Pollution Exclusions and Regulatory Minefields –Policy Wording Matters
This issue of Policy Wording Matters highlights the recent activity in Texas on pollution exclusions and state views on a variety of environmental/toxic exclusions, as well as coverage issues and wording solutions cutting across many lines of business. In this May 2009 edition, you can read about: Texas Takes Action on Pollution Exclusions – how Texas and other states view these and other exclusions; Underinsurance in California – new HO case and implications for property insurers; ISO BOP Changes to Policy and Endorsements; Cases on Intentional Acts, Earth Movement and Claims Made Policies, and New Laws On Policy Wordings and Filings.
June 2009
Focused Value Equity Management– 1st Quarter 2009 –Equity Focus
Focused Value Equity Management is a controlled risk approach to equity value investing. This discipline seeks to outperform the S&P 500 Stock Index (and respective peer groups) with less volatility over full market cycles, through a controlled risk process. Portfolios are constructed with comparable relative P/E, P/BV, and dividend yield relative to the S&P 500 Stock Index.
June 2009
House Prices: Overshooting On the Downside –Reflections
Residential real estate behaves as a discrete asset class, and we measure the central tendency of its value. House prices were overvalued materially by that measure, and after recent declines are around their equilibrium value. Both the current level of housing inventory and history, suggest we are headed for undervaluation before it is over.
June 2009
States and Municipalities - Going Green –Property Matters
This issue of Property Matters focuses on a growing number of states and municipalities across the U.S. -- from a large city to a small county -- that are adopting green building programs including Energy Star, LEED and more.
May 2009
The Coming Sinophilia –Reflections
The capital markets have begun to take notice of China’s emerging signs of success in restarting lending, unlike the U.S. If Asia emerges as the world’s growth venue and economies in the west cannot overcome the retarding effects of weak financial systems, securities valuations there could be revalued, perhaps significantly.
Growth and Economic Issues Top 2009 Auto Insurance Report Conference –E-News
This E-News highlights Gen Re's takeaways from the 2009 Auto Insurance Report Conference
May 2009
Looming Medicare Reporting Requirements - Auto, Liability (HO and GL) and WC Insurers –E-News
With the new Medicare reporting requirements set to take effect soon, we provide a Fact Sheet to direct our Auto, Homeowners, General Liability and Workers' Compensation clients to information about the law.
April 2009
Swine Flu –Risk Matters
Swine Influenza (swine flu), a respiratory disease affecting pigs throughout the year causing few fatalities, has been detected in people in Mexico, the U.S. and a number of other countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Influenza Preparedness Plan has assigned a phase 5 alert to the current outbreak (as at 29 April 2009). This follows the spreading cases in Mexico and the U.S. and a first confirmed swine flue fatality outside Mexico. Phase 6 would describe a sustained community outbreak in at least two WHO regions. In this edition of Risk Matters we provide additional background information, comments on how this risk is managed globally and what it can mean to Life insurers right now.
April 2009
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Liability - As of March 15, 2009
In this survey we highlight statutes, regulations and cases that change the law on uninsured and underinsured motorist liability as of March 15, 2009. We highlight a few developments that have occurred since our last survey, in Indiana, the Appellate court allowed UM/UIM benefit for insured whose nonresident family members are injured or killed, in New Mexico, the state supreme court grants review of appellate ruling holding that a umbrella policy is not subject to UM/UIM laws, and in North Carolina, recent legislation makes UM/UIM mandatory with notice language required. This law survey also provides summary information on UM/UIM offer requirements, stacking, trigger, offsets and umbrella coverage.
April 2009
Liquor Liability - The Rules of the Road –Casualty Matters
In this article we discuss the underwriting challenges posed by liquor liability, both dram shop and social host, and provide an overview of the laws shaping the exposures. We also highlight recent cases redrawing the parameters of liquor legal liability coverage. The rules can be nuanced and insurers need to know how to navigate them.
April 2009
Will Imported Chinese Drywall Lead to a New Round of Construction Defects Litigation?–Hazardous Times
In this edition of Hazardous Times, we examine the potential exposures arising from the use of Chinese-made drywall in residential and commercial buildings. Over the past few years, the news media has been reporting on potentially hazardous imports from China. A wide array of Chinese-made products, such as toys, medicine and pet food, have been the subject of product recalls and litigation. Given that injured parties have little or no recourse against Chinese manufacturers, U.S. suppliers, distributors and subcontractors may become defendants in possible toxic tort or construction defects litigation arising from Chinese-made drywall.
April 2009
Gen Re Research publications are prepared for, and shared with, clients of Gen Re companies. Access to some research publications may require log-in. A web listing of all publication titles can be accessed by clicking here. To obtain complete copies of any publications or to learn more about our research, please email us at or contact your Gen Re representative. As a Gen Re client, you can also access all our research publications by logging into your Gen Re Online extranet account.
Public Reading Room
To read these generally available publications, please click on the cover page provided here:
