The MGA-carrier hybrid strategyNews this morning that Ambac has agreed a deal to buy MGU Xchange as part of its two-pillar fee-business and carrier platform strategy is the latest example of evolution in the US program sector as distribution players look to access stable sources of capacity.
Craving contact in a people businessThere is no denying that the program sector has continued to be vibrant and dynamic in 2020, despite the impact of Covid-19. But in a market that thrives on relationships, the craving for contact is palpable.
European giants look to seize US commercial risk opportunityOne of the most noteworthy aspects of Munich Re’s investor day commentary this week was the decision to further shift its business mix towards primary specialty growth.
E&S drive continuesWith the US Q3 reporting season now at an end, pricing conditions in the booming E&S market were a regular topic of discussion on earnings calls with management.
Access all areasIn a “normal” year it’d be about this time we’d be finalizing our schedules, putting the slacks and sports jackets into the cleaners and prepping up for Target Markets.
Growth engineJust as there has been a deluge of headlines about start-ups and scale-ups in the broader (re)insurance sector as investors target hard market opportunities, the world of Program Manager has seen plenty of positioning for growth by incumbents as well as new players.
Hard market timingStart-ups, M&A and fundraising have been targeting the program sector as well as the wider P&C market. But how long will the window of opportunity stay open?
A heftier addition…News broken by The Insurer that rehabilitated Ambac is lining up a live insurance platform that looks set to include a program fronting capability raises the prospect of a fresh addition to the already swollen ranks of vehicles that have rolled off the production line over the last few years.
Access to paper and alignment of interestsCementing access to paper and demonstrating alignment of interests with (re)insurers has become increasingly important for MGAs and program administrators.
Florida opportunity draws interestThe well-documented woes of the Florida homeowners market might not paint a picture of a burgeoning opportunity for new entrants, but a number of recent developments point to fresh interest in the Sunshine State.
Program Manager: no time like the presentWelcome to the first issue of Program Manager, the new monthly ezine brought to you by the publishers of The Insurer.
Hippo-Spinnaker deal brings paper guaranteeRumours that Hippo and Spinnaker were in talks over a potential transaction had been circulating in the program fronting space for a number of months.
Setting targets is brave but shows R&Q confidence…2019 feels a long time ago which might explain why there was a sense of a history lesson with R&Q’s strong FY results published this morning (share price up 13 percent by midday).
The retail aggregation opportunityThe program fronting model could be at the forefront of an explosion of new activity as distributors look to more efficiently bring pools of risk to reinsurers.