The rating system developed and published annually by A.M. Best that indicates the financial condition of insurance companies.
A report providing premium or loss data with respect to identified specific risks. This report is periodically furnished to a reinsurer by the ceding insurers or reinsurers.
An actuarial technique for developing losses to estimate their ultimate amount. An amount for expected unreported losses (derived using the reciprocal of the loss development factor) is added to the actual reported losses to obtain the estimated ultimate loss for a given accident year. The technique is most useful when actual reported losses for an accident year are a poor indicator of future IBNR for the same accident year, as is often the case where there is a low frequency of loss but a very high potential severity.
The loss level at which losses below the level are considered "primary" losses and losses above are "excess" losses. The appropriate break point in any risk financing programme is a matter of judgment and is dependent upon that programme's individual characteristics.
Reinsurers that write business through reinsurance intermediaries. Reinsurers that do not generally accept such business are referred to as the direct market.
Any layer of insurance (or risk retention) that resides between the primary (burning) layer and the excess layers. For example, if the insured's primary CGL limit is $500,000 and its umbrella attachment point is $1 million, the layer of $500,000 excess of $500,000 coverage between the two is the buffer layer.
The net income (net profit or loss before income taxes) that would have been earned by the insured if a loss hadn’t occurred, as well as the numerical value of the insured’s regular operating expenses.