Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T21:44:02.556Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Interest-Rate Changes and the Value of a Non-life Insurance Company

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2015

Thomas Albrecht
Affiliation:
Treffauerstr. 38, D-81373 München, [email protected], Tel. +49 89 3800 7481, Fax +49 89 3800 19422
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

How does a change in the risk-free interest-rate affect the value of a non-life insurance company or portfolio? Risk managers typically argue that there should be little impact as long as assets and liabilities are properly matched. However, the risk-management perspective focuses on existing assets and liabilities, while neglecting the value of future business potential. This paper argues that interest-rate changes can have a significant impact on the appraisal value of a non-life insurance company, even if assets and liabilities are matched. This impact can be positive as well as negative, depending on the underlying parameters. Relevant parameters include reserving intensity, combined ratio, business growth-rate, asset allocation, risk-capital relative to premium income and the correlation between interest-rate and technical insurance results.

Type
Workshop
Copyright
Copyright © ASTIN Bulletin 2003

References

Albrecht, T. (2001) Discounted-Cash-Flow Bewertung bei Sachversicherungsunternehmen, Finanz Betrieb 5/2001, p. 302307.Google Scholar
Albrecht, T. (1999a) Die Wahl der Zinsbindungsdauer, Hamburg.Google Scholar
Albrecht, T. (1999b) Asset Allocation und Zeithorizont, Bad Soden/Ts.Google Scholar
Albrecht, T. (1998) Die Vereinbarkeit der Value-at-Risk-Methode in Banken mit anteils- eignerorientierter Untemehmensführung, Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft 68, 259273 Google Scholar
AGF MAT (2001) Annual Report 2000.Google Scholar
Allianz Group (2001, 2002) Group Financial Statements 2000, 2001 Google Scholar
Anker, P. (1992) Zinsstruktur und Zinsprognose, Giessen.Google Scholar
Babbel, D.F. (1995) Asset-Liability Matching in the Life-insurance Industry, The Financial Dynmics of the Insurance Industry, Altman, and Vanderhoof, (eds.), Chapter 11.Google Scholar
Campbell, F. (1997) Asset/Liability Management for Property/Casualty Insurers, The Handbook of Fixed Income Securities, Fabozzi, (ed.), Chapter 51.Google Scholar
Casualty Actuarial Society (1999) Overview of Dynamic Financial Analysis, website of the Casualty Actuarial Society, www.casact.org/research/dfa.Google Scholar
Copeland, T., Koller, T. and Murrin, J. (2000) Valuation, 3rd Edition, New York (et al.)Google Scholar
D'Arcy, S. and Gorvett, R. (2000) Measuring the Interest Rate Sensitivity of Loss Reserves, Proceedings of the Casualty Actuarial Society, 87, 365400.Google Scholar
D'Arcy, S., Gorvett, R., Herbers, J. and Hettinger, T. (1997) Building a DFA Analysis Model that Flies, Contingencies Magazine, Nov./Dec. 1997, reprinted on the website of the Casualty Actuarial Society, www.casact.org/coneduc/specsem/98dfa/dfamodel.htm.Google Scholar
Drukarczyk, J. (1998) Unternehmensbewertung, 2nd Edition, München.Google Scholar
GDV (2001) Statistisches Taschenbuch der Versicherungswirtschaft 2000, download from www.gdv.de.Google Scholar
Hartung, T. (2000) Unternehmensbewertung von Versicherungsgesellschaften, Wiesbaden CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holsboer, J. H. (2000) The Impact of Low Interest Rates on Insurers, Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance, 25, 3858.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levin, F. (1996) Die Erwartungstheorie der Zinsstruktur, Frankfurt/M.Google Scholar
Panning, W.H. (1995) Asset-Liability Management for a Going Concern, The Financial Dynamics of the Insurance Industry, Altman, and Vanderhoof, (eds.), Chapter 12.Google Scholar
Siglienti, S. (2000) Consequences of the Reduction of Interest Rates on Insurance, Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance, 25, 6377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Staking, K. and Babbel, D. (1995) The Relation Between Capital Structure, Interest Rate Sensitivity, and Market Value in the Property-Liability Insurance Industry, Journal of Risk and Insurance, 62, 690718.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swiss, Re (2001) Rentabilität der Nichtleben-Versicherungswirtschaft: Zurück zum Underwriting, Sigma 5/2001, Zürich.Google Scholar