Jamaica secures $150m World Bank cat bond for four hurricane seasons

The Government of Jamaica has secured $150 million of parametric insurance coverage for four hurricane seasons through its World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or IBRD) “capital at risk” (CAR) catastrophe bond programme. Aon Securities and Swiss Re Capital Markets jointly structured the transaction with AIR Worldwide as the risk modeler.

The 2024 cat bond attracted 15 global investors, providing the funding for catastrophe insurance to Jamaica for four hurricane seasons. This is the renewal of the World Bank’s 2021 cat bond for Jamaica, which was the first small island state to independently sponsor a cat bond.

For Jamaica, the cat bond forms part of a multi-layered disaster risk financing strategy reducing the fiscal burden of natural disasters while allowing the government to respond swiftly. The Caribbean island nation of Jamaica is exposed to tropical cyclone events that threaten not only lives and livelihoods, but also the country’s economic outlook.

The cat bonds can be used to transfer risks related to natural disasters and other risks from developing countries to the capital markets. The bonds’ parametric structure makes funds readily available to finance insurance payouts to Jamaica if a severe tropical cyclone event occurs.

Payouts to Jamaica will be triggered when a named storm event meets the criteria for location and severity set forth in the bond terms.

The cat bond will be listed on the Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX), which is the second time the World Bank lists a cat bond in Hong Kong.

“Jamaica is pleased to have sponsored the second catastrophe bond in the international capital markets protecting Jamaica against natural disasters with the much appreciated support and assistance of the World Bank,” said Nigel Clarke, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Government of Jamaica.

“Consistent with our National Natural Disaster Risk Financing policy, we seek to ensure the availability of fiscal resources to enable an immediate response to emergency expenditures that could arise from a direct hit by a high intensity hurricane. This catastrophe bond covers hurricane seasons 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027 and complements other disaster risk financing instruments that we have in place. We express our gratitude for the Hong Kong Insurance Authority who supported the transaction financially.”

Jorge Familiar, vice president and treasurer of the World Bank, said: “We are proud to have partnered with Jamaica for the second time on a cat bond transaction. Over recent years, Jamaica has done a very impressive job with its fiscal consolidation. Through its comprehensive disaster risk strategy, of which this cat bond renewal plays a critical part, Jamaica is proactively protecting its fiscal position against risk in a manner that could become a model for other countries vulnerable to natural catastrophe risk.”

Lilia Burunciuc, country director for Caribbean Countries, World Bank, added: “The need for the Caribbean to prepare for disaster impacts cannot be overstated, as it is one of the most vulnerable regions globally. Important to this process is having available resources and the World Bank is pleased to support Jamaica’s catastrophe bond, which will help the country respond and rebuild quickly in the event of an impact.”

Paul Schultz, CEO Aon Securities, commented: “Aon Securities LLC and Aon Securities (Hong Kong) Ltd. are privileged to work with the World Bank in its latest capital market transaction supporting the Government of Jamaica. With a strategic emphasis on initiatives, including risk management and resiliency, aimed at the positive economic response to climate change and finance emergency response, the Government of Jamaica continues to demonstrate exemplary leadership in the capital markets arena. We are deeply committed to contributing to this mission.”  

Jean-Louis Monnier, CEO of Swiss Re Capital Markets Corporation, commented: "Swiss Re Capital Markets is proud to have partnered with the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica to successfully bring the World Bank’s second catastrophe bond issuance to market supporting the Government of Jamaica. This transaction mirrors the ground-breaking trigger mechanics of the first issuance in 2021 that allowed for faster payout post-event and have since become a market standard for disaster relief transactions.  Once again, it highlights Swiss Re Capital Markets' continued commitment to the public sector and embodies Swiss Re’s mission to make the world more resilient.”  

Did you get value from this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.