Experts from across the insurance linked securities (ILS) asset class are coming together to discuss the industry’s pressing issues at a Guernsey Finance-hosted thought leadership event in Zurich.

The event, ‘ILS Insight’, takes place at the Park Hyatt Zurich on 2 July and will include two panel sessions featuring ILS experts from Guernsey, the UK and mainland Europe.
 
Guernsey has become a leading destination for ILS; figures at the end of last year showed that Guernsey licensed 89 new international insurers during 2013, with more than 40 of the licences structures relating to ILS.
 
Fiona Le Poidevin, chief executive of Guernsey Finance, the promotional agency for the island’s finance industry internationally, says: “Guernsey has quickly become a specialist centre for ILS due to the Island’s long track record and expertise in both the investment funds and insurance sectors. ILS allows us to combine and optimise these strengths in a way that appeals to fund managers and insurers who understand that risks continue to diversify and grow around us.
 
“By hosting this event we are looking to share our knowledge and explain why the ILS sector is gaining considerable traction across the globe, as it evolves from what was regarded as a niche market to one that is a recognised, independent asset class.”
 
The event’s first panel session will focus on the renewal season and recap on the key trends of 2014 with a particular focus on modelling, pricing, transformation structures and Registrar and Transfer Agency (RTA) providers. Moderated by John Rowson of Aon Risk Solutions, the session will feature Niklaus Hilti of Credit Suisse; Justin Wallen of Hexagon PCC Group; Jonathan Barnes of Securis Investments; and Piers Cantlay of Aon Benfield.
 
The second panel session will look at investment and concentrate on the challenges of investing in ILS, investor perceptions and the comparative merits of open-ended and closed-ended investment structures. Moderated by Robin Fuller of Dexion Guernsey, the session will comprise Mark Helyar of Bedell Cristin Guernsey; Barrie Duerden of Rothschild Wealth Management; Sandro Zwyssig of Bank Julius Baer; Pius Fritschi of LGT Capital Partners; and Patrick Stampfli of Schroder Investment Management Switzerland.
 
Le Poidevin says the event will appeal to those involved with the insurance and reinsurance sectors, investment banks, private equity, hedge funds and regulation.
 
“Our panellists are extremely well placed to provide the audience with a significant level of detail and technical expertise on everything to do with ILS and the potential options associated with investment in this asset class. The panellists will also be ready to answer any questions from the audience so we expect it to be a highly interactive and informative debate which really gets to the heart of ILS,” she says.