Hazard & Risk Science Review 2009 Launched at Monte Carlo

Aon Benfield and PartnerRe today announce the release of the popular annual re/insurance industry report, Hazard & Risk Science Review 2009, which showcases the latest developments in the field of natural hazard and risk science.

The Review, which is co-sponsored by Aon Benfield and PartnerRe and written by experts at the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, continues to focus on the four main areas of hazard –atmospheric, geological, hydrological, and climate change related. It features summaries of more than 70 scientific papers published during the past 12 months, sourced by academics from Aon Benfield UCL Research Centre and natural catastrophe experts from both Aon Benfield and PartnerRe.

Now in its sixth edition, the report highlights that while there has not been a catastrophe on the scale of 2008’s Cyclone Nargis or Sichuan earthquake, devastating wildfires in Australia and the Abruzzo earthquake in Italy are a reminder that western developed nations are far from immune to natural disasters.

Meanwhile, other topics in the 2009 Review include:

• Simulations of earthquake ground motions for southern California and the Seattle area

• Update on future tsunami threat from volcanic landslides in the Canary Islands and Alaska

• Tsunami hazard for the Caribbean, the Oregon coast and Portugal

• New studies on building vulnerability in relation to future eruptions at Vesuvius (Italy) and Teide (Tenerife, Canary Islands)

• Evaluation of future flood hazard in Rome and Venice

Professor Bill McGuire, Director of the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, and co-author of the report said: "In this year’s Review, we present a digest of peer-reviewed papers that address critical issues, including hazard characterisation, forecasting and modelling that, together, seek to reduce vulnerability and exposure and diminish disaster risk. Our aim continues to be to improve industry awareness and understanding of natural catastrophes and the processes that drive them, to limit the number of shocks and surprises arising from hazardous events, and to help drive more informed business decisions on a day-to-day basis."

Since its launch at the Monte Carlo Rendez-Vous in 2004, more than 15,000 copies of the Review have been distributed throughout the re/insurance market. The 2009 Review is available online at www.abuhrc.org, or for printed copies of both the current and previous editions, email rebecca.coombes@aonbenfield.com with your full postal address, or call (London) +44 (0) 20 7522 3850. The review can also be downloaded from the corporate websites of both Aon Benfield and PartnerRe.

To see the 2009 and past editions check out the Hazard & Risk Science review section on the ABUHRC website (click to visit page)

About the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre

With 60 researchers and practitioners, the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre is Europe's leading multidisciplinary academic hazard research centre. ABUHRC comprises three groups: Geological Hazards, Meteorological Hazards & Seasonal Forecasting, and Disaster Studies & Management. The Centre is based at University College London, which is listed in the global top ten of the Times Higher Education Supplement-QS World University Rankings 2007. ABUHRC is sponsored by Aon Benfield, the world's premier reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor.

About Aon Benfield

Aon Benfield is the world’s premier reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor, providing clients with integrated capital solutions and services. The company offers clients access to every traditional and alternative market in the world, through an international network of offices spanning over 50 countries and more than 4,000 professionals. Its worldwide client base is able to access the broadest portfolio of integrated capital solutions and services, world-class talent, unparalleled global reach and local expertise to best meet their business objectives. Aon Benfield is the industry leader in treaty, facultative and capital markets transactions. 

About PartnerRe

PartnerRe is a leading global reinsurer, providing multi-line reinsurance to insurance companies. The Company through its wholly owned subsidiaries also offers alternative risk products that include weather and credit protection to financial, industrial and service companies. Risks reinsured include property, casualty, motor, agriculture, aviation/space, catastrophe, credit/surety, engineering, energy, marine, specialty property, specialty casualty, other lines, life/annuity and health, and alternative risk products. For the year ended December 31, 2008, total revenues were $4.0 billion. At June 30, 2009, total assets were $17.0 billion, total capital was $5.3 billion and total shareholders’ equity was $4.8 billion. PartnerRe on the Internet: www.partnerre.com

Eija Tuulensuu
PartnerRe
Zurich
T:  +41 (0) 44 385 36 27
E: eija.tuulensuu@partnerre.com