The Reinsurance Association of America trade group reported today that the U.S. reinsurance sector in 2004 was unprofitable, posting a 105.5 combined ratio.
The Washington, D.C.-based group's report aggregated underwriting results from 40 U.S.-based reinsurers. In all, these companies reported 2004 net premiums written of $30.1 billion, premiums earned of $29.8 billion, loss and loss adjustment expenses of $23.4 billion, commission and broker expenses of $5.9 billion, and other underwriting expenses of $2.2 billion.
The RAA report, titled "Reinsurance Underwriting Review: 2004 Industry Results," expands on the group's usual quarterly survey, which consists of voluntary data from about 27 major U.S.-based reinsurance companies.
The report also shows a 78.6 percent weighted loss ratio, a 19.7 percent commission-and-broker ratio, and other underwriting expense ratio of 7.3 percent–resulting in a 105.5 combined ratio. In aggregate, the 40 reinsurance companies reported $64.3 billion in policyholders' surplus.
The combined ratio indicates whether premiums covered expected claims and expenses with profitability achieved if the level is below 100, meaning that less than $1 went to pay claims and expenses for every $1 of premium earned.
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