Description: This paper discusses a problem in corporate finance, the problem of selecting from among a group of possible economic projects. This problem most certainly involves future contingent events and is a natural for consideration by actuaries interested in expanding into non-traditional practice areas.

Description: For several years there has been discussion in the insurance industry of the need for additional capital sources to participate in insuring the financial risk posed by natural catastrophes. A number of methods for accessing the capital markets have been introduced and some insurers are using these to hedge exposure to catastrophe loss. This paper summarizes some of the discussion and describes some of the methods proposed. It then focuses on one of these methods, the use of catastrophe insurance options. Results of simulations are given which may serve as a guide to insurers interested in using these options as part of their risk management strategy and also as an indication to investors of the value of these instruments as a new component of an investment portfolio.