The potential growth of reinsurance as a profession, particularly in Lebanon. (c1995)

Abstract

The size and value of risks written by insurance companies around the world is too huge to be covered by this market alone. Thus to avoid dramatical results, risks must be spread internationally through Reinsurance. Reinsurance market represents the main absorbent of risks written by the insurance market. The insurance company keeps part of its portfolio of business as its own liability and distributes the rest through reinsurance. The emphasis in this study is on reinsurance practiced by professional reinsurance companies which only accepts reinsurance business. The international reinsurance market in the nineties is going through bad times due to large losses of catastrophic nature. The attempt is to adjust reinsurance prices and conditions specially for natural catastrophe covers and to improve underwriting techniques. The Arab Reinsurance market is affected by the problems of international reinsurance market in addition to large competition from foreign reinsurers. In many Arab countries the main insurance business is being absorbed by foreign reinsures. The foreign reinsurers and brokers compete with Arab reinsurers by providing important technical services for the insurance companies in the Arab market in addition to providing larger capacity. Arab reinsurers lack capital funds and shareholders' equity as well as marketing and communications efforts. They are less competent in providing technical services and are slow in payment exchange and reply. The study describes reinsurance as a profession in Lebanon that faces some of the above problems mainly lack of capital funds and shareholders' equity and lack in technical services provided. A reinsurance company was selected as the model of the study. Information collected was based on interviews, documentations and questionnaires directed to the Lebanese insurance companies that deal directly with the company under study. The study included studying the business portfolio of the company, technical and financial position as well as evaluating its performance by insurance companies. The company is mainly an inter-Arab company. Technically, it should be more organized concerning division of work and operation policies. Business operation was good in terms of quick response and payment of claims as well as cooperation with other companies. Technical assistance is available but should be improved along with business visits and humans resources. There is a lack in reinsurance specialization among the employees except that accumulated from experience in the company. In general the company was considered by questionnaire respondents as a good security. Reinsurance in Lebanon survived during the war period, which hindered its normal growth. Nowadays it has all the potential to improve its position in the market. The main emphasis should be on improving organization; improving technical services provided and strengthening the financial position mainly through investment return capital funds and shareholder's equity. In addition to adapting a growth plan to increase premium volume.