Download Life Risk News Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2024

Both the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent changing macroeconomic environment have had something of a longer-term impact on the life ILS market, in terms of deal activity particularly. Greg Winterton spoke to Craig Gillespie, Head of Life and Alternative Credit at Leadenhall Capital Partners, and Luca Tres, Head of Strategic Risk and Capital Life Solutions, EMEA at Guy Carpenter, to get their thoughts on the topic in Despite Bumpy Couple of Years, Lessons Learned Stand Life ILS Market in Good Stead. 

Nearly seven million Americans over 65 had Alzheimer’s dementia in 2023, according to figures from the US Alzheimer’s Association (USAZ), which estimates that this accounts for one in nine of the total population in this age group. Aaron Woolner spoke to Prachi Patkee, Life & Health R&D Analyst at Swiss Re, and Dr. Logan DuBose, Resident Physician at The George Washington University Hospital and co-founder of Olera, to learn more about treatments, managing the disease and the outlook for a cure in Researchers Make Slow Progress in Search for Effective Alzheimer’s Treatments. 

In May last year The Netherlands Future of Pensions Act was approved by lawmakers and came into force on 1st July 2023 but November elections in the country brought in a new coalition government made-up of four parties, three of which campaigned on manifestos containing pledges to make major changes to the act. Aaron Woolner spoke to Tim Burggraaf, Rewards and Benefits Consulting Leader for EY in the Netherlands, to get his views on the potential impact of the regulations on the country’s pension risk transfer market in Uncertainty Over Dutch Pension Reforms’ Impact on PRT Activity. 

The life settlement industry has historically taken some criticism from certain quarters in terms of the morality of the asset class. James W. Maxson, Partner at law firm EM3 Law, steps up to challenge the naysayers in The Moral Case for Life Settlements. 

Last month, Roger Lawrence, Managing Director at WL Consulting, penned an analysis piece focusing on 2022’s developments in surrenders, new business and solvency from the ACLI’s Life Insurance Fact Book. Stability Evident in US Life Insurer Ownership, Size and Solvency is a follow-up piece this month. 

As investors increasingly seek investments that align with their values, the life settlement industry has found itself under the spotlight, presenting a unique challenge and opportunity at the intersection of finance and ethical considerations. Hanna Persson, Head of Sales and Investor Relations at Ress Capital, offers some thoughts on this topic in Navigating the Intersection of ESG and Life Settlements. 

The past few years have been arguably the most significant ever to those studying longevity and mortality, with a range of issues impacting the field, and consequently, actuaries and risk holders. Greg Winterton spoke to Nicola Oliver, Director of Life and Health at Medical Intelligence, to get her thoughts on the current state of the space in this month’s Q&A. 

The reverse mortgage market in the US has had a tough time of it in recent years but a recent announcement from Ginnie Mae has provided cause for optimism for those in the space. Greg Winterton spoke to Michael McCully and Joe Kelly, both Partners at New View Advisors, to get their views on this development in Potential New Securitisation Product a Welcome Development for US Reverse Mortgage Industry.