CEA reinsurance tower stable, but catastrophe bonds grow their share
Following the mid-year reinsurance renewals the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) now sees catastrophe bonds making up an even larger proportion of its more than $7.83 billion risk transfer tower, at over 33% of the limit provided. The earthquake insurer had shrunk its overall reinsurance tower through the last couple of years, but at the same […]
Three dominant trends revealed in record period of cat bond issuance: Pennay, Aon Securities
Three key dominant trends have been revealed following a record period of catastrophe bond issuance according to Richard Pennay, CEO, Aon Securities, the specialist investment banking and insurance-linked securities (ILS) broker-dealer unit of the global insurance and reinsurance broker. In its latest ILS annual report, Aon Securities found that 12-month catastrophe bond issuance over the […]
Philippines seeks enhanced climate-disaster risk transfer with Global Shield support
The government of the Philippines is aiming to secure enhanced climate-disaster risk financing and insurance capacity, with parametric structures likely to play a significant role, while Global Shield financing vehicles are expected to help fund the initiative. The Philippines Department of Finance (DOF) is collaborating with the Global Shield Secretariat and Institute for Climate and […]
Swiss Re’s Urs Baertschi calls for stronger collaboration to manage rising nat cat losses
Urs Baertschi, CEO of Property & Casualty Reinsurance at Swiss Re, recently shared his perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the insurance industry in 2025. Reflecting on his personal aversion to roller coasters, Baertschi compared the highs and lows of amusement rides to the unpredictability of the current risk landscape, noting that “those of […]
Kingdom of Lesotho receives payout under ARC sovereign drought parametric policy
African Risk Capacity Limited (ARC), a specialised agency of the African Union, has issued an insurance payout of $2,767,958 to the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, after its sovereign drought insurance policy for the 2024/25 agricultural season was triggered. This payout was made possible by the Government’s subscription to ARC’s sovereign risk financing mechanism […]
Alternative capital hits $121bn record high. Cat bonds and sidecars the key growth drivers: Aon
The amount of alternative capital in reinsurance supplied by insurance-linked securities (ILS) strategies and structures has reached a new high of $121 billion as of the middle of 2025, which Aon Securities notes was driven by strong catastrophe bond growth and supported by ongoing expansion of the sidecar sector as well. Aon Securities, the specialist […]
All indications point to continued catastrophe bond market growth: AM Best
Record levels of catastrophe bond market issuance in 2025 are reshaping the pricing landscape, AM Best believes, but the rating agency sees no sign of a slow-down ahead, as “all indications point to continued growth.” Insurance-linked securities (ILS) market capacity is at an all-time high and projected to end 2025 by having grown to around US […]
Cat bonds offer advantages over taxation for tackling rising disaster costs: OECD
A recent paper authored by Kensuke Molnar-Tanaka, OECD Development Centre and Hiroaki Sakamoto, Kobe University, explores how catastrophe bonds are being viewed as being more advantageous compared to taxation, when it comes to tackling the increasing rise in costs related to global natural catastrophe events. The study, titled “Financing the costs of disasters: Catastrophe bonds or […]
Egypt eyes cat bonds for economic protection and insurance market growth
A study undertaken by The Insurance Federation of Egypt has highlighted how the use of catastrophe bonds can help protect the country’s economy and society from natural catastrophe events, while also opening new opportunities for its insurance market. We’ve reported in the past how Egypt has looked to implement an insurance-linked securities (ILS) framework across […]
India urged to develop its own insurance-linked securities (ILS) regulatory framework
An expert panel has recommended that India develops its own insurance-linked securities (ILS) regulatory regime through its International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), which would include exploring the issuance of instruments such as catastrophe bonds. The panel, the Working Group (WG), which consists of industry experts, particularly within Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) arrangements, has published […]