insurance linked securities (ILS) News

Howden Enters Japanese Market, Invests in Keystone ILS Capital

Howden, the London-based insurance intermediary group, announced its entry into the Japanese market, launching Howden Re Japan Ltd. and an ILS partnership with Keystone ILS Capital. Howden also announced the appointment of Kentaro Tada as CEO, Howden Japan. Tada will …

Catastrophe Bonds Are Luring Retail Investors to High-Risk Debt

There was a time when investing in catastrophe bonds was the preserve of hedge funds and other sophisticated alternative asset managers. But after underpinning the best hedge fund strategy of 2023, the bonds are finding a wider audience. Catastrophe-bond funds …

Property-Catastrophe Reinsurance Rates Drop by 5% at June Renewals: Howden Re

Property-catastrophe rates saw some moderating trends during the June 1 reinsurance renewals, with average risk-adjusted rates-on-line decreasing by 5% within a typical range of -7.5% to -2.5%, according to Howden Re, the reinsurance business of Howden. These decreases follow a …

Catastrophe Bonds Use Models Underestimating Climate Risks, Investors Say

The risk models that helped drive one of the most lucrative bets of 2023 are increasingly being tested by smaller weather shocks fueled by climate change. Catastrophe bonds and other insurance-linked securities, which powered last year’s highest-returning hedge fund strategy, …

Aspen and Allianz’s PIMCO Launch Casualty-Focused Reinsurance Vehicle

Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. and PIMCO Investment Management Co. announced the formation of Pando Re Ltd., a Bermuda-domiciled collateralized re/insurer focused on casualty business. Under a long-term agreement, Aspen will be the sole cedent to Pando Re and PIMCO will …

Hedge Fund That Rode Catastrophe Bond Rally Mounts Tactical Retreat

A hedge fund that last year delivered its best result ever thanks to catastrophe bonds is now scaling back its position, based on a bet that the market is headed for a rough patch. Tenax Capital, which has a €100 …

Risk Models Behind Insurance-Linked Securities Are Getting a Lot Harder to Crack

As the best hedge fund strategy of 2023 becomes a magnet for mainstream investors, the risk models it relies on are getting a lot tougher to crack. The strategy in question is tied to insurance-linked securities, which are dominated by …

Hedge Funds’ Mega Returns Set Off Demand Spiral for Catastrophe Bonds

As hedge funds rake in record profits in one of the riskiest corners of the debt market, the products behind those returns are now drawing in more mainstream investors. Catastrophe bonds, which last year formed the basis for the best-performing …

Brazil’s Government Paves the Way for Insurance-Linked Securities

Brazil’s National Monetary Council (CMN), the country’s highest economic body, granted approval on Thursday for regulations enabling insurers and reinsurers to raise funds from investors through the issuance of insurance-linked securities. The Finance Ministry, whose minister is a part of …

Hedge Funds Rake in Huge Profits Betting on Catastrophe Risk

For hedge funds, the science of catastrophes helped generate the best returns of any alternative investment strategy last year. The calculus around natural disasters such as hurricanes and cyclones fed record gains at funds managed by firms including Tenax Capital, …