AIG To Maintain ‘Strategic Partnership’ With Ascot
American International Group, Inc. [AIG] has entered into an agreement to sell its interest in Ascot Underwriting Holdings Ltd. [AUHL] and related syndicate-funding subsidiary Ascot Corporate Name Ltd. [ACNL] [together Ascot] to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board [CPPIB]. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
Total consideration for the deal is $1.1 billion inclusive of CPPIB’s recapitalization of Syndicate 1414’s Funds at Lloyd’s [FAL] capital requirements. AIG will receive approximately $240 million in net cash proceeds from the transaction after the FAL recapitalization and release of the AIG-guaranteed Letter of Credit currently supporting the syndicate’s FAL. Proceeds reflect AIG’s 20 percent stake in AUHL and ownership of ACNL.
Ascot and AIG founded the managing agency and the syndicate in 2001. As a global specialty insurance underwriter, Ascot focuses on property insurance, marine insurance, and reinsurance.
AIG will maintain its strategic partnership with Ascot Underwriting Bermuda Ltd. [AUB].
While AUB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AUHL and part of the sale to CPPIB, AUB will continue to serve as the managing general agent for AIG-Ascot Re, which writes assumed treaty reinsurance business on behalf of AIG’s wholly owned subsidiary American International Reinsurance Company Ltd. [AIRCO] in Bermuda.
As part of the agreement, AIG, CPPIB, and Ascot intend to expand a collective commercial relationship in Bermuda, and for AIG to be a preferred reinsurer to Syndicate 1414.
“This deal successfully repositions our strategic focus and underwriting capacity to our relationship with Ascot in Bermuda, while monetizing our position in the syndicate at an attractive value and retaining exposure to the syndicate as a reinsurer,” said Robert Schimek, Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Insurance.
“We are also pleased to start a collaborative relationship with CPPIB who we see as an ideal partner for Ascot’s outstanding management team.”
Andrew Brooks, Chief Executive Officer of Ascot Underwriting Ltd. said, “Ascot and AIG have enjoyed a strong and profitable relationship for over 15 years and we value the support that we have received from AIG throughout that time. We are pleased to be continuing our relationship through Ascot Underwriting Bermuda and look forward to building on the success of that platform.”
Evercore served as financial advisor to AIG, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer served as legal advisor to AIG on the transaction. Macquarie Capital served as financial advisor to Ascot Underwriting Holdings Limited.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is a professional investment management organization that invests the assets of the Canada Pension Plan [CPP] not currently needed to pay benefits on behalf of 19 million contributors and beneficiaries. As of June 30, 2016, the CPP Fund totaled C$287.3 billion.
