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Insurance-Linked Securities: Solutions for a Resilient Future

Risk mitigation and capital efficiency with Munich Re's ILS structuring and fronting capabilities

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    Have you ever thought about additional (multiyear) capacity via Cat Bond? Are you aware of what Munich Re can deliver in the ILS space? Why should a reinsurer be involved in your Cat Bond transaction? 

    What are Insurance-Linked Securities?

    • Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) are financial instruments that allow investors to participate in the risk and return of insurance-related assets. ILS products, such as catastrophe bonds (“Cat Bonds”), enable re/insurance companies, state pools and corporates (“sponsors” or “cedants”) to transfer risk to the capital markets, providing an additional layer of financial protection and stability. By harnessing the power of ILS, sponsors can better manage their risk profiles, increase their capacity, and improve their financial resilience.

    Munich Re's ILS team offers a range of solutions, including:

    • Catastrophe bonds: A type of financial instrument allowing investors to take on catastrophe risk in exchange for regular premium payments (risk spread). If a catastrophe occurs, the investor's principal is used to pay claims, reducing the financial burden for the cedant.
    • Sidecars: Collateralized reinsurance vehicles allowing investors to participate in the risk and returns of a specific book of business via a quota share agreement. Sidecars are typically used to provide additional capacity for peak risks, such as natural catastrophes.
    • Industry loss warranties (ILWs): A type of reinsurance contract that triggers a payout based on the total losses incurred by the insurance industry as a whole (e.g. trigger based on PCS or PERILS), rather than the specific losses of the individual sponsor. ILWs provide a way to manage exposure to extreme events.

    Typical structure with fronting (example)

    Typical structure with fronting (example)

    Why working with Munich Re's ILS team?

    Munich Re provides comprehensive services covering portfolio and risk analysis, structuring, fronting, and the execution of capital market transactions, positioning us as an ideal partner for insurance companies, corporates, NatCat Pools, and public sector entities. As a reinsurance company, Munich Re can support transactions with its own capacity, which is particularly helpful for first-time sponsors. Clients benefit from access to Munich Re’s extensive global institutional investor base, developed through our proprietary sidecar and Cat Bond programs as well as our global retrocession program.

    Structuring Expertise

    Unparalleled knowledge and experience in structuring and fronting ILS transactions also acting as cedent for Munich Re’s own book of business. Benefit from capital markets and reinsurance expertise.

    Global Reach

    Access to a global network of investors, sponsors, and market participants.

    Customized Solutions

    Tailored ILS solutions meeting the specific client needs.

    Fronting Capability

    Ability to act as Fronting Reinsurer – especially for the benefit of NatCat Pools and Corporates - enabling clients to access the capital markets and transfer risk to investors.

    Risk Management

    Effective risk management solutions that help clients mitigate their exposure to natural catastrophes and other risks.

    Extensive Track Record

    Enjoy efficient solutions based on decades of capital market experience and transaction history.

    Munich Re clients will benefit from our experience of >60 structured and fronted transactions with a volume of more than 20bn USD transferred to the capital market.

    Our comprehensive support across the entire ILS value chain ensures that clients receive tailored solutions and expert guidance every step of the way

    Munich Re Capital Partners ILS team delivers comprehensive services – from risk analysis, structuring & fronting to final issuance

    Capital Partners ILS team delivers comprehensive services – from risk analysis, structuring & fronting to final issuance

    Use cases from previous transactions

    Let’s get in touch

    Discuss your capital market challenges with us and together, let’s find the relevant reinsurance structures which match your local regulatory and business needs.
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    Contact us

    Andreas Müller
    Andreas Müller
    Head of Global Retrocession & Insurance-Linked-Securities (ILS)
    Andreas oversees Munich Re’s own global retrocession program and the group's internal retrocession arrangements as well as all ILS business activities including Munich Re’s proprietary ILS investment portfolio. He joined Munich Re in 1998 and has been working in different areas such as corporate finance and structured reinsurance.
    Stefan Decker
    Stefan Decker
    Team Lead Global ILS Solutions
    Stefan had a leading role in almost every ILS transaction Munich Re has done so far. This includes transactions for primary insurance companies, corporates and public sector clients as well as Munich Re’s own issuance of natural catastrophe risk – the Queen Street series of Cat Bonds. He joined Munich Re in 2005 and has been working in the Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) / ILS business unit since 2008.
    Stefan Bauer
    Stefan Bauer
    Senior Manager Business Development & Structuring
    Stefan led numerous cat bond deals as project manager and brings regulatory and accounting expertise for making the risk transfer contract a tailor-made solution for clients. He coordinates the ILS broker / banking partners and is key contact for ILS collateral solutions. Stefan worked with PwC (financial services) for several years before joining Munich Re’s ART/ILS unit in 2010.
    Fabian Frank
    Fabian Frank
    Senior Manager Business Development & Structuring
    Fabian worked in F&C Property Underwriting for Corporate and Captive accounts for over 12 years. During that time, he spent 4 years for Munich Re in London managing the relevant corporate accounts and broker relationships. Fabian joined Munich Re’s ILS team in February 2025 as Senior Manager and is responsible for Business Development & Structuring of ILS at Capital Partners. His focus will be on corporate accounts, mainly US.

    ILS Success Stories

    The following tables provides an overview of insurance linked securities transactions that Munich Re was involved on behalf of clients or issued for its own book.
    Transaction Issuance Date Maturity Date Volume Perils covered
    Mexican government / World Bank Apr-24 Apr-28 USD 225m Class A (Earthquake)
    Mexican government / World Bank Apr-24 Apr-28 USD 70m Class B (Earthquake)
    Mexican government / World Bank Apr-24 Apr-28 USD 125m Class C (Atlantic Hurricane)
    Mexican government / World Bank May-24 Apr-28 USD 175m Class D (Pacific Hurricane)
    Azzurro Re II DAC Jul-20 Jan-24 EUR 100m Earthquake Italy
    Vitality Re XI Limited Jan-20 Jan-24 USD 200m US health risks
    World Bank Catastrophe Bond for the Republic of the Philippines Nov-19 Dec-22 Class A – USD 75m Earthquake
    World Bank Catastrophe Bond for the Republic of the Philippines Nov-19 Dec-22 Class B – USD 150m Tropical Cyclone
    Atmos Re DAC Feb-19 Feb-22 EUR 45m Atmospheric perils, flood, snow pressure
    Vitality Re X Limited Jan-19 Jan-23 USD 200m US health risks
    Vitality Re IX Limited Jan-18 Jan-22 USD 200m US health risks
    World Bank Catastrophe Bond for the Fonden Aug-17 Aug-20 USD 150m Earthquake Mexico
    World Bank Catastrophe Bond for the Fonden Aug-17 Dec-19 USD 100m Earthquake Mexico
    World Bank Catastrophe Bond for the Fonden Aug-17 Dec-19 USD 110m Earthquake Mexico
    World Bank Catastrophe Bond for the Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) Jul-17 Jul-20 Class A – USD 225m Pandemic
    World Bank Catastrophe Bond for thePandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) Jul-17 Jul-20 Class B – USD 95m Pandemic
    Lion II Re DAC Jun-17 Jul-21 EUR  200m Europe Windstorm, Italy Earthquake, Europe Flood
    Vitality Re VIII Limited Jan-17 Jan-21 USD 200m US health risks
    Vitality Re VII Limited Jan-16 Jan-20 USD 200m US health risks
    Bosphorus Ltd. Aug-15 Aug-18 USD 100m Earthquake Turkey
    Azzurro Re I Ltd. Aug-15 Aug-18 EUR 200m Earthquake Europe
    World Bank Catastrophe Bond for the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) Jun-14 Jun-17 USD 30m Caribbean Earthquake & Tropical Cyclone
    Lion I Re Ltd. Apr-14 Apr-17 EUR 190m Europe Wind
    VenTerra Re Ltd. Dec-13 Jan-17 USD 250m Earthquake US, Australia Earthquake & Cyclone
    Queen City Re Ltd. Dec-13 Jan-17 USD 75m Wind US
    Bosphorus 1 Re Ltd. Apr-13 May-16 USD 400m Earthquake Turkey
    Tar Heel Re Ltd. Apr-13 May-16 USD 500m Hurricane US
    Lakeside Re III Ltd. Dec-12 Jan-16 USD 270m Earthquake Canadian & US
    MultiCat Mexico Ltd. Oct-12 Dec-15 Class A – USD 140m Earthquake Mexico
    MultiCat Mexico Ltd. Oct-12 Dec-15 Class A – USD 75m Earthquake Mexico
    MultiCat Mexico Ltd. Oct-12 Dec-15 Class A – USD 100m Earthquake Mexico
    Johnston Re Ltd. Series 2011-1 May-11 May-14 Class A – USD 70m Hurricane US
    Johnston Re Ltd. Series 2011-1 May-11 May-14 Class A – USD 132m Hurricane US
    Shore Re Ltd. Jul-10 Jul-13 USD 96m Hurricane US
    Johnston Re Ltd. Series 2010-1 May-10 May-13 USD 200m Hurricane US
    Johnston Re Ltd. Series 2010-1 May-10 May-13 USD 105m Hurricane US
    Ianus Capital Ltd. May-09 Jun-12 USD 70mn Earthquake Turkey, Europe Wind
    Lakeside Re II Ltd. Dec-09 Jan-13 USD 225m Earthquake US
    Muteki Ltd. May-08 May-11 USD 300m Earthquake Japan
    Midori Ltd. Oct-07 Oct-12 USD 260m Earthquake Japan
    Lakeside Re Dec-06 Dec-09 USD 190m Earthquake US
    Transaction Issuance Date Maturity Date Volume Perils covered
    Queen Street 2023 Re dac May-23 Dec-25 USD 300m US Hurricane
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2025-1) Dec-24 Mar-30 USD 150m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2024-1) Dec-23 Mar-28 USD 150m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2023-1) Dec-22 Mar-27 USD 131m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2022-1) Dec-21 Mar-26 USD 190m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2021-1) Dec-20 Mar-25 USD 235m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2020-1) Dec-19 Mar-24 USD 285m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2019-1) Dec-18 Mar-23 USD 300m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2018-1) Dec-17 Mar-22 USD 300m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2017-1) Dec-16 Mar-21 USD 360m "various perils"
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2016-1) Dec-15 Mar-20 USD 360m "various perils"
    Queen Street XI Re dac Dec-15 Jun-19 USD 100m Hurricane US, Australian Cyclone
    Queen Street X Re Ltd. Mar-15 Jun-18 USD 100m Hurricane US, Australian Cyclone
    Eden Re II Ltd. (Series 2015-1) Dec-14 Mar-19 USD 275m "various perils"
    Eden Re I Ltd. (Series 2015-1) Dec-14 Mar-19 USD 75m "various perils"
    Queen Street IX Re Ltd. Feb-14 Jun-17 USD 100m Hurricane US, Australian Cyclone
    Eden Re I Ltd. (Series 2014-1) Dec-13 Mar-18 USD 75m "various perils"
    Queen Street VIII Re Ltd. Jun-13 Jun-16 USD 75m Hurricane US, Australian Cyclone
    Queen Street VII Re Ltd. Oct-12 Apr-16 USD 75m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    Queen Street VI Re Ltd. Jul-12 Apr-15 USD 100m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    Queen Street V Capital Ltd. Feb-12 Apr-15 USD 75m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    Queen Street IV Capital Ltd. Oct-11 Apr-15 USD 100m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    Queen Street III Capital Ltd. Jul-11 Aug-14 USD 150m Europe Wind
    Queen Street II Capital Ltd. Mar-11 Apr-14 USD 100m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    EOS Wind Ltd. May-10 May-14 Class A - USD 50m Hurricane US
    EOS Wind Ltd. May-10 May-14 Class B - USD 30m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    Queen Street Ltd. Mar-08 Mar-11 Class A - USD109m Europe Wind
    Queen Street Ltd. Mar-08 Mar-11 Class B - USD 156m Europe Wind
    Nathan Ltd. Feb-08 Jan-13 USD 100m Mortality
    Carillon Ltd. II May-07 Jan-11 USD 150m Hurricane US
    Carillon Ltd. Jun-06 Jan-10 Class A1 - USD 51m Hurricane US
    Carillon Ltd. Jun-06 Mar-07 Class A2 - USD 23,5m Hurricane US
    Carillon Ltd. Jun-06 Mar-07 Class B - USD 10m Hurricane US
    Aiolos Ltd. Nov-05 Apr-09 USD 129m Europe Wind
    PRIME Capital Dec-00 Jan-04 USD 129m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    PRIME Capita Dec-00 Jan-04 USD 6m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    PRIME Capital Dec-00 Jan-04 USD 3m Hurricane US, Europe Wind
    PRIME Capital Dec-00 Jan-04 USD 159m Hurricane US
    PRIME Capital Dec-00 Jan-04 USD 6m Hurricane US
    PRIME Capital Dec-00 Jan-04 USD 3m Hurricane US
    * excluding private transactions