Fronting news

The recent mediation between parties involved in the Vesttoo Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings has now been completed and a report from the mediator says that “several” settlement agreements have been reached, while negotiations are ongoing with other parties.

The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Vesttoo bankruptcy case has reached a proposed settlement with fronting specialist Clear Blue Insurance that sees an agreement reached on the bankruptcy plan and in relation to funds specifically held in one of the debtor vehicles, Vesttoo Bay XIV Limited.

At a Vesttoo Chapter 11 bankruptcy case hearing, counsel for the official creditor committee said that in working to identify and trace funds remaining from reinsurance transactions implicated in the letter of credit (LOC) fraud, these investigations, which are ongoing, suggest funds were drawn from debtor structures and co-mingled, then used to pay company expenses.

The creditors in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of insurtech Vesttoo are now trying mediation out, as a way to solve the sticking point over the consolidation of the estate, versus honouring the segregation of cell structures used for reinsurance transactions affected by fraudulent letters of credit (LOCs).

International specialty insurance and reinsurance group Chaucer has responded robustly to objections made by other creditors after its recent entry to the Vesttoo bankruptcy case, saying that the proposed bankruptcy plan has numerous issues and is “uncomfirmable.”

Aon established a $197 million reserve for legal settlement expenses related to the letter of credit (LOC) fraud at insurtech Vesttoo as an attempt to strategically draw a line under the issue, Eric Andersen, President of Aon plc said today, also highlighting that meaningful recoveries are expected to be made to reduce the overall cost […]

Broking giant Aon has recognised a significant legal settlement expense reserve amounting to $197 million related to the Vesttoo fraud scandal in its fourth-quarter of 2023 results.

Having reported one quarter ago that it recognised a $25 million credit loss against a fraudulent $50 million letter of credit (LOC) for reinsurance provided by insurtech Vesttoo, Markel Group has now increased the credit loss related to Vesttoo collateral to $65 million.

Aon has filed a motion calling for the New York state lawsuit that fronting specialist Clear Blue Insurance filed against it, in relation to the reinsurance letter of credit (LOC) fraud perpetrated by insurtech Vesttoo, to be dismissed in its entirety.

While disagreements over a consolidated approach to liquidating the Vesttoo bankruptcy estate, versus a more segregated approach that makes assets available to the cedents involved in certain reinsurance deals, continues, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors have now accused Chaucer of “lying in wait” before launching efforts to secure value for itself.