Sutter Re Ltd

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is looking to upsize its latest catastrophe bond sponsorship, with the target raised one-third to $400 million of fully-collateralized earthquake reinsurance protection from this Sutter Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) issuance, Artemis has learned.

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is back in the catastrophe bond market to sponsor its first issuance of this year, with an initial target to secure $300 million of fully-collateralized earthquake reinsurance from this new Sutter Re Ltd. (Series 2026-1) issuance, Artemis can report.

The California Earthquake Authority’s (CEA) reinsurance program grew slightly to include limit of $7.912 billion at the end of 2025, while the catastrophe bond market was providing its largest share of the risk transfer tower ever, at 36% of total limit.

Over the last year the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) has benefited from strong execution in the catastrophe bond market to lower both its reinsurance attachment point and costs associated with risk transfer.

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 California Earthquake Authority’s (CEA) risk transfer tower increased in size after the organisation renewed slightly more reinsurance protection at April 1st than was maturing, leaving it with almost $7.8 billion of risk transfer in-force.

The Governing Board of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) approved a revision to its guidelines for engaging in catastrophe bond risk transfer to the capital markets this week, while also noting a successful reinsurance renewal at April 1st, saying it secured favourable pricing and limit.

As the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) risk transfer needs have been adjusting and its reinsurance tower shrinking, catastrophe bonds now make up almost 32% of the total as of February 28th 2025.

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) shrank its risk transfer tower through the January renewals, as its traditional reinsurance placements saw further contracts expire, resulting in its catastrophe bonds making up a larger share of the overall at now more than 31%.

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is discussing the need for either a pre-funded subsequent or second-event funding tower (with risk transfer and reinsurance perhaps a part of it), or the infrastructure for one, that would support its functions after a significant earthquake loss that depletes its claims paying ability.