The seventh annual PWC and Standard & Poor’s Bermuda (Re) insurance Conference kicks off today, focusing on the balance between growth and risk in the face of continued challenges.The two-day event will be attended by Bermuda’s C-Suite members, including the CEOs of Endurance, RenaissanceRe, Montpelier Re, Alterra, Aon, ILS Capital, Validus Re and Lancashire as well as Brad Kading of ABIR and Jeremy Cox of the BMA.The conference aims to offer insight into industry-leading executive views on key issues and trends within the global and Bermuda re/insurance markets.“With Hurricane Sandy as a fresh reminder, the continued unpredictable global economy defined by stagnant growth and low yields combined with opportunities in new markets and for innovative solutions has left reinsurers playing a balancing act. How they seek to address this challenge through redefining business models while meeting investors expectations,” is the focus of the event, said financial services firm PWC, a sponsor of the conference along with Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.Re/insurance industry leaders will be joined by senior credit analysts from Standard & Poor’s New York and London offices, and senior partners from PwC’s re/insurance practice for a number of interactive panel discussions.“The dislocation in the industry today is happening at a relentless speed. Executives are consumed with managing the issues of today while trying to keep ahead of the pack in this increasingly interconnected global risk landscape and to capitalise on the opportunities opening up in fast growth economies,” said Arthur Wightman, Insurance Leader, PWC Bermuda. “Those reinsurers that are at the leading edge of the change — pushing the boundaries of risk mitigation, evolving their business models and developing new markets and innovative solutions — will prevail. The conference will be addressing these hot button topics and issues with some of the industry’s leading experts.”Some of the session topics include:— The View from the Top: The C-Suite Perspective: Industry leaders have a unique perspective on how (re) insurers can manage risk and take advantage of opportunities in this unpredictable economic environment. This panel will discuss the significant trends, pressing matters and issues facing (re) insurance, and discuss their perspectives on key strategies for balancing the interests of their stakeholders and achieving long term sustainable growth and success.— The Earnings Challenge: Pricing, Profits & Capital: Finance executives discuss the challenges in meeting profit expectations while maintaining discipline and controlling risk while examining the tools and techniques being employed, including pricing, reserving and capital management, to achieve this delicate balance.— Executive Survey of the Reinsurance Landscape: An insider’s view into the thinking around the road ahead and the challenges and opportunities it presents. What lessons were learned from 2011 and how has this impacted operational decisions and management’s strategy? Will enterprise risk management prove to be the silver bullet going forward or simply a key plank in (re) building a solid corporate platform? Do the recent events show the industry’s resiliency or is there still more to learn, particularly when it comes to detecting and preparing for emerging risks?— Welcome to Wall Street, Bermuda HM08: From the low interest rate environment, the appetite for catastrophe bonds, and the potential for new products and investment vehicles in the evolving global macro-markets, this session provides an exchange of views on the strategies that insurers and investors are implementing to address risks and capitalise on potential opportunities available within the industry. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services also provides its views on sector trends, ratings drivers, criteria and assumptions.A full agenda and registration form are available at www.bermudareinsurance2012.com