Archive for May, 2026

Oak Global, the specialist Lloyd’s underwriting company, has successfully priced its debut catastrophe bond sponsorship, securing a 100% upsized $150 million of retrocessional protection from the capital markets from its Arthur Re Ltd. – Quercian Re 2026-1 cat bond issuance, while the notes priced below initial guidance, Artemis has learned.

Reinsurance buyers in Florida continue to turn to and leverage the catastrophe bond amidst rising appetite for risks from the state and softening of property catastrophe rates, with over $3.2 billion of new Florida-focused cat bonds having been issued thus far for 12 sponsors in 2026 year-to-date (up to May 12, 2026), according to Guy […]

Jamaica’s Prime Minister and Minster for Finance and Public Services both praised global investor support for the $200 million IBRD CAR Jamaica 2026 catastrophe bond, with the third cat bond a key pillar in the countries fiscal resilience and disaster risk financing, while also revealing they plan to expand parametric coverage under CCRIF.

Plenum Investments, the specialist manager of catastrophe bond and other reinsurance-linked assets, has announced that its Plenum CAT Bond Dynamic Fund has crossed approximately USD 600 million in assets under management, which according to the firm underscores the success of the fund’s efficiency-oriented investment approach.

The latest forecasts of predicted activity levels for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season continue to point to a below-average number of tropical storms and hurricanes forming this year, with updates from Tropical Storm Risk and the UK Met Office available today.

Having sold out of our initial allocation of Super Early Bird tickets faster than anticipated we added more, so there is still time to register for our next catastrophe bond and insurance-linked securities (ILS) market conference, Artemis London 2026, at the best possible price. Register to attend here.

Property catastrophe reinsurance pricing has declined by 15% to 20% across many layers of the tower at the June 1st renewals according to broker Guy Carpenter, who highlighted improved property insurance market conditions, strong reinsurer balance-sheets and rising investor appetite as key drivers of the renewal dynamics.

French global reinsurance company SCOR has highlighted its pleasure with the investor support received for its recently priced $75 million Atlas Capital DAC (Series 2026-1) catastrophe bond and the fact the issuance structure has now been reused for a fourth issuance, delivering efficiency gains.

Buckle, now a fronting specialist for MGA programs and previously a rideshare and gig insurance company, has become the latest to reveal issues caused by fraudulent reinsurance letters of credit linked to Vesttoo and is now suing the purported LOC provider China Construction Bank for damages.

Mercury General Corporation (Mercury Insurance), the California headquartered insurer, is back in the catastrophe bond market seeking additional fire reinsurance protection, with an initial $100 million target for its second 144A cat bond sponsorship of a Luca Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) issuance, Artemis has learned.