Wind Energy - Underwriting & Risk Management Considerations

Munich Re and Hartford Steam Boiler jointly present an overview of the underwriting considerations associated with wind energy.

March 29, 2011 - Part 1: Property Insurance Exposures and Equipment Breakdown Insurance Associated with Small Wind

April 5, 2011 - Part 2: Casualty Insurance Exposures and Underwriting Considerations

Topics discussed:

• The technology used in the production of wind energy
• The risks associated with construction and operation
• The relevant property and casualty underwriting considerations that insurers must address to enable the continued use of this renewable energy source

The focus will be on small wind installations under 100kW that are being installed at existing commercial, residential and farm properties.

2010 Natural Catastrophe Year in Review
January 10, 2011
» Access Webinar Recording

Munich Re and the Insurance Information Institute jointly present an overview of natural catastrophe activity in 2010.

Topics discussed:

• An overview of U.S. catastrophe activity including an update on “local” severe-weather weather events and their impact on insured losses.
• An overview of global catastrophe activity including major global events and statistics that compare 2010 with prior years.
• The economic implications of the U.S. natural catastrophes that occurred in 2010.

Commercial Umbrella Programs
September 24, 2010
» Access Webinar Recording

The considerable time and expense involved in trying to maintain your competitive position leaves you with little opportunity to grow your business. Offering umbrella insurance is an easy and efficient way to generate profitable premium, however, the lack of time, underwriting expertise, budget, or promise of significant revenue makes it difficult to justify allocating resources to develop this coverage.

Munich Re provides a simple, easily accessible and comprehensive solution to help you generate profitable premium from umbrella insurance. Our supported commercial umbrella product - SECURE - provides Main Street insurers with the necessary support to underwrite umbrella business. Our product provides you with use of our underwriting guidelines, pricing, contract wording provisions and much more. And all of it backed by Munich Re’s superior financial reliability.

Topics discussed:

• How umbrella programs fit into your portfolio and how they can help you generate additional premium.
• Our Commercial Umbrella Program capabilities and product features.
• How we work with you to create comprehensive solutions that balance your risk appetite, financial objectives, and operating capacity.

Chinese Drywall - Underwriting & Risk Management Considerations
August 11, 2010

The construction boom of the early 2000s and reconstruction in the Southeast US following the destructive 2004 and 2005 storm seasons created a shortage of domestic drywall supplies. To fill the demand, contractors turned to low cost drywall imported from China. As we now know, the noxious odors, corroded wiring, and failing appliances many homeowners complained about would be linked to this imported drywall.

While the conclusion of several recent judiciary proceedings may have offered a hint into future outcomes, the true extent of exposure, along with financial responsibility for insurers remains largely uncertain. Additionally, federal and state legislative activity aimed at protecting homeowners could also influence how insurers enforce provisions in their policies.

Topics discussed:

• A summary overview of the origin, magnitude, and current status of the U.S. Chinese drywall problem.
• The evolving state of Chinese drywall litigation including recent legislative and regulatory action.
• Discuss the various standard coverage and underwriting issues that insurers should consider.

2010 Half-Year Natural Catastrophe Review
July 7, 2010

Munich Re and the Insurance Information Institute jointly present an overview of natural catastrophe activity for the first six months of 2010.

Earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and the U.S., winter storms in Europe and the U.S., and severe floods in Eastern Europe are just a few of the events that have defined a very active first six months for natural catastrophes. Consider:

• Globally, from January until the end of June, 440 events were registered, the second highest figure for this period since 2000, and overall losses of US$ 70bn were recorded. This figure already exceeds the total for 2009 as a whole and is well above the first-half average for the past ten years.
• Insured losses were US$ 22bn, more than double the first-half average since 2000 and even higher than the figure for 2008, when the previous record for first-half losses was set.
• In the U.S., overall losses for the first six months totaled $11bn and insured losses totaled $6.1bn, both results in-line with the 10-year average. ($11.4bn/$6.6bn).

Topics discussed:

• Overview of U.S. natural catastrophe activity including an update on “local” severe-weather events and their impact on insured losses.
• Overview of global catastrophe activity including major global events and a comparison of first half activity with prior years.
• Economic implications of U.S. natural catastrophes in 2010.

• SPECIAL TOPIC: Dr. Hartwig will discuss the potential insurance implications of the 2010 hurricane season on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Facultative Certificate Solutions
June 7, 2010

Unusual or high risk exposures that exceed your capacity or risk tolerance require intelligent solutions provided by an established and financially reliable reinsurer.

During this informative webinar, we provide an overview of our facultative certificate reinsurance capabilities.

Topics discussed:

• Describe our facultative certificate reinsurance solutions
• Discuss how we work with you to create solutions that balance your risk-taking appetite, financial objectives, and operating capacity.
• Demonstrate the added-value and services you receive by partnering with Munich Re.

Cyber Liability and Blogging: Underwriting & Risk Management Considerations
May 25, 2010

As the internet has grown, so too has uncertainly about how insurers can provide coverage to policyholders to protect them against loss from identity theft, data loss and/or breach, and blogging-associated activities, to name a few.

During thus event, we provide an overview of the insurance risks posed by the internet, including a discussion of underwriting considerations related to these exposures.

Topics discussed:

• The evolution of the internet, various cyber risk exposures, and the three main commercial loss scenario categories - disruption, security and media.
• The unique risks and underwriting issues posed by data breach and blogging.
• The various coverage issues insurers should consider when underwriting policies.

Weather Frequency: Managing Your Exposure to Inland Events
April 29, 2010

Over the past thirty years, there has been a steady increase in the severity of losses from “frequent” weather events. Billion dollar losses from these events have become an annual occurrence, with the overall annual loss levels from these perils approaching the magnitude of hurricanes.

With losses from single events – thunderstorm hazards (tornados, hail, lightning, and straightline wind), winter storm, and wildfire – challenging your balance sheets, you may be seeking ways to quantify and/or better manage your exposure to these perils.

Topics discussed:

• An overview of natural catastrophe loss trends for each event type along with commentary on the regional issues insurers are facing.
• Discussion of the drivers and reasons of increasing insured loss trends.
• Discussion of the range of services and solutions you might consider to analyze and address the impact of these perils.

Employment Practices Liability Insurance: Managing Coverage for Small Businesses
February 25, 2010

Employee claims of harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination are growing rapidly, affecting small and large employers alike.

During this webinar, we present an overview of employment practice liability issues and the resources and coverages that are available to help insurers protect their insureds against allegations of improper or illegal employment practices.

Topics discussed:

• Describe the employment landscape including federal and state laws under which employees may bring actions against their employers.
• Identify the challenges that small business and insurance companies face with employment liability claims.
• Discuss EPLI coverage options provided by HSB and Munich Re.

2009 Natural Catastrophe Year in Review Webinar
January 21, 2010

Munich Re and the Insurance Information Institute jointly present an overview of natural catastrophe activity in 2009.

Topics discussed:

• An overview of U.S. catastrophe activity including an update on “local” severe-weather weather events and their impact on insured losses.
• An overview of global catastrophe activity including major global events and statistics that compare 2009 with prior years.
• The economic implications of the U.S. natural catastrophes that occurred in 2009.
• Commentary on the Haiti earthquake including potential insurance claims implications.

Construction Defect History, Trends, Issues and Underwriting Considerations Webinar
December 1, 2009

The combination of new construction materials, evolving legislation and case law, and an uncertain economic environment creates many challenges in identifying how best to underwrite new construction. Gerry Finley, Senior Vice President, Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. Casualty Treaty Underwriting,  provides an in-depth overview of construction defects and how this emerging risk can impact your portfolio.

Topics discussed:

• Definition of construction defects, taking into account issues of latency, severity, and current legislation and case law.
• The importance of understanding the key drivers of construction defect claims from a state location, class of business, and coverage perspectives.
• Identifying underwriting issues and approaches.
• The current state of the market for residential construction including the emergence of “green construction” and recent Chinese drywall news.

First-Half 2009 Natural Catastrophe Update Webinar
July 27, 2009

Munich Re and the Insurance Information Institute jointly presented a webinar that provided an overview of natural catastrophes in the first six months of 2009.

Topics discussed:

• Update of US catastrophe activity (statistics and major events). How did 2009 compare to prior years? What’s the probability of the development of an El Nino and its potential effects in the US?
• Update of global catastrophe activity (statistics and major events).
• What are the economic implications of the natural catastrophes that have occurred so far this year?

Underwriting Emerging Exposures: Issues, Challenges, Opportunities
July 10, 2009

New Risks and Exposures are all around us. To finance risk more effectively, we need to be experts in both known & emerging risks. Gerry Finley, Senior Vice President, Munich Re America Casualty Treaty Underwriting, provides an overview of the need to understand emerging exposures better to more effectively manage systemic reserve risk.

Topics discussed:

• The different stages of emerging exposures and the reasons why it is important to track & understand emerging exposures.
• The challenges and opportunities that accompany emerging exposures from an insurance perspective.
• The process for evaluating and monitoring emerging exposures.
• An approach to managing emerging exposures.

Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. Program Business Webinar
June 9, 2009
Access Webinar presentation

If you are looking for a strong financial partner with multiple coverage capabilities, concerned about your current carrier’s financial stability or interested in expanding your product offering into specific niches, this webinar offers an overview of out Program Business advantages.

Topics discussed:

• Our Primary Insurance and Umbrella Programs and Strategic Initiatives.
• How we work with you to create solutions that balance your risk-taking appetite, financial objectives, and operating capacity.
• Demonstrations of the added-value and services you receive by partnering with Munich Re America.

Basics of CAT Modeling Webinar
June 4, 2009

CAT Modeling is an essential component in determining insurance coverage, particularly in coastal areas where damage from tropical cyclones – storms, depressions, and hurricanes - is greatest.

How well do you understand the basics of CAT modeling? Are you aware of all the factors that influence your portfolio’s vulnerability to hurricanes?

Topics discussed:

• Definition of what a tropical cyclone is and a description of how they develop and their potential impact on exposures upon reaching landfall.
• Descriptions of the four basic building blocks of all Catastrophe Risk Models.
• Tropical cyclone trends in the United States.
• The use of CAT modeling to underwrite exposures in coastal areas.

2008 Natural Catastrophe Review Webinar
January 15, 2009

Natural catastrophe activity worldwide reached unprecedented levels over the past several years and 2008 was no exception. Our January 2009 webinar, co-hosted with Munich Re and the Insurance Information Institute, provided journalists with an overview of those natural catastrophes in the U.S. and globally, and their economic impact in the U.S. Presenters also compared 2008 catastrophe figures to prior years and addressed global warming’s influence on catastrophe trends.

Topics discussed:

• An overview of the impact of natural catastrophes in the U.S. and globally.
• Comparison of 2008 catastrophes to those of prior years.
• The influence of global warming on catastrophe tends.