December 2014/1

Allianz is preparing to place its EUR1.3bn "SuperCat" treaty at rates that are roughly 10 percent lower for 2015, sister publication The Insurance Insider has reported.

Richard Brindle has interest from private equity houses including Crestview Partners and Pine Brook Partners in his proposed $2bn 2015 start-up, sources have said.

ILS Capital Management generated a 14.9 percent return for the first nine months of 2014, according to an investor report seen by Trading Risk.

Nephila's Juniper fund has returned 7 percent for the first nine months of 2014, with its lower-risk Palmetto fund delivering 5.1 percent over the same period, according to a recent presentation from the Oregon Investment Council.

Canopius expects to recoup $10mn from a marine industry loss warranty (ILW) that will pay out after the total loss reserve for the Costa Concordia sinking nudged past the $2bn threshold, it is understood.

ILS fund manager Eskatos Capital Management has reserved for a potential loss from the Brisbane storms that struck in late November, which is set to cause industry losses of more than $400mn.

Armour Group declined to comment on whether its most recent legacy deal, the acquisition of $390mn of reinsurance for Italian and Spanish medical malpractice reserves written by QBE, was backed by capital from its new ILS Property & Casualty Fund affiliate.

The Swiss Re Cat Bond Global Price Return Index took its biggest fall of 2014 in November.

Prices on American Strategic's Gator Re cat bond dropped by roughly 10 percent in the week following the sponsor's updated loss report, but sources said a wide variation on indicative pricing remains.

New P&C issuances added almost $2bn to 2014 cat bond volumes in late November and early December, putting the year on course to reach a record total.

CatCo Investment Management's chief operating officer and chief financial officer Jason Bibb has resigned with immediate effect, the London-listed firm announced on 12 December.

A UN-led group that is studying new ways of responding financially to humanitarian crises will consider using catastrophe bonds and insurance as a means of transferring risk.