After a three-year slide, mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity in the re/insurance sector appears to have a sense of renewed energy—with a small increase in the number of deals completed in the first half of 2014 (see Figure 1).
Probably the most powerful trigger for M&A activity in the coming year is excess capital. Shareholders are looking for decent returns on their investments and, if management cannot deliver this operationally, then there will be pressure either to return it or deploy it elsewhere.