Markel CATCo Investment Management

Markel CATCo Investment Management, the in run-off retrocessional reinsurance manager of insurance-linked securities (ILS) funds, is to be the subject of Chapter 15 bankruptcy proceedings, with filings made in the United States that have also disclosed Danish pension fund investor PKA A/S as a major holder.

United States governmental authorities have concluded their investigations into retrocessional reinsurance investment manager Markel CATCo this week, with no action set to be taken.

Having announced this morning that a proposal has been made to investors to speed the running-off and return of capital of the Markel CATCo retrocessional reinsurance investment funds, the half-year report of the manager’s public fund suggests further wildfire subrogation related recoveries are possible.

A new proposal from Markel CATCo Investment Management and Markel Corporation seeks to speed the return of capital from the CATCo retrocessional reinsurance investment funds to investors, while avoiding any complications to the ongoing running-off from legal claims made.

The retrocessional reinsurance investment portfolio constructed by Markel’s CATCo Investment Management is continuing to develop more favourably than had originally been expected, with the firm reporting a reduction of claims in relation to catastrophe events from 2017.

The CATCo Reinsurance Opportunities Fund Ltd., the listed, retrocession focused insurance-linked securities (ILS) fund strategy managed by Markel CATCo Investment Management, has gained roughly 8% in the last month thanks to a further reduction in claims from 2017 and 2018 wildfire loss events.

A lawsuit that has been going on since last year in the Florida court system between former CATCo CEO Tony Belisle and an investor vehicle Eugenia II Investment Holdings (BVI) has now been settled in principle.

Winter storm Uri’s impacts in the first-quarter of 2021 was a step backwards for the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market and the sectors biggest dedicated investment manager Nephila Capital, according to Markel Corporation Co-CEO Richie Whitt.

Nephila Capital is experiencing elevated costs as the insurance and reinsurance linked investment manager builds-out and grows its managing general agency (MGA) platforms and readies for the launch of new ILS fund vehicles, Markel Co-CEO Richie Whitt has explained.

Assets under management (AuM) at the largest dedicated insurance-linked securities (ILS) specialist manager Nephila Capital fell slightly to $9.5 billion at the end of the first-quarter, with the reduced assets also a driver of lower ILS operating revenues at Markel Corporation.