capital markets

Markdowns due to potential business interruption claims from the Covid-19 pandemic caused some private ILS or collateralised reinsurance funds to decline during the month of April, while pure catastrophe bonds outperformed, ILS Advisers said today.

The continuation of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic into the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is set to compound challenges for insurance, reinsurance and ILS capacity providers this year, according to Fitch Ratings.

Hudson Structured Capital Management Ltd., which undertakes insurance and reinsurance investment business as HSCM Bermuda Management Company, has established special purpose insurer Bumblebee Re Ltd., as it looks to take the process of collateralized reinsurance cell formation in-house.

Lockton Capital Markets, the unit with an alternative capital and insurance-linked securities focus at the largest independent insurance broker of the same name, has announced the appointment of experienced convergence market exec Ken Pierce as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s (TWIA) new Alamo Re II Pte. Ltd. (Series 2020-1) catastrophe bond issuance has successfully been doubled in size thanks to strong demand from investors and will now provide the residual market property insurer $400 million of reinsurance protection.

Becoming a manager of third-party capital from investors interested in accessing the returns of legacy insurance and reinsurance business is a “key goal” for Randall & Quilter (R&Q) Investment Holdings, the specialist non-life insurance and reinsurance legacy investor and program manager said today.

Universal Insurance Holdings, a Florida headquartered and expansive primary insurance carrier, has secured the largest private market catastrophe reinsurance renewal in its history, with capital market support again evident and Nephila Capital a key participant.

Issuance of new catastrophe bonds has continued to be brisk over the last few weeks, with repeat sponsors helping to drive total catastrophe bond and related insurance-linked securities (ILS) issuance for 2020 to-date above $7.2 billion, according to Artemis’ Deal Directory data.

The secondary market for catastrophe bond trading has offered some good opportunities in recent times, but with the focus now back on primary issuance, it’s an interesting moment for investors, says Stephan Ruoff of Schroder Secquaero.

Beazley, the Lloyd’s market focused specialist insurance and reinsurance underwriter, has ambitious targets for bringing significant amounts of third-party capital under its management through facilities, or beta-like market tracking structures, according to analysts.