Specialty reinsurance underwriting company Ariel Re, which was snapped up by Pelican Ventures and J.C. Flowers & Co. from Argo Group in 2020, has expanded its strategic alignment with Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary National Indemnity Company (NICO).
In a release, Ariel Re said NICO has not only extended its underwriting commitment to Syndicate 1910 through a multi-year quota share agreement but has also invested in new Ariel Re convertible notes. With offices in Bermuda, the UK, and Hong Kong, Ariel Re operates principally through Syndicate 1910 in London.
“This long-term strategic partnership with the Berkshire Hathaway reinsurance division will add tremendous value to Ariel Re and our ability to continue investing, innovating, and enhancing our client product solutions and services,” stated Ariel Re chair Jim Stanard.
“We plan for Berkshire Hathaway to be our long-term, cornerstone strategic partner as we build and expand Ariel Re’s underwriting capacity with other high-quality, long-term partners.”
Born in 2005, Ariel Re also offers access to Lloyd’s Europe via Syndicate 5336.
Commenting on the development, Ariel Re chief executive Ryan Mather said: “We have welcomed the opportunity to work with the Berkshire Hathaway reinsurance division team over this past year as a key partner and capital provider. Their insights on global macro trends and creative solutions have been very valuable to us and we look forward to working with them for years to come.”
Meanwhile J.C. Flowers managing director and co-president Eric Rahe added that they are “extremely pleased” to have a partner of Berkshire Hathaway’s calibre and reinsurance insight endorse Ariel Re.
