New issuance of nonlife insurance linked securities hit $1.0billion in the second quarter, down from $2.7 billion in the year-ago quarter, accordingto Willis Capital Markets & Advisory's latest ILS report.

There were six catastrophe bond transactions in the second quarter,compared with nine in the prior-year period. Three out of the six sponsors werenew issuers, according to the report.

Willis Capital Markets & Advisory noted that the $2.8 billionin issuance seen in the first half of 2016 is the lowest total since 2012. Nevertheless,the figure still surpassed first-half totals for all years before 2012 other than2007.

Willis Capital Markets & Advisory is part of .