insurance linked securities (ILS) News

Plenum Launches Diversified ILS Fund, Partnering with Bermuda’s Sequant Re

Plenum Investments Ltd. has launched an insurance linked securities (ILS) fund, which will invest in collateralized reinsurance transactions, to be sourced and underwritten by Bermuda’s boutique reinsurer Sequant Re. The new fund will complement Plenum’s current ILS offering and bring …

Negative Outlook for Energy Insurers May Force Sector Exit: Willis Towers Watson

Energy insurers continue to feel the pressure caused by over-supply of capital and falling demand from buyers, which may lead them to exit or scale back their participation in the energy sector, according to a report published by Willis Towers …

Bermuda-Based Artex Buys Hexagon Insurance PCC, to Boost ILS Capability

Artex Risk Solutions announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the cores of Guernsey-domiciled Hexagon Insurance PCC Ltd. and its subsidiaries. All regulatory approvals have been received and the deal is expected to close on March 31, …

Arthur J. Gallagher to Buy Kane Group’s Insurance Management Operations

Itasca, Ill.-headquartered Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced it has reached an agreement with Kane Group to acquire its insurance management operations (KIM). This acquisition is expected to close on or about March 31, 2016 and is subject to certain …

2015 Cat Bond Activity Down Slightly from Record Levels in 2014: GC Securities

While property and casualty catastrophe bond primary issuance levels were “uncharacteristically low” in the fourth quarter of 2015, totals at year-end were only slightly lower than the all-time high levels reported in 2014, according to GC Securities, a division of …

Tokio Solution Appoints Agnew as Vice President, ILS Portfolio Management

Bermuda-based Tokio Solution Management Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokio Millennium Re AG, has appointed Butch Agnew as vice president, ILS Portfolio Management. Agnew has over 15 years of experience in capital markets, captive management, broking, business development and …

ILS Market Hits New Record of $70B in 2015: Willis Capital Markets & Advisory

Total non-life insurance linked securities (ILS) capital reached a record $70 billion at year-end 2015 – topping the previous record of $65 billion at year-end 2014, according to the latest ILS market update from Willis Capital Markets & Advisory, the …

Brit Ltd. Renews and Expands its Bermuda Special Purpose Insurer, Versutus

Brit Ltd. announce the renewal and expansion of the collateralized reinsurance capacity provided by the Bermuda domiciled special purpose insurer Versutus Ltd., in support of Brit’s property treaty portfolio for 2016. The special purpose insurer will be capitalised at $82.5 …

Capital Stabilizes, Prices Keep Softening During Jan. 1 Renewals: Guy Carpenter

Reinsurance capital levels stabilized during the Jan. 1, 2016 renewals – showing no growth for the first time in several years – and prices continued to soften, according to Guy Carpenter & Co.’s global January renewal report. The scarcity of …

Reinsurance Prices Continue Softening During January 2016 Renewals: Willis Re

Despite the signs of some pricing stabilization in property catastrophe during the June/July 2015 renewals, hopeful forecasts for a “softening in the softening” in reinsurance pricing have proved elusive, according to Willis Re’s 1st View Report. “The January renewals have …