Jireh Risk Advisors and Strategic Risk Solutions (SRS) have jointly launched Strata ILS Ltd, an unrestricted special purpose insurer (SPI) licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Insurance industry commentators are confident that the catastrophe bond market can continue its healthy growth trajectory in 2025 after the asset class delivered strong returns to investors last year.

New Bermuda-based reinsurance venture Radix ILS has been launched by Hanni Ali, who was most recently group head of ILS and sustainability at Hamilton.

TD Insurance has become the first ever Canadian insurer to sponsor a catastrophe bond focused solely on perils within the country after the Toronto-based firm secured C$150mn ($105mn) of multi-year coverage from the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market.

Lockton Re has confirmed the appointment of Gallagher Re’s Theo Norris as UK capital markets structuring and cyber ILS leader.

Philipp Kusche, head of global ILS at Howden Capital Markets & Advisory, is set to assume an expanded role at the firm as European chair, with Mitchell Rosenberg becoming co-head of global ILS.

Former Agile Risk director Raj Jadeja has re-emerged to launch Altor Re, a London-based specialty reinsurance broker and advisor for ILS placements.

The southern California wildfires are unlikely to have a significant impact on the cat bond market, according to separate commentaries from ILS investors Twelve Capital and Plenum Investments.

Ark Insurance Holdings has renewed its P&C-focused Outrigger Re sidecar with $230mn of total investor backing for 2025, of which $150mn has been provided by the (re)insurer’s parent White Mountains.

The wildfires currently burning near Los Angeles have raised concerns about potential attachment erosion for aggregate cat bonds, according to Swiss investment manager Icosa Investments.