Schroders acquires full ownership of Secquaero, increases stake to 100%

Global asset management group Schroders has taken its ownership stake in Swiss ILS & reinsurance investments specialist Secquaero Advisors AG to 100%.

Schroders sees this as a reinforcement of its increasingly important Private Assets business, of which insurance-linked securities (ILS), catastrophe bonds and other reinsurance linked investment strategies have become increasingly important.

Schroders originally bought into Secquaero Advisors in 2013, taking a 30% stake in the ILS specialist advisor and manager.

Since that time Secquaero has been the exclusive advisor on ILS investment strategies for Schroders, helping the firm build its asset base in cat bonds and collateralised reinsurance investing.

The stake was increased to 50.1% in February 2016, as Schroders took a controlling stake in Secquaero.

Now the full acquisition has been completed, as the ownership stake has risen to 100%.

Commenting on the news, Andreas Markwalder, CEO Schroder Investment Management (Switzerland) AG said, “The combination of Secquaero’s specialist knowledge in the re-insurance and securitization of insurance risks matched with the global reach of the Schroders’ asset management distribution platform led to the success of the partnership by providing a highly attractive offering to sophisticated investors seeking to invest in ILS strategies.”

Dirk Lohmann, Head of Schroder Secquaero, added, “ILS will continue to be a key contributor to Schroders Private Assets strategy. In a time where diversification and positive absolute returns are key, the investment case for ILS remains strong. Secquaero’s DNA along with its market footprint and long-standing expertise will be embedded within Schroders Private Assets.”

Under full ownership, Secquaero will now be fully integrated into the Schroders Private Assets unit, be managed by Dirk Lohmann and based in Zurich.

Recently the company reorganised its ILS team structure, with Dirk Lohmann taking the Head of ILS role.

The combined team managing ILS and reinsurance related strategies across the group will operate within Schroder Investment Management (Switzerland) AG under the new name Schroder Secquaero.

The Schroders ILS team now manages roughly $3 billion of reinsurance linked assets, as of the end of June 2019, managed by a team of 25 professionals.

Schroders aims to position itself as a leading institutional provider of dedicated ILS investment strategies. Providing clients with access to a range of ILS funds and bespoke mandates, from pure catastrophe bond strategies to broader reinsurance focused solutions including private transactions and dedicated life insurance investment only funds.