Catastrophe Reinsurance

REINSURANCE: A form of excess of loss reinsurance which, subject to a specific limit, indemnifies the ceding company in excess of a specified retention with respect to an accumulation of losses to multiple insureds and/or policies resulting from an occurrence or series of occurrences arising from one or more disasters
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A form of reinsurance that indemnifies the ceding company for the accumulation of losses in excess of a stipulated sum arising from a single catastrophic event or series of events.
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UK: An excess of loss reinsurance which, subject to a specified limit, indemnifies the reinsured for the amount of loss in excess of a specified retention, the excess point, with regard to an accumulation of losses caused by a catastrophic event (e.g. a hurricane) or series of events. The reinsurance document is referred to as a catastrophe cover. See HOURS CLAUSE.

Catastrophe swaps

A reinsurer swaps part of his portfolio, e.g. earthquake in Japan, with the Florida hurricane exposure of another reinsurer, each wishing to diversify his or her portfolio. The term also describes an arrangement between an insurer and an investor. The insurer agrees to make periodic payments to another party who agrees to make payments to the insurer if defined catastrophes occur, but there is no exchange of principal. See WEATHER SWAPS.