ABIR releases 2021 global underwriting results highlighted by 21% year-over-year growth in net premium written

Growth benefited from strong market conditions and continued expansion in specialty and casualty portfolios

Hamilton, Bermuda (August 31, 2022) — Member companies of the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) recorded a robust 21% year-over-year increase in net premium written in 2021. ABIR’s global underwriting report, released today, comprises data from 25 of 29 member re/insurers for the calendar year 2021. The group generated net premium written of US$98.6 billion, up from US$81.6 billion in 2020.

The participating companies write insurance and reinsurance from underwriting centers in Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, North and South America. The 25 re/insurers wrote US$127.9 billion in global gross written premium on a capital and surplus base of US$139.6 billion. They reported net income of US$15.5 billion.

Net premiums written benefited from market growth and improving underwriting conditions with an expectation of additional progress in 2022. Deployment of some of the approximately $19 billion of risk capital introduced by Bermuda start-ups and scale-ups in 2020-2021 has also contributed to growth.

One notable trend in the latest results was marked growth since 2020 in specialty and casualty portfolios, with more firms offering products like cybersecurity and financial lines coverage, building on the Bermuda market’s historic global strength in the property sphere.

“Bermuda’s leading insurers and reinsurers remain significant providers of protection and peace of mind for consumers around the world with robust growth since 2020,” noted John M. Huff, CEO of ABIR.

“Building on a distinguished three-decade track record of providing global climate risk and natural catastrophe protection through property reinsurance, Bermuda insurers and reinsurers are also becoming the specialty and casualty market of choice.”

ABIR members continue to be at the forefront of analyzing complex risk and developing new products in expanding lines of coverage, including cyber, financial products and transactional liability.

As a center of excellence for sophisticated risk management, the Bermuda market is responding to demand driven by trends such as geopolitical volatility, economic uncertainty and social inflation, for war, political risk, terrorism, inflation-triggered financial lines and professional liability coverage. Bermuda re/insurers are also continuing to see growth in mortgage, casualty, agriculture, aviation, marine and renewable energy lines.

“These specialty lines require deep underwriting expertise to protect economies in today’s fast-changing world,” Huff said. “Leveraging a world-class talent base, propriety analytical tools, tailored customer solutions and significant capital and capacity, the Bermuda market is evolving in line with expanding client needs.”

Click Here to access the 2021 report

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About ABIR: The Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers (ABIR) represents Bermuda’s major property and casualty insurers and reinsurers doing business in 150 countries. Bermuda is an internationally recognized center of global expertise on underwriting for catastrophe, climate, cyber, mortgage & credit risk transfer products, along with other specialty insurance and reinsurance. For more information, please visit: www.abir.bm. Follow us on Twitter @ABIR_Bermuda.