Hong Kong ILS Grant Scheme to be extended again, this time by three years

The government of Hong Kong is budgeting for a further three year extension to its Pilot ILS Grant Scheme, as the Special Administrative Region continues to target bringing catastrophe bond and insurance-linked securities (ILS) issuance to its financial market. Hong Kong aims to continue developing its still nascent insurance‑linked securities (ILS) market, with attracting issuers […]

Evolving cat models & shifts in climate driving attraction towards ILS: Twelve Securis

According to Twelve Securis, the specialist insurance-linked securities (ILS) manager, the combination of advancements being seen in catastrophe modeling, along with shifting climate patterns, and the ability to generate uncorrelated returns, is making ILS an increasingly attractive investment amid a rapidly changing risk landscape. Twelve Securis was formed in February following the completion of the […]

Tropical cyclone risk could be increasing in the Northwest Pacific: Chaucer

According to global specialty insurance and reinsurance group Chaucer, evidence from observational data and climate models shows that tropical cyclones, known as typhoons in the Pacific, are showing signs of being influenced by climate change, with a notable trend of their peak intensity shifting northward in the Northwest Pacific. In a new report, Chaucer explains […]

EU public-private reinsurance scheme would play ‘active role’ in narrowing protection gap: Morningstar

Mario De Cicco, Vice President of Global Insurance & Pension Ratings, and Marcos Alvarez, Managing Director of Global Financial Institution Ratings at Morningstar, a provider of independent investment research and financial data, explore the growing insurance protection gap in Europe caused by climate-driven natural catastrophes. Drawing on insights from the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority […]

TWIA sets PML at $6.227bn for 2025, to require $4.227bn of reinsurance & cat bonds

The Board of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) met today and one item up for discussion was the setting of the 1-in-100 year probable maximum loss (PML), a critical figure for defining its funding needs for the hurricane season and therefore its purchases of reinsurance and catastrophe bonds for 2025. With reinsurance costs having […]

Twelve Securis merger completes, creating one of the largest ILS managers with $8.5bn

Twelve Securis has been established with $8.5 billion of assets under management (AUM) making the newly branded and combined ILS manager one of the largest in the sector, after the merger of Twelve Capital and Securis Investment Partners has now completed. Twelve Capital and Securis Investment Partners had originally announced their intention to merge in July […]

Rail bridge links nations along the Silk Road

China-Europe freight rail services experienced significant growth last year. In 2024, trains made 19,000 trips, representing a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year, and transported over 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo, a 9 percent rise year-on-year. Launched in 2011 as a flagship program of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, this […]

CEA prices Ursa Re 2025-1 cat bond for 100% upsized $400m of reinsurance

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) has now priced its latest catastrophe bond issuance, successfully doubling the Ursa Re Ltd. (Series 2025-1) offering in size to provide it with $400 million in multi-year collateralized California earthquake reinsurance protection. The CEA recently returned to the catastrophe bond market with an initial target to secure $200 million or more in multi-year […]

NCIUA sponsoring $350m named storm cat bond, Cape Lookout Re 2025-1

The North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) has returned to the capital markets seeking $350 million of annual aggregate named storm reinsurance protection through this Cape Lookout Re Ltd. (Series 2025-1) catastrophe bond. Returning in 2025, the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) is sponsoring the seventh catastrophe bond under its Cape Lookout Re Ltd. program of deals. […]

CEA lifts Ursa Re 2025-1 cat bond target to as much as $375m

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) has increased the targeted amount of multi-year collateralized California earthquake reinsurance protection it seeks from capital market investors through its new Ursa Re Ltd. (Series 2025-1) issuance, with now up to $375 million of coverage being sought, while the price guidance has been fixed at 7.5%, Artemis has learned. The CEA recently […]