Casualty/GL

Casualty reinsurance may never see significant involvement from the ILS market, Credit Suisse Asset Management's (CSAM) head of ILS Niklaus Hilti said in a speech delivered to Insurance Institute of London members at Lloyd's today.

Further broking facilities targeting alternative market partners are expected to emerge following the recently announced Nephila-Amwins arrangement.

XL and Catlin have agreed on the reinsurance leadership structure following their merger, which will establish five regional CEOs all reporting to group reinsurance head Greg Hendrick

Moody's has estimated that catastrophe reinsurance rates will fall by 10 percent in 2015, less than the 15+ percent reduction in 2014, according to its 2015 Global Reinsurance Outlook report.

Cat specialist and third party capital manager RenaissanceRe has agreed to buy Bermudian peer Platinum for $1.9bn in a cash-and-stock deal, the company said.

Natural catastrophe rate softening has decelerated as spreads on the secondary catastrophe bond market have stabilised, according to Swiss Re CEO Michel Liès.

Urs Ramseier chairman and co-founder of ILS fund manager Twelve Capital has predicted that catastrophe bond index trackers or exchange-traded funds (ETF) will soon be released to the market as part of a natural evolution of the asset class.

US insurer Travelers is being considered as a potential strategic partner for the proposed Bermudian start-up reinsurer Golub Capital Re as it continues to work toward a targeted summer launch.

Travelers has emerged as the potential strategic partner of proposed Bermudian start-up reinsurer Golub Capital Re as it continues on its path toward a targeted launch this summer, sister publication The Insurance Insider has revealed.

Arch Capital ceded $32.2mn of premiums to Watford Re in the first quarter as the start-up reinsurer began underwriting following its launch in late March.

Southport Re sale; US leads 2013 cat losses; El Niño subdues hurricane outlook; Data developments;

Cayman Islands start-up reinsurer Southport Re is to be sold to Lennox Investments LLC for an undisclosed sum, according to reports.