Life reinsurance startup with a focus on quantitative asset-liability management, Balance Re, has raised $10 million in Series A funding from investor Anthemis Group, with participation from Global Brain and existing investors, Roland Berger Industries GmbH and Talabot Finance.

Balance-reThe company’s new shareholders, Anthemis and Global Brain, bring extensive knowledge of the insurance sector and expertise in technologies dedicated to the financial industry.

Balance Re provides comprehensive reinsurance solutions to life insurers and pension funds to support capital management related to their retirement and savings products.

This recent investment will be leveraged to further develop the company’s proprietary asset-liability management technology and to supports its full licensed German reinsurer based in Cologne.

In Germany, the firm’s launch market, Balance Re states that Solvency II’s transitional measures represent on average ca. 150 percentage points of life insurers’ solvency capital ratios.

The company’s technology-first and data-driven approach to reinsurance enables its clients to release capital to fund growth, support product repositioning and improve a competitive advantage.

Balance Re says that it is the first reinsurer able to offer to its clients easy-to-implement and cost-efficient reinsurance solutions, which transfer the challenging interactions of financial and insurance risks.

Lucian Rautu and Michel Gauer, the founders of Balance Re, said: “We are delighted to welcome Anthemis and Global Brain in the capital of Balance Re and at the Board. Their deep industry knowledge and capacity to take an “outside-the-box” approach to venture investments in the insurance space make them the perfect partners to disrupt the life reinsurance market.”

Matthew Jones, Managing Director at Anthemis, commented: “Balance Re’s team and their technology reflect the complex interactions between actuarial, financial, accounting and regulatory matters. Balance Re’s coverage is designed to help clients reach their strategic goals whilst also keeping the interests of their policyholders in mind – we’re excited to see them drive much needed change in the life reinsurance sector.”

Naoki Kamimaeda, Partner at Global Brain, added: “We believe that the technology developed by the Balance Re team has far reaching applications beyond life reinsurance and Europe. We are enthusiastic to join them at this important stage of the journey and look forward to helping them realise their vision to improve the management of long-term insurance and pension liabilities globally.”

Source: Reinsurance News

Willis Towers Watson, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, announced that Kate Mead is the new Head of its Canadian Property & Casualty Broking Team.

Previously Willis Towers Watson’s Practice Leader for the Midwest, Northeast US & Canadian Environmental business, Kate will now focus on strengthening both client and insurer relationships in Canada, provide strategic guidance to support business development, and promote Willis Towers Watson’s leading analytical capabilities.

“I am honoured to be taking on the leadership of the Canadian broking team at such an exciting time”, said Mead. “We have new opportunities to capture momentum across all our product lines, to grow our talent, and to continue providing outstanding service to mid-size, national and global clients with our trademark holistic approach to broking, analytics, claims and loss control.”

Mike Liss, Head of Corporate Risk & Broking, North America, at Willis Towers Watson said: “I am delighted to announce Kate as our new Broking Leader of the Canadian business. Canada is a key component of our global strategy with a strong client base and growth potential. This appointment continues our desire to build on a world class team, expand our visibility in the market and leverage our business strengths. We look forward to elevating our presence in Canada with Kate as a key member of our leadership.”