Cyber ILS – Cyber Insurance-Linked Securities news

Beazley has announced this morning that its board has rejected the acquisition proposal from Zurich Insurance Group, saying that the offer “materially undervalues Beazley and its longer-term prospects as an independent company.”

Yesterday the news broke that global giant Zurich Insurance Group has made a number of proposals to acquire London headquartered specialty insurance and reinsurance company Beazley and it’s worth considering what this could mean for cyber, ILS and the use of third-party capital by these firms.

Beazley, the London headquartered specialty insurance and reinsurance company, has appointed its Head of Third-Party Capital initiatives Richard Gray as General Manager of Bermuda, which will see him leading its new cyber insurance-linked securities operations on the island.

Chubb has now successfully priced the first annual aggregate cyber catastrophe bond issuance in the market’s history, securing the targeted $150 million of reinsurance from its new East Lane Re VII Ltd. (Series 2026-1) transaction at the low-end of guidance, Artemis has been told.

International insurance and reinsurance giant Chubb has now opted to pursue annual aggregate cyber reinsurance from its new East Lane Re VII Ltd. (Series 2026-1) catastrophe bond, which will make this the first aggregate cyber cat bond in the market’s history, Artemis can report.

Beazley, the London headquartered specialty insurance and reinsurance company, have successfully priced the PoleStar Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) issuance to become the biggest cyber catastrophe bond so far, as the new deal will now provide the company $300 million of reinsurance protection, Artemis has learned.

Chubb is back in the catastrophe bond market seeking more cyber reinsurance from the capital markets, with an initial $150 million target for an East Lane Re VII Ltd. (Series 2026-1) issuance that could become the first cyber cat bond designed to provide annual aggregate cover for its sponsor, Artemis has learned.

Beazley, the London headquartered specialty insurance and reinsurance company, is aiming to upsize on the amount of reinsurance its latest 144A cyber catastrophe bond provides it, with the PoleStar Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) issuance now targeted at $280 million, Artemis understands from sources.

Beazley’s move to establish a new Bermuda operation is seen as “a strategic investment irrespective of the phase of the cycle” by analysts at Peel Hunt. They also highlight how this can increase access to third-party capital, in particular with the returns of the firm’s cyber underwriting expertise now set to become accessible to ILS […]

During a capital markets session with analysts this afternoon Beazley’s CEO Adrian Cox revealed that the firm’s plans to broaden into cyber insurance-linked securities (ILS) through its new Bermuda branch is actually a joint-venture with an established ILS market player with a platform on the island.