Swiss Re Capital Markets structures and places USD 775 million catastrophe bond for California Earthquake Authority, further protecting Californians against earthquakes

Swiss Re Capital Markets successfully structured and placed the issuance of USD 775 million of insurance-linked securities (ILS) by Ursa Re II Ltd, to be used for the protection of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA).

CEA protects more than one million policyholders in California against earthquakes and this transaction, the largest catastrophe bond issuance of 2020 and the largest transformer structure in the history of the ILS market, helps underpin its claims paying ability.

Policyholders of CEA include homeowners, mobilehome owners, condo-unit owners and renters, and this transaction demonstrates CEA’s status as one of the most prolific users of the capital markets, now with over USD 2.5 billion in outstanding bonds.

“Swiss Re’s mission as a company is to make the world more resilient. We're delighted to partner with CEA which has been helping to protect Californians from the financial consequences of earthquakes for almost 25 years,“ said Jonathan Isherwood, Swiss Re’s CEO Reinsurance Americas and Regional President.

“Only around 13% of Californians who purchase residential insurance also have earthquake protection. It’s not a matter of if, but when, the next one strikes. This transaction supports CEA’s ability to extend financial protection to a greater number of California residents who are highly exposed to earthquakes.“

CEA entered into two reinsurance agreements with Swiss Re, who, as a transformer, ultimately transferred the risk via two retrocession agreements to Ursa Re II Ltd to receive protection on an annual aggregate, indemnity basis, against residential home earthquake damage in California.

Swiss Re Capital Markets underwrote the transaction through two classes of principal-at-risk variable rate notes issued by Ursa Re II Ltd, a Bermuda exempted company licensed and registered as a special purpose insurer under the Bermuda Insurance Act 1978 and related regulations, each as amended.

Ursa Re II Ltd collateralised its liabilities under the retrocession agreements via the issuance of USD 425 million Class AA Notes and USD 350 million Class D Notes to investors. Both classes of notes have three loss occurrence periods starting 17 October 2020 and ending 30 November 2023.

“Swiss Re is pleased to provide continued support to CEA. Despite uncertainty around COVID-19, the transaction was well received by investors, ultimately allowing the issuance size to more than triple from the initial guidance,“ said Jean-Louis Monnier, Head of Retro & ILS Structuring at Swiss Re Capital Markets. “This was the largest catastrophe bond issuance in 2020 thus far and its success clearly displays the health of the ILS market and investors’ commitment to providing efficient collateralized capacity where most required.“

Swiss Re Capital Markets acted as the sole structuring agent and sole bookrunner.

The Ursa Re II Ltd notes were sold pursuant to Rule 144A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act“) and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws; they may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

In the US, securities products and services are offered through Swiss Re Capital Markets Corporation, a registered broker dealer and a member of FINRA.  In the European Economic Area, securities products and services are offered through Swiss Re Capital Markets Limited. Swiss Re Capital Markets Limited is authorized and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, and benefits from a passport into certain Member States of the European Economic Area. Swiss Re Capital Markets Corporation and Swiss Re Capital Markets Limited, together “Swiss Re Capital Markets“, are wholly owned subsidiaries of Swiss Re Ltd.

The Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk – from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cybercrime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally. It is organised into three Business Units, each with a distinct strategy and set of objectives contributing to the Group’s overall mission.

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• further instability affecting the global financial system and developments related thereto;
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