Vida Capital promotes Tice to oversee ILS (Merion Square) & life settlements

Vida Capital, Inc., the alternative investment manager and joint-venture partner in insurance-linked securities (ILS) asset manager Merion Square Capital LLC, has named a new Chief Investment Officer who will have oversight of the firms ILS and life settlement investment activities.

Bill Tice, currently the investment managers Senior Managing Director, Marketing, Investor Relations and Business Development, has been promoted as of March 1st to the role of President and Chief Investment Officer of Vida Capital Management, LLC, the firms SEC-registered investment advisor.

Tice will also take a seat on the Vida Capital Board of Directors and will take on responsibility for overseeing all investment activities of Vida’s funds.

This includes all investments made in the insurance-linked asset classes of life settlements, where Vida has been a player for a number of years, as well as in insurance-linked securities (ILS) through the Merion Square joint venture that was launched in late 2018.

It’s important to note that the relationship with Merion Square is a joint-venture and all ILS portfolio management decisions are made by the Merion Square team, while Vida provides support on fund-raising and the back-office.

In the role, Tice will also oversee all Special Situations investment strategies for Vida Capital and have a continued focus on capital raising, investor relations and new business development for the firm.

Tice joined Vida in 2014, before which he held senior positions at Siguler Guff, & Co., Q Investments, and The Park Hill Group, a division of The Blackstone Group.

Tice, as President of Vida Capital Management, alongside Dan Young, President of Magna Life Settlements, Inc. and Magna Servicing, LLC, will oversee these operating subsidiaries, and continue to report to Jeff Serra, Vida CEO and Founder.

In addition, Vida Capital announced that Brian O’Grady, currently a Managing Director, is being promoted to Senior Managing Director, Head of Marketing and will report to Tice.

In that position, O’Grady will be responsible for capital raising for all of Vida’s funds.

Jeff Serra, CEO commented on the news, “Vida has a strong management team, robust asset management infrastructure and unique expertise underwriting and managing longevity risk. Bill has been an integral part of the growth and advancement of the Vida enterprise since joining in 2014. His background, talent and overall performance have proven invaluable as the team continues to build success for our investors and provide value to our owners.

“Bill was the natural and right choice to make this advancement, and he will continue to bring excellence to our core goals and investment philosophy. Additionally, with Brian stepping up to backfill for Bill, we have a talented and experienced leader with a proven ability to develop and maintain close relationships with our limited partners.”