19 May 2010 - Aon Benfield, the world’s premier reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor, is broadening its capabilities and bringing together its academic and industry research relationships under one banner – Aon Benfield Research. The team will deliver relevant research material and help re/insurers enhance their understanding and management of risks. The launch of this new strategy will be marked with Aon Benfield Research Month in June.

The new collaboration combines world class research with Aon Benfield’s industry-leading catastrophe modeling, actuarial analysis and broking expertise.

Global relationships include: Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, Aon Benfield Hazard Centre in Pretoria, ClimateWise, ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Eurotempest, GFZ Potsdam, HR Wallingford, Lighthill Risk Network, NTU Singapore’s Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management, Risk Frontiers, Spurr Consulting, Tropical Storm Risk and University of Western Ontario.

Aon Benfield Research Month in June will showcase the expertise of a selection of research partners within the program, looking at volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes. The research reports will combine analysis from Aon Benfield’s catastrophe management, Impact Forecasting and broking teams to help interpret and apply the research to (re)insurers, in terms of quantifying the potential impact to their balance sheets. The inaugural event ‘The science behind hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural perils’* on 15 June will feature a presentation by Professor Bill McGuire from Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre.

John Moore, Head of International Analytics at Aon Benfield, said: “Since 1996 we have built strong links with leading institutions and are excited about our enhancing our long term commitment to the industry and academics. Organizing and enhancing the global partnerships under one umbrella will enable us to achieve our key objectives of delivering relevant and regular research to clients and the insurance and reinsurance industry as a whole, while supporting academic research and funding by demonstrating its benefits to business.”

Dominic Christian, co-CEO of Aon Benfield, added: “The goal of our further investment and enhanced co-ordination is to enable (re)insurers, their clients, governments and non-governmental organizations to protect and advance themselves in the face of natural hazard and socio-economic risks.”

Aon Benfield Research, which has just launched its market security portal, MarketReView, will continue to provide market analysis and reinsurer financials through regular publications such as the Lloyd’s Update and the Aon Benfield Aggregate. 

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About Aon Benfield
As the industry leader in treaty, facultative and capital markets, Aon Benfield is redefining the role of the reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor. Through our unmatched talent and industry-leading proprietary tools and products, we help our clients to redefine themselves and their success. Aon Benfield offers unbiased capital advice and customized access to more reinsurance and capital markets than anyone else. As a trusted advocate, we provide local reach to the world’s markets, an unparalleled investment in innovative analytics, including catastrophe management, actuarial, and rating agency advisory, and the right professionals to advise clients in making the optimal capital choice for their business. With an international network of more than 4,000 professionals in 50 countries, our worldwide client base is able to access the broadest portfolio of integrated capital solutions and services. Learn more at aonbenfield.com.

About Aon Benfield Research
The Aon Benfield Research team is responsible for monitoring and analyzing reinsurers and the reinsurance industry and providing insights that help our clients to make informed decisions for their businesses.  Aon Benfield Research also brings together our academic relationships under one banner to deliver a wealth of relevant academic research material. We combine world class academic research with Aon Benfield’s industry-leading catastrophe modeling, actuarial analysis and broking expertise to create a more risk aware world.

For further information please contact:

Alexandra Lewis  
Aon Benfield 
t: +44 (0)20 7882 0541  
e:alexandra.lewis@aonbenfield.com