Facultative Insurance Market Update 2025 Q4

TEVIN SMITH: Thanks, Chris. I think the casualty fact market can be best described as selectively competitive. So there's certainly no shortage of demand for reinsurance capacity. But reinsurers remain disciplined. They're still pushing for additional rate on loss impacted accounts and in segments exposed to social inflation or severity trends.

So overall, I think we're in a bit of a mixed market. Attractive risk can benefit from competition, while challenged risk continue to see firmer pricing and tighter terms and conditions. The key thing for cedents right now is a strong narrative around lost control, early marketing in a really, really thorough submission, which we think will lead to much better outcomes.

CHRISTOPHER LYNAM: Yeah, that makes a ton of sense.

TEVIN SMITH: Our global reach empowers clients by giving them access to the full breadth of market intelligence, capacity, and expertise across geographies. We're able to see pricing and appetite shifts, as well as emerging trends as they develop across the globe and then bring that insight to clients here in the US, which means we can benchmark more accurately. We can anticipate reinsurer behavior earlier. And we can also identify alternative markets that others may overlook. Ultimately, our global scale allows us to advocate more effectively for clients and give them the confidence that they're getting a comprehensive view of the marketplace. Chris, what are your thoughts?

CHRISTOPHER LYNAM: Yeah, global reach gives our clients the playbook, not just the next move. Tactics might get you through renewal, but strategy helps you win the cycle. And here's the key, when you get one of us, you get all of us. Willis this brings the full weight of global capacity, analytics and our expertise to pipeline fac placements with clients, structure deals that can handle the market pivots. In a cycle this fast, you can't just call audibles. We help clients build the whole game plan.

TEVIN SMITH: Completely agree.

Fac is the scalpel in the underwriters toolbox. Use it decisively to carve out high value cat-exposed risk and secure coverage where it matters most. Many of our clients are doing this right now. We're engaged early to map opportunities, prioritize placements and lock in reliable capacity before conditions shift. This isn't about chasing discounts, treat it like an investment cycle. Build resilience and create advantage. What are you telling your clients, Tevin?

TEVIN SMITH: Yeah so in our softer product lines, financial lines, or cyber, for instance, we're really telling clients to lean into disciplined underwriting and transparency. Softening markets typically reward those who market early and put together strong submissions. We think by doing that, clients position themselves as preferred risk and attract more competition from reinsurers, as well as ultimately securing better terms, broader capacity and more sustainable long term partnerships.

Now, the market is dynamic, and so we do have product lines, commercial auto, and construction lines, for instance, that are not in a softening rate environment. And so clients succeed by becoming the type of risk reinsurers want to support. Telling a strong underwriting story and showing meaningful corrective actions on any loss trends are going to be critical. Our reinsurance partners prioritize clarity and credibility. And so the more a client can differentiate themselves as disciplined and transparent, the more leverage they have to secure capacity and maintain program stability despite any market pressure.