Augment Risk and Cohen Launch Joint Venture to Streamline Reinsurance Access

Augment Risk and Cohen & Company have announced a strategic joint venture to modernize access to reinsurance capacity by integrating insurance-linked securities (ILS) into traditional placements. The collaboration brings together Augment's brokering capabilities with Cohen's insurance-focused asset management expertise, aiming to offer cedants streamlined, reliable access to secure ILS capacity. 

The venture is designed to simplify how insurers tap into capital markets, allowing participating cedants to access capacity for in-scope casualty business with tailored terms that align with traditional reinsurance structures and claims handling. This approach seeks to improve placement speed and offer diversified capital sources without disrupting established processes. 

"This joint venture unlocks new capital sources for our clients while providing Cohen's insurance strategy access to a diversified portfolio of low-volatility business. By collaborating with Cohen, we can deliver a model that not only improves client outcomes but also creates value for investors through portfolio diversification," Andrew Matson, CEO of Augment Risk, said. 

"This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to driving innovation and creating long-term value for clients and stakeholders. Together, we are building a platform that aligns incentives and reduces typical barriers," John Butler, managing director at Cohen & Company, said. 

Initial deployment of the joint venture will focus on the United States, Bermuda, and Europe, with plans to expand into additional markets as demand increases.