ILS glossary

What is a Conditional Expected Loss (CEL)?

The expected loss severity given that a loss event occurs, calculated as EL divided by PFL.

Lecture 7

Conditional Expected Loss (CEL)

The expected loss severity given that a loss event occurs, calculated as EL divided by PFL.

How it works in practice

A cat bond has an expected loss of 2% and a probability of first loss of 4%. The conditional expected loss is 50% (2% divided by 4%). This means that when a loss-causing event does occur, investors should expect to lose about half their principal on average. A high CEL relative to PFL suggests that events which trigger the bond tend to be severe.

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