Insurance Linked Investments

Speaking with Artemis at the Monte Carlo Rendez-vous event, Jarad Madea, Chief Executive Officer, Howden Capital Markets & Advisory explained that the insurance-linked securities (ILS) asset class is “still in a good spot” with attractive returns possible  for investors and a clear evolution in the market’s discipline.

The outstanding market for collateralized reinsurance sidecar structures has accelerated its growth over the year to June 30th 2025, reaching a new record high of $17 billion at that time, representing around 70% expansion of this ILS market segment in just one year, an Aon Securities estimate shows.

The insurance and reinsurance industry is facing historically high pressure to reinvent its business model in order to stay relevant, according to PwC, and as you might expect capital, how it’s managed and how it’s deployed, as well as its efficiency, is seen as a catalyst for growth.

With P&C insurance premiums rising rapidly over the last two decade and an increasing proportion of the risk finding its way down the market chain to reinsurance and retrocessional sources of capital, Jérôme Jean Haegeli, Group Chief Economist at Swiss Re said the industry has experienced a renaissance.

Executives from Enstar, one of the largest legacy and run-off reinsurance specialists in the world, told Artemis that they are seeing strong interest for its solutions from the insurance-linked securities (ILS) funds sector, as managers seek mechanisms to provide liquidity to their investors.

After a challenging few years that began with the hurricane-heavy season of 2017, the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market has entered a sustained period of strong returns. The rebound is also reshaping recruitment trends, with rising demand being seen for talent in business development and analytics, according to 20Twenty Search’s Jason Sykes.

With the catastrophe bond market seeing eleven new sponsors enter the space so far this year, the trend highlights how involvement in the market has become more acceptable, and how sponsors are increasingly comfortable with cat bonds overall, according to Brad Adderley, Partner at global law firm Appleby.

The recent successful launch of $500 million casualty reinsurance sidecar Wayfare Re is a key development as Ascot Group continues to build out its Leadline Capital Partners business and represents a modern, scalable partnership with an appropriate investor in Antares, Mark Wilcox, Group Chief Financial Officer of Ascot told Artemis in an interview.

Buyers and sellers are energised by the opportunity to unlock long-tail casualty risk through insurance-linked securities (ILS), with this momentum driving a broader transformation in the legacy reinsurance market, shifting it from one-off liability transfers toward long-term, strategic partnerships, according to Howden Re.

As insurance and reinsurance markets continue to deliver competitive returns, Lloyd’s of London is emerging as a focal point for investors seeking diversification and growth. However, alongside the surge in appetite for the market, particularly for exposure to fast-growing new syndicates, comes a need for careful consideration of the additional capital those businesses may require, […]