PGGM / PFZW ILS portfolio delivered 18.9% return (USD) in 2023
The giant more than $9 billion portfolio of insurance-linked securities (ILS) and reinsurance investments managed by PGGM, the Dutch pension investment manager that allocates the largest amount to the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market on behalf of end-client the Dutch pension PFZW, delivered a record 18.9% return in 2023. Riding on the higher premiums being paid in […]
Cat bonds now much more attractive to potential sponsors: Steiger, Icosa
The catastrophe bond market continues on its positive trajectory in 2024, with robust demand on both sides of the trade. But with spreads and yields having become more “normalised” in recent months, cat bonds are now much more attractive to potential sponsors, Florian Steiger, CEO of Icosa Investments has said. The significant demand for catastrophe […]
City National Rochdale mutual ILW fund delivers 15.6% return
The City National Rochdale Select Strategies Fund, a US mutual insurance-linked securities (ILS) fund focused on investments into industry-loss warranties (ILW’s) and industry-index trigger catastrophe bonds, delivered its strongest annual performance in the last year, with an almost 15.6% return to its investors. With a now six year track record for this fund, Kurt Hawkesworth, […]
City of Zurich Pension Fund ILS allocation expands to ~$960m
The allocation to the insurance-linked securities (ILS) asset class by the City of Zurich Pension Fund has continued to expand, reaching approximately US $960 million by the end of March 2024, with mandates now with eight investment managers across life and P&C reinsurance investments. The City of Zurich Pension Fund remains very close to target […]
UCITS cat bond fund assets grow by 4% to reach $11.4bn in Q1 2024
The assets under management of the main catastrophe bond funds in the UCITS format increased by 4% over the first-quarter of 2024, to reach a new high of almost $11.4 billion by the end of the period. Catastrophe bond funds in the UCITS format have been growing rapidly over the last year, with their assets […]
Catastrophe bond market yield dips to 12% on insurance risk spread squeeze
The total yield of the catastrophe bond market in US dollars had declined to 12% by the end of March, down from a high of close to 16% in early January. But the signs are that the cat bond market yield may be stabilising, as demand and supply become more balanced, Plenum Investments believes. We have launched a […]
Cat bond spreads adequately compensate for hurricane risk: Twelve Capital
Investment manager Twelve Capital feels that the spread being taken when investing into catastrophe bonds compensates for the shorter-term risk being taken from the hurricane peril, noting that pricing of cat bonds is based on a longer-term view than just a single hurricane season. With hurricane forecasts suggesting a hyperactive 2024 Atlantic storm season with potentially elevated […]
Non-life alternative capital grew 11.5% to $107bn in 2023: Gallagher Re
Investor inflows to the catastrophe bond market and other areas of insurance-linked securities (ILS) helped non-life alternative reinsurance capital rise by 11.5% to a new record high of $107 billion by the end of 2023, according to the latest data from broker Gallagher Re. Non-life ILS and alternative capital grew particularly strongly in the second-half […]
Industry-loss cat bond spread decline necessitates portfolio rethink: Icosa
Spreads for industry-loss index trigger catastrophe bond instruments have declined or tightened so much in recent months that indemnity cat bonds now look relatively more attractive for the first time, which necessitates a rethink about how cat bond portfolios are constructed, according to Florian Steiger, of Icosa Investments. Steiger formed Icosa Investments as a new […]
As alternative capital hits $108bn record-high, Aon forecasts further growth
According to Aon Securities, the insurance-linked securities (ILS) and investment banking arm of Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions, the amount of alternative capital in the reinsurance industry ended 2023 at a new high of $108 billion, a figure the broker expects to grow as interest investor is growing across the range of ILS instruments. Alternative capital levels […]