Seasonality in Catastrophe Bonds and Market-Implied Arrival Frequencies
Journal of Risk and Insurance, Vol. 88, 2021, pp. 785–818
44 Pages Posted: 9 Nov 2018 Last revised: 17 Apr 2023
Date Written: August 14, 2020
Abstract
Catastrophe bonds are securities that transfer catastrophe risk from sponsors, which are mostly (re-)insurance companies, to capital markets. Based on secondary market data from 386 seasonality-affected cat bonds, we employ fixed effects regression models to explain seasonality in cat bond spreads. First, we show that the impact of seasonality on spreads depends on fluctuating arrival frequencies, the magnitude of the expected loss and the maturity of the cat bond. Second, we use modeled distributions of arrival frequencies of qualifying events to construct a measure of cat bond seasonality that captures these three effects. Up to 47% of all secondary market fluctuation in single-peril hurricane bonds can be explained through this seasonality measure. Third, we establish a method to deduct market-implied distributions of arrival frequencies from secondary market spreads, reflecting a market-based assessment of catastrophe arrival frequencies.
Keywords: alternative risk transfer, bond spreads, underwriting risk, seasonality, catastrophe arrival frequencies
JEL Classification: G12, G22
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation