AuM data

An ILS fund run by Deutsche Bank Asset Management (DBAM) began writing business in the January renewals after an extended incubation period, sources told Trading Risk.

The unpegging of the Swiss franc from the euro last week will have a mixed impact on the cost base of Zurich-based ILS fund managers.

The Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) at the Securities and Exchange Commission said one of its priorities for 2015 will be to investigate alternative investment opportunities being offered to retail investors.

The top 10 ILS funds lifted their combined assets under management (AuM) by 5 percent in the past six months to reach $40bn at 1 January 2015, according to the latest Trading Risk survey of ILS investors.

Hiscox said that assets under management in its Kiskadee funds management division have grown to more than $400mn at 1 January, from $110mn at the start of 2014.

XL Group CEO Mike McGavick said that the company's £2.79bn ($4.20bn) deal to acquire Catlin will create a top 10 reinsurer with expanded alternative capital capabilities.

Retro writer CatCo recorded 14 percent growth in net asset value (NAV) last year for its London-listed fund.

Pioneer Investment Management has established its ILS Interval fund with $50mn of capital, and now has total assets under management of $1.6bn in the ILS sector.

This month's edition of Trading Risk has involved a fair bit of bean counting to try to sum up the year ahead for the ILS market.

Growth at the top 10 specialist ILS fund managers slowed in the second half of 2014, as the group started 2015 with a combined $40bn asset base.

The ILS market could break its newly set annual record for ILS volumes in 2015 with $9bn of transactions, Willis Capital Markets & Advisory (WCMA) said in its latest quarterly report on the market.

Bermudian retro writer CatCo has made a 14 percent return over 2014 despite having reserved for a small loss due to US storm events in the second half of the year