The insurance-linked securities (ILS) market experienced an exceptional year in 2023, characterized by robust pricing dynamics in reinsurance capital.
In a recent report titled “Disciplined Deployment of Capital Pays Off in Record-Breaking Year for ILS,” issued by AM Best, it was noted that a scarcity of significant peak peril insured loss events contributed to relatively stable rate increases during the renewal pricing for 2024. Additionally, minimal impact from severe convective storms prompted strategic risk mitigation efforts by ILS managers, including adjustments such as raising attachment points and tightening terms and conditions.
One significant development was the positive loss adjustment related to Hurricane Ian claims, which notably improved the mark-to-market positions of catastrophe bonds exposed to Florida.
Both the Swiss Re Global Cat Bond Index and the Eurekahedge ILS Advisers Index achieved unprecedented returns, coinciding with a surge in catastrophe bond issuance volume to a new peak.
The report also emphasized that, with the absence of major peril loss events, capacity providers concentrated on seeking rate increases primarily in areas affected by losses, shifting away from a more generalized approach to rate adjustments.
Swiss Re’s estimates revealed that total global natural catastrophe insured losses in 2023 amounted to approximately $100 billion, down from $133 billion in 2022, with smaller-scale catastrophes being the primary contributors.
The outstanding performance of catastrophe bonds, particularly in covering more remote risk areas less susceptible to severe convective storms, was highlighted as a key driver behind the sector’s record returns. This positioning has favored catastrophe bonds over collateralized reinsurance, especially given their higher attachment points.
ILS managers are optimistic that the strong returns observed will attract additional capital in 2024, potentially leading to a second consecutive year of increased interest in catastrophe bonds.
This surge in returns follows a period of premium increases and increased capital allocation to the catastrophe bond market, driven by growing demand for reinsurance capital. According to reports by AM Best and Guy Carpenter, the capital supply in the ILS market expanded by approximately $4 billion by the end of 2023, reaching an estimated total of $100 billion.
The report further delineates the estimated sizes of various segments within the ILS market, including the property catastrophe bond market at around $42 billion and sidecar capacity estimated between $5 billion and $7 billion.
Despite a strategic shift towards higher-risk layers, collateralized reinsurance capacity, estimated at $42 billion to $50 billion, remained below layers covered by catastrophe bonds, indicating a sustained trend of capital flow towards catastrophe bonds and a preference for investing in remote risk layers.
