Zugl.: Leipzig, Univ., Diss., 2008

Master-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2008.

Zugl.: Köln, Universiẗat, Diss., 2008.

Master-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2008.

The research employs descriptive research methods to investigate the supply and demand dynamics of structured settlement markets, wherein individuals enter into contractual agreements to settle a personal injury case through the delivery of an annuity issued by a highly rated insurance carrier. This dissertation examines the characteristics of structured settlement markets, their similarities to other markets, and investor behavior under different macroeconomic conditions. The dissertation draws on data from public sources, market indexes, and existing literature on similar topics from other asset classes (Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities (CMBS) & High Yield Bonds). The data analysis will take a top-down approach using quantitative research methods. The motivation for this research study is to enhance visibility into the structured settlement market relevant to practitioners and influence future research on structured settlements and similar investments. / Business Administration/Risk Management and Insurance

Past several decades have been an extraordinary time period in the history of extreme catastrophes e, g., the September 11 terrorist attack (2001), the South Asia tsunami (2004), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Life insurance industry also faces catastrophic risk events- longevity and mortality risks. Facing this insurance/reinsurance capacity shortage, raising additional equity capital is one of solutions. Then, innovation occurred. Insurance-linked securities (ILS) was created. Insurance-linked securities is a means of transferring insurance risks to the capital market. Since the inception of the market in 1996, ILS has evolved to become a strong complement to traditional reinsurance, providing benefits to transaction sponsors, i.e. ceding companies. This study explores the prospects for ILS by focusing on some issues, First of all, the product features of ILS, reviewing the structure, trigger mechanism, perils, capacity, pricing and costs of ILS. Secondly, this will make some analysis for the international market development of ILS. Thirdly, This study will turn on to the potential market in Taiwan. The study tries to review the potential market in Taiwan from property casualty insurance and life insurance respectively. Finally, with the analysis in various aspects, hopefully, the study can provide solid conclusion for ILS development in Taiwan. / Past several decades have been an extraordinary time period in the history of extreme catastrophes e, g., the September 11 terrorist attack (2001), the South Asia tsunami (2004), and Hurricane Katrina (2005). Life insurance industry also faces catastrophic risk events- longevity and mortality risks. Facing this insurance/reinsurance capacity shortage, raising additional equity capital is one of solutions. Then, innovation occurred. Insurance-linked securities (ILS) was created. Insurance-linked securities is a means of transferring insurance risks to the capital market. Since the inception of the market in 1996, ILS has evolved to become a strong complement to traditional reinsurance, providing benefits to transaction sponsors, i.e. ceding companies. This study explores the prospects for ILS by focusing on some issues, First of all, the product features of ILS, reviewing the structure, trigger mechanism, perils, capacity, pricing and costs of ILS. Secondly, this will make some analysis for the international market development of ILS. Thirdly, This study will turn on to the potential market in Taiwan. The study tries to review the potential market in Taiwan from property casualty insurance and life insurance respectively. Finally, with the analysis in various aspects, hopefully, the study can provide solid conclusion for ILS development in Taiwan.

This master thesis discusses the niche of reinsurance business -- catastrophe bonds. It provides a brief description of reinsurance in general, insurance-linked securities and catastrophe bonds. The goal of this thesis is to describe the development of cat bond market and the influence of economic and natural shocks on it. In order to analyze the effect, quarter issuance data are used together with Swiss Re Cat Bonds return indexes. In addition, several other variables (i.e. Munich Re and Swiss Re stock prices) and indexes are used. The most important indexes are Merrill Lynch high yield bonds and structured products. The shocks' influence is examined by analyzing the correlation between cat bonds yields and other financial instruments. The conclusion of the thesis is that during economic boom cat bonds are correlated with other instruments. In times of recession cat bonds' yields prove to be negatively or not correlated with other negatively affected instrument.

When society fails to effectively integrate natural and constructed environments, one of the cataclysmic byproducts of this disconnect is an increased risk of natural disasters. On top of the devastation that is the aftermath of such disasters, poor planning and engineering decisions have detrimental effects on communities as they attempt to recover and rebuild. While there is an inherent difficulty in the quantification of the cost of human life, interruption in business operations, and damage to the properties, it is critical to develop plans and mitigation strategies to promote fast recovery. Traditionally insurance and reinsurance products have been used as a mitigation strategy for financing post-disaster recovery. However, there are number of problems associated with these models such as lack of liquidity, defaults, long litigation process, etc. In light of these problems, new Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) methods are introduced. The pricing of these risk mitigating instruments, however, has been mostly associated with the hazard frequency and intensity; and little recognition is made of the riskiness of the structure to be indemnified. This study proposes valuation models for catastrophe-linked ART products and insurance contracts in which the risks and value can be linked to the characteristics of the insured portfolio of constructed assets. The results show that the supply side ? structural parameters are as important as the demand ? hazard frequency, and are in a highly nonlinear relationship with financial parameters such as risk premiums and spreads.