February 2012/1

Liechtenstein-based investment manager LGT Capital Management has bought Clariden Leu's ILS operations for an undisclosed sum. 0 false

London-listed reinsurer Lancashire Holdings has added $75mn of capital to its $250mn Accordion Re retro sidecar in preparation for a "very difficult renewal" for Japanese cedants at 1 April.

Hedge funds are showing renewed interest in the reinsurance sector after the catastrophe losses of 2011, ratings agency AM Best noted in a recent briefing paper.

ILS fund managers have taken their fair share of growth over the past two years, but as the property catastrophe market hardens will they be the first port of call for investors lured by rising rates?

Catlin has revealed that it managed to renew its giant xs $500mn aggregate retrocession programme, believed to be one of the largest aggregate programmes bought in the market.

Rising property catastrophe premiums gave reinsurers a bright spot as they unveiled sagging 2011 results in the opening weeks of February.

Aon CEO Greg Case praised his firm's capital markets capability despite its "lumpy" contribution to results after a bonus fourth quarter from the division.

Bermudian reinsurer RenaissanceRe brought three new strategic investment partners into its DaVinci Re sidecar as the vehicle posted a $61.3mn loss for 2011.

The AlphaCat Re 2011 sidecar run by Bermudian reinsurer Validus has bulked up to around $280mn, Trading Risk understands.

Vega, Montana upgraded; Perils estimates losses; S&P upgrades Vitality Re health

Modelling agency Eqecat says there are "significant uncertainties" over Japanese earthquake research claiming that Tokyo has a 70 percent chance of being hit by an M7 earthquake in the next four years.

Hannover Re renewed and extended its retrocession protection for 2012, albeit on stricter terms than last year after a tough 2011 for its capacity providers.