Catastrophe bond & related ILS issuance hits $6.1bn already in 2020

Catastrophe bond and related insurance-linked securities (ILS) market activity remains buoyant despite the impacts seen from the Covid-19 pandemic, with primary issuance already reaching $6.1 billion in 2020, according to Artemis’ Deal Directory data. Primary market issuance of catastrophe bonds and related insurance-linked securities (ILS) grew by $375 million just this week, thanks to the…

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Athene expects ACRA sidecar capacity to help on pension risk transfer

The Athene Co-Invest Reinsurance Affiliate (ACRA) insurance-linked sidecar vehicle is expected to raise further capital, with investor discussions ongoing and senior executives say the third-party capital vehicle will become a significant source of capacity for its pension risk transfer deals. Commitments to the Athene Co-Invest Reinsurance Affiliate (ACRA) insurance-linked sidecar vehicle have reached $3.2 billion,…

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U.S. commercial property insurance rates rise 21% in Q1 2020

Property insurance rates around the globe continue to accelerate higher, with commercial line rate increases leading the way and U.S. property rates accelerating fast, suggesting that reinsurance rates will continue to rise in tandem and to keep up. Following a number of years where catastrophe losses around the globe heavily impacted the commercial and homeowners…

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How to build your own dividend-focused robo-adivsor

Today we have a guest post! The guest post is written by Brendan Lee Young is one of the founders of Passiv, an automated portfolio management tool that helps DIY investors be their own wealth manager using their brokerage accounts. He follows a core-and-explore investment strategy but loves the feeling of getting paid dividends. Please…

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CEA successfully upsizes Sutter Re 2020 quake cat bond 75% to $700m

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) has now settled for a 75% upsizing of its latest catastrophe bond issuance, with the Sutter Re Ltd. (Series 20201- & 2020-2) issuance now fixed to provide $700 million of collateralised earthquake reinsurance protection. The not-for-profit residential earthquake insurer of California had returned to the catastrophe bond market in April…

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Pricing to define size of TWIA’s Alamo Re II 2020 cat bond: CFO

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s (TWIA) mid-year 2020 reinsurance and catastrophe bond renewal looks set to depend on pricing this year, as the insurer is aware of challenges faced in both marketplaces and will look to maximise on coverage at the best possible and most efficient pricing as it builds its 2020 reinsurance tower. Speaking…

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PartnerRe sale to Covéa called off, as Covid-19 renegotiations fail

The sale of global reinsurance firm PartnerRe to French insurance group Covéa has been called off, after attempted renegotiations over the price with seller EXOR in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic failed to find an agreement. Covéa was set to acquire reinsurance firm PartnerRe from owner EXOR, the Italian holding company and investment entity…

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Diversification still key driver for alternatives investing, appetites growing

Investors seeking diversified sources of return, particularly with little correlation to broader financial market factors, remain key drivers of allocations to the alternative asset classes of the world and appetite for these assets continues to grow. Data from alternative investment specialist information service provider Preqin shows that investors allocating to alternatives continue to rank the…

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