Insurance corporate & M&A

Our Corporate Insurance Group offers you a comprehensive range of specialist services, based on a deep insight into industry issues and regulation and a close practical knowledge of the insurance sector to assist you in establishing new insurers and obtaining licences in joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, portfolio transfers, demutualisations, corporate reorganisations, capital raising and establishing distribution and agency networks.

Insurance M&A is a core strength of Clifford Chance’s market-leading Corporate Insurance Group. We are equally adept at handling domestic and cross-border acquisitions and joint venture transactions and both public and private transactions. Our team ensures the efficient execution of due diligence, the auction process, contract drafting and negotiation and post acquisition integration and reorganisation.  We have extensive experience of portfolio transfers for both life and non life insurers.

Our regulatory expertise – and close relationships with regulators – enables us to add value through obtaining competition and change of control approvals as well as advising on legal, regulatory and tax issues affecting transaction structures (including meeting the necessary regulatory capital requirements).  As the lawyers in the Corporate Insurance Group combine the necessary transactional and regulatory skills our clients benefit from one cohesive deal team working on all aspects of the transaction.

Our Corporate Insurance practice is highly regarded in the marketplace. It is frequently entrusted with complex and high profile mandates.  We are recognised as leading players in the UK, US, German and Asian markets, and have specialist resources in each of our European offices. A significant part of our transactional work is cross-border or multi-jurisdictional.

We also apply our knowledge and experience of other parts of the financial services sector to ensure that you are fully aware of the effects on your business of developments in related industries. Current issues include the increasing discussions around new and more rigorous regulatory regimes, industry consolidation, and product convergence.

As well as advising on transactions we can help you develop international insurance networks and distribution arrangements; establish investment management and outsourcing arrangements; assist in the development of new products including preparation or review of insurance and reinsurance documentation, utilise financial reinsurance, captives, alternative risk transfer arrangements and limited-recourse financing arrangements; securitise insurance-related assets.  We can also advise on the insurance aspects of complex construction and transport-related infrastructure projects, including political and financial risks and advise on credit facilities and letters of credit provided to insurers.