Trading Risk February 2018

Pricing for industry loss warranties is up by 15-30 percent on loss-affected covers, according to figures from brokers, as the market picks up after a slow start to the year.

AIG's surprise move to take over AlphaCat parent Validus continues the trend for reinsurer-affiliated asset managers to dominate M&A activity within the ILS management sector.

Fergus Morrison is expected to join the underwriting team at Bermudian ILS manager Aeolus later this year, Trading Risk understands.

The second-largest ILS manager posted a $200mn incremental gain in assets under management in January as it said it chose not to draw down on some post-loss capacity.

Former Novae direct and facultative (D&F) head Nik Lucking is to lead Barbican's new property D&F underwriting platform in Bermuda.

Losses from US primary habitational and coastal hotel accounts have driven pockets of localised hardening in the US commercial property insurance market, with rate increases of as much as 70 percent for some risks.

Former Swiss Re team launch brokerage; AHJ launches capital markets unit; African agency's cat bond plans; Kramer's fund backs weather MGA