Cat bonds set to become new face of structured credit, say Axa chiefs

Juillard, Axa: diversification benefits of catastrophe bonds

Catastrophe bonds could lead the recovery of the structured credit market, according to Axa Investment Managers. Pierre-Emmanuel Juillard, head of structured finance, and Christophe Fritsch, head of insurance-linked securities, predict cat bond issuance will reach $5–6 billion in 2010, up from $3.6 billion in 2009. By 2016, they estimate issuance could reach $30 billion.

Juillard and Fritsch say demand for the currently niche product will be driven by a desire for uncorrelated assets in uncertai