Swiss pension GastroSocial allocates 2% to ILS as it revises portfolio strategy
The Swiss GastroSocial pension fund has invested 2% of its roughly CHF 11 billion of assets under management into insurance-linked securities (ILS), as it adopted a new investment strategy in 2025 with a more significant focus on private assets. GastroSocial is an organisation that manages both a compensation fund and a pension fund for the […]
Cat bonds’ diversification especially valuable during times of market turbulence: Icosa
Amid ongoing market volatility institutional investors are increasingly turning to catastrophe bonds as a way to strengthen portfolio resilience, with the diversification they offer a valuable tool during times of turbulence, according to cat bond fund manager Icosa Investments AG. “Lately, stock markets have swung wildly on every new policy announcement and international headline, reminding […]
Generali secures EUR200m Lion Re DAC “green cat bond” renewal
Italian and global insurance giant Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. has now successfully secured a renewal for its green catastrophe bond, with the new EUR 200 million Lion Re DAC transaction finalised at its target size and with pricing of the two tranches of notes at either end of their initial ranges, Artemis can report. Generali returned to the catastrophe […]
State Farm in record cat bond sponsorship, with $1.55bn Merna Re II 2025
We’ve learned that State Farm has been back in the catastrophe bond market in recent weeks and has now secured what is a record amount of reinsurance limit from the capital markets in a single visit in cat bond form, as it priced $1.55 billion of multi-peril protection via sponsorship of four Merna Re II Ltd. […]
As investors reimagine 60/40, KKR suggests adding insurance for diversification
As investors consider their options post the US Liberation Day tariff’s announcement and resulting volatility, investment giant KKR anticipates the traditional 60/40 stock and bond portfolio split will be reimagined, with the firm’s Henry McVey suggesting the addition of insurance as an asset class for its diversification benefits. McVey, Head of Global Macro & Asset […]
Cat bonds recommended as EU agriculture losses projected to reach €40bn by 2050: Howden
Catastrophe bonds and other private market risk-transfer tools are essential to help Europe’s agriculture sector manage mounting climate risks, according to Howden, as annual weather-related losses are expected to rise to €40 billion by 2050. The recommendation comes from a report published by the European Commission and European Investment Bank (EIB), featuring analysis and proposals […]
Efficiently structured ILS transactions lower capital costs for re/insurers: Augment Risk
Efficiently structured insurance-linked securities (ILS) transactions are playing a pivotal role in reducing capital costs for re/insurers, according to risk capital and reinsurance solutions broking firm Augment Risk. In a recent commentary, the firm asserts that by leveraging the evolving capabilities of the ILS market, insurers can reduce their cost of capital while enhancing long-term financial […]
CEA seeks $250m Ursa Re II 2025-1 cat bond to extend California quake reinsurance
The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is back in the catastrophe bond market looking for more earthquake reinsurance protection from the capital markets, with an initial $250 million target for what will be its 22nd directly sponsored cat bond, an Ursa Re II Ltd. (Series 2025-1) issuance. This is the California Earthquake Authority’s (CEA) second visit to the […]
Hannover Re upsizes 3264 Re peak peril retro cat bond target to $150m
Large European reinsurer Hannover Re has now upsized its target for its latest catastrophe bond, increasing it to now seek $150 million in retrocession covering US and North American peak perils from the 3264 Re Ltd. (Series 2025-2) issuance, Artemis has learned. Hannover Re returned to the catastrophe bond market at the beginning of the month, initially looking […]
NCIUA’s recent catastrophe bond included integrated disaster-resilience feature
The North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) has become the first catastrophe bond sponsor to benefit from an issuance that has disaster-resilience features integrated in it, with its recent $600 million Cape Lookout Re Ltd. (Series 2025-1) the very first cat bond to include an additional resilience feature. As a result, this recent cat bond deal has […]