May 2008/1

Convergence pioneer Swiss Re has launched a new $150mn sidecar vehicle, Sector Re II, to write a quota share retrocession of the group’s global natural catastrophe and aviation catastrophe port

The ILS sector is echoing the traditional (re)insurance market with both rates and terms/conditions coming under pressure, recent research has concluded. The insurance linked securities (ILS) sector,

Outstanding non-life insurance linked securities (ILS) limits could reach $70- 100bn within the next 10 years, according to senior market commentators. In a lively discussion on the future of the non

Secondary trading of insurance linked securities (ILS) was estimated to be as high as $1bn in March, with first quarter trading possibly reaching $3bn across the life and non-life cat bond sectors. T

Global insurance broker Marsh has launched a parametric insurance product based on risk modelling firm Risk Management Solutions’ (RMS) WindX parametric index. The product, called WindX-SI, can

Hannover Re CEO Wilhelm Zeller said the reinsurer will look to continue with its multi-year K5 sidecar when it comes up for renewal at year-end. Zeller added that Hannover Re had never been as well p

The embedded value (EV) sector of the life insurance linked securities (ILS) sector is a “high growth area”, commented Michael Symonds, SVP at Lehman Brothers, at the 2008 SIFMA ILS confe

Dresdner Kleinwort-owned special purpose reinsurer Bridge Re, has closed its three year $182.5mn Puma Capital retro cat sidecar to new business after just one year of operation due to weaker market c

State Farm’s 2007 landmark catastrophe bond, Merna Re, is coming under pricing pressure in the secondary market, as investors seek to sell large chunks of the investment grade notes, according

East Lane Re II US insurer Chubb Group’s $200mn cat bond, East Lane Re II, was over-subscribed, proving that a “strong” proposition can still compel investors despite the recent rel

A total of $700mn of life and non-life insurance linked securities (ILS) have been issued to end-April 2008 – a figure which, even with a month to go before the start of the North Atlantic wind

Ratings agency AM Best is extending its insurance linked securities (ILS) rating methodology to include assessment of the basis risk carried by industry loss arranties (ILWs). In a statement, the fir