NormanMax launches parametric retro, underwritten via its Lloyd’s syndicate

NormanMax Insurance Holdings, the US based parametric insurance and reinsurance group launched by former Universal founder and CEO Bradley Meier, has begun offering a parametric retrocession product that is underwritten via its recently launched Lloyd’s syndicate.

NormanMax launched and received market approval for dedicated parametric syndicate 3939 at Lloyd’s earlier this year.

It became the first specialist and dedicated parametric risk transfer syndicate in the Lloyd’s market.

Now, as NormanMax continues to expand its product offering, the company has launched a retrocession offering, expanding what was reinsurance for hurricanes and typhoons to now protect the reinsurers as well.

The company said that, “We’re thrilled to announce that NormanMax Insurance Solutions now offers comprehensive parametric reinsurance solutions for hurricanes and typhoons, including retro covers.”

The timing could be positive, as we understand there remains a lack of industry-loss warranty (ILW) capacity and that rates-on-line continue to be higher for ILW’s than other products, on a relative basis. There has been shortages of ILW capacity for some quarters now, with this exacerbated of late by the spread widening seen in the catastrophe bond market and its focus on index-trigger cat bonds.

We understand some capacity is now available, but that it remains more limited, not helped by significant strategic ILW buys by the likes of Nephila earlier this year.

Parametric retrocession for hurricane risks can provide an alternative solution to buyers that might have sought ILW protection before.

At this time of year, with reinsurers consolidating their mid-year catastrophe reinsurance renewals, thoughts often turn to hedging opportunities and parametrics should be a consideration for any major reinsurance company, or indeed an ILS fund manager, with significant concentrations of coastal wind exposure.