hong kong

The availability of robust data sets and information on losses will be key for Hong Kong and China to deliver on their goals for insurance-linked securities (ILS) market development, according to speakers at a recent conference.

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Government of Hong Kong, sees “enormous potential” for catastrophe bonds and insurance-linked securities (ILS) to provide important disaster risk capital to underpin risks in the Greater Bay Area.

The inaugural catastrophe bond issuance in Hong Kong is a clear vote of confidence in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) and a sign of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, according to regulator the Insurance Authority (IA).

The first catastrophe bond to be issued out of Hong Kong positions the emerging insurance-linked securities (ILS) domicile as a gateway to global institutional capital for China’s risk transfer and reinsurance needs, according to Aon Securities, who also highlighted that local investors participated in the transaction.

The issuance of the first catastrophe bond through Hong Kong has helped to open up a new channel for risk diversification for the domestic catastrophe insurance market, according to the sponsor of the Greater Bay Re Ltd. (Series 2021-1), China Re Group.

The very first catastrophe bond to be issued out of Hong Kong has now been completed, with a $30 million Greater Bay Re Ltd. (Series 2021-1) cat bond coming to market on behalf of sponsoring reinsurer China Re.

China’s insurance regulator has called on insurers in the country to look to sponsor catastrophe bonds in Hong Kong as a way to access diversified sources of reinsurance capacity and offload peak natural catastrophe risks.

In emerging Asia, there are opportunities for insurance-linked securities (ILS), despite the perception that reinsurance markets across the region remain in a developing phase, according to William Ho, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MS Amlin Asia Pacific, and Head of Reinsurance for Asia, MS Amlin.

After several years of rate and term improvements, notably in the property catastrophe arena, there are signs the market is levelling off. But generally, returns in the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market remain attractive, according to industry experts.

If Singapore and Hong Kong are able to establish themselves as valuable domiciles for insurance-linked securities (ILS) business, it should spur local reinsurers to develop capabilities as the investor base swells in tandem.