ILS investors

Full-year 2014 returns generated by seven cat bond funds tracked by Trading Risk have come in on average 43 percent lower than in 2013, reflecting the impact of market softening.

Cat bond traders said that activity on the secondary market was subdued in January, as there was less cash overhang than had been expected amid a large number of maturities.

Bermudian retro writer CatCo has made a 14 percent return over 2014 despite having reserved for a small loss due to US storm events in the second half of the year

XL Group CEO Mike McGavick today (9 January) said that the company's £2.79bn ($4.20bn) deal to acquire Catlin will create a top 10 reinsurer with expanded alternative capital capabilities.

Willis-owned Lloyd's insurer Acappella plans to launch a fund management unit as it builds out its operations, CEO Jason Howard told sister publication The Insurance Insider

Lane Financial's ILS rate-on-line index slipped by 1 percent during the fourth quarter, finishing 2014 at 86 - a drop of 7 percent from the 92.9 recorded a year earlier.

ILS funds gained 0.13 percent on average in November, taking year-to-date returns to 4.97 percent, according to the Eurekahedge ILS Advisers Index.

Retro writer CatCo plans to return about $35mn to investors in its London-listed Reinsurance Opportunities Fund, reducing its market capitalisation by about 10 percent

Stone Ridge Asset Management has made annual returns ranging from 8.2 to 9.4 percent within its three reinsurance funds, the company's annual report for the period to 31 October 2014 shows.

A health technology firm, Premier Diagnostics, has backed start-up Bermudian ILS fund manager Sequant Re, the company told Trading Risk.

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.