Enstar Group
Enstar Group is a Bermuda-based global insurance and reinsurance consolidator delivering retrospective solutions — loss portfolio transfers, adverse development covers, and IBT/RITC transactions — to insurers, reinsurers, MGAs, ILS funds, and corporates across Bermuda, the US, UK, Europe, and Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersHamilton, Bermuda
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Enstar Group does
Enstar Group Limited is a Bermuda-domiciled global insurance and reinsurance group founded in 1993 (originally as Castlewood Limited) and headquartered in Hamilton. It is the largest global consolidator of legacy re/insurance liabilities, delivering retrospective solutions — Loss Portfolio Transfers (LPTs), Adverse Development Covers (ADCs), Insurance Business Transfers (IBTs), Legal Entity Sales, and Reinsurance to Close (RITC) — to insurers, reinsurers, MGAs, ILS funds, PE sponsors, and corporates with retained liabilities. The firm operates across Bermuda, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia, employing ~800 people and managing $21.7B of assets and $16.1B of insurance liabilities as of December 31, 2025. Enstar has executed 130+ transactions since formation, has paid out over $18B in claims since inception, and runs its underwriting primarily through its A-rated flagship carrier Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited.
The company earns revenue on a transaction-based, bespoke pricing model: ceding carriers pay either upfront consideration or recurring reinsurance premiums in exchange for Enstar's assumption of legacy reserves, with deal structures tailored per portfolio (ground-up, retention-level, multi-year installments). Its product surface has expanded in recent years into Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) solutions, including Forward Exit Options that release trapped ILS capital and fronting capacity for MGAs and transformation vehicles. A specialist consulting subsidiary, Cranmore (UK, US, Belgium), and a data-driven claims management platform staffed by 200+ claims professionals support the underwriting operation. StarStone International, Syndicate 2008 at Lloyd's, and Gordian Run Off in Australia extend the platform's geographic and class reach.
In July 2025, Enstar was acquired by Sixth Street for $5.1B and became privately held. Since then the strategy has shifted toward scale expansion: a definitive February 2026 agreement to acquire AF Group (Accident Fund Holdings) from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan would add $3.3B in gross written premium and convert Enstar into a primary P&C carrier operating across all 50 US states; an April 2026 strategic arrangement with Artex Capital Solutions broadens ILS distribution; and a June 2026 $500M junior subordinated note issuance supports further deal-making. Leadership was refreshed post-take-private with a new CFO (Peter Kalaev) and CHRO (Isla Baillie), while founder/CEO Dominic Silvester continues to lead the business.
Enstar Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Enstar Group
- Legal name
- Enstar Group Limited
- Website
- http://www.enstargroup.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Enstar Group is a Bermuda-based global insurance and reinsurance consolidator delivering retrospective solutions — loss portfolio transfers, adverse development covers, and IBT/RITC transactions — to insurers, reinsurers, MGAs, ILS funds, and corporates across Bermuda, the US, UK, Europe, and Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Enstar Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legacy Insurance and Reinsurance Services
- NAICS
- Reinsurance Carriers (524130), Insurance Carriers (5241), Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers (52412)
- SIC
- Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331), Insurance Carriers, Nec (6399), Life Insurance (6311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reinsurance & Risk Transfer Platforms (Placement, Treaty/Fac, ILS Tech) (FSAGAGAH)
Keywords
Where Enstar Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamilton
- HQ country
- Bermuda
Offices10 records
Markets served
Enstar Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Retrospective Insurance Solutions: Revenue generated through loss portfolio transfers, adverse development covers, insurance business transfers, and legal entity acquisitions where Enstar assumes insurance liabilities and manages run-off portfolios
- Reinsurance Premiums: Assumption of reinsurance business generating premium income from ceding companies seeking capital release and risk management
- Specialist Consulting Services: Through subsidiary Cranmore, provides technical inspections, claim reviews, delegated authority compliance and due diligence support
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Bespoke transaction-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Enstar Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Enstar Group is a global insurance and reinsurance group providing retrospective (run-off) insurance solutions through transactions such as Loss Portfolio Transfers (LPT), Adverse Development Covers (ADC), Insurance Business Transfers (IBT), Reinsurance to Close (RITC), Legal Entity Sales, and Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) solutions. Its flagship carrier Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited delivers A-rated paper, and the group provides claims management and specialist consulting through subsidiary Cranmore.
Product overview
Enstar Group is a global insurance and reinsurance group and the leading provider of retrospective solutions, operating a platform of core products and subsidiaries. The company offers Loss Portfolio Transfers (LPT), Adverse Development Covers (ADC), Insurance Business Transfers (IBT), Legal Entity Sales, and Reinsurance to Close (RITC) as its primary solutions, supported by its flagship A-rated reinsurer Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited. The group has expanded into Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) solutions including Forward Exit Options (FEO), and provides claims management services through over 200 professionals. Subsidiaries include Lloyd's Syndicate 2008, Cranmore consulting, StarStone International, and Gordian RunOff in Australia. A pending acquisition of AF Group (Accident Fund Holdings) would add a $3.3 billion GWP property and casualty insurer to the platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- StarStone International: StarStone International SE ceased active underwriting in 2020 and now focuses on servicing existing policies and managing remaining claims. Historically, the company underwrote a wide range of specialty insurance and reinsurance business.
- Cavello Bay
Products and services
- Loss Portfolio Transfer (LPT) Core solution where Enstar assumes financial responsibility for all future claims payments on a defined re/insurance portfolio, from the ground-up and up to an agreed limit. Sold to global insurance and reinsurance companies seeking to release capital and achieve finality on legacy books.
- Adverse Development Cover (ADC) Protection for reserve deterioration above a set retention, available as 'in the money' (attaching below cedant's held reserves) or 'out of the money' (responding at or above held reserves). Sold to insurance and reinsurance companies managing reserve volatility.
- Insurance Business Transfer (IBT) Legal assumption of an entire re/insurance portfolio including all assets, liabilities and policies under jurisdiction-specific legal frameworks. Sold to insurance and reinsurance companies seeking legal finality through portfolio transfer mechanisms.
- Legal Entity Sale Acquisition of a full legal entity, assuming all of its capital, assets, liabilities and infrastructure, allowing clients to cleanly exit entire operations or jurisdictions. Sold to insurance and reinsurance companies pursuing corporate restructuring or full market exits.
- Reinsurance to Close (RITC) Transaction where entire years of account are transferred from a Lloyd's syndicate to Enstar's own dedicated syndicate at Lloyd's. Sold to Lloyd's syndicates seeking to close legacy underwriting years.
- Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) Solutions Solutions for ILS managers and investors to unlock capital and enhance portfolio performance, including Forward Exit Options (FEO) for collateral release and liquidity solutions, and fronting capacity for MGAs, ILS managers, and risk transfer partners. Sold to ILS funds, MGAs, and fronting carriers.
- Claims Management Services Comprehensive claims handling with over 200 claims professionals, offering proactive resolution, data-driven decisions, flexible partnerships ranging from full claims handling to shared claims management, and global reach with local expertise. Sold to insurance and reinsurance companies seeking specialist claims capabilities.
- Cranmore Specialist Consulting Specialist consulting subsidiary providing risk and liability consulting services including technical inspections, claim reviews and management, delegated authority compliance, and broader due diligence support. Operations in UK, US and Belgium. Sold to insurance companies, regulators and corporate clients needing specialist advisory support.
- Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited Enstar's flagship carrier and designated reinsurer, licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority to underwrite retroactive Property & Casualty re/insurance business globally. Holds 'A' financial strength ratings from both AM Best and S&P, and is recognized as a Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer in over 10 US states. Provides the rated paper backing Enstar's retrospective solutions.
- Enstar Managing Agency (Lloyd's Syndicate 2008) Enstar's Lloyd's of London syndicate operating through Enstar Managing Agency Ltd., participating in the Lloyd's market and wider UK company market for Property & Casualty re/insurance portfolios and complex liabilities. Provides Lloyd's market access for Enstar's RITC transactions and underwriting activities.
- Gordian RunOff Australian re/insurance company acquired from AMP, providing retrospective solutions in the Australian market since 2008. Licensed by APRA and SIRA for certain statutory classes of business. Provides Enstar's regional platform in Australia.
- AF Group (Accident Fund Holdings, Inc.)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $18 billion in claims paid since inception
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Enstar Group
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Enstar Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Enstar Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Artex Capital SolutionscoreStrategic arrangement to provide exit solutions for Artex's ILS vehicles, combining Enstar's legacy and risk management capabilities with Artex's ILS advisory and management expertise. Solutions include forward exit options, novations, loss portfolio transfers, and adverse development covers delivered through Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganflagshipEnstar agreed to acquire 100% of AF Group (Accident Fund Holdings, Inc.) from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for undisclosed amount. AF Group is a property and casualty insurer with $3.3 billion GWP operating across all 50 US states.
- AXIS Capital HoldingscoreLoss portfolio transfer agreement covering reinsurance segment reserves of $3.1 billion, structured as 75% ground-up quota share with $2.3 billion retroceded to Enstar.
- QBE Insurance GroupcoreMultiple transactions including loss portfolio transfer for US commercial liability and Workers' Compensation business with $376 million net loss reserves assumed.
- SiriusPointcore$400 million Workers' Compensation portfolio loss portfolio transfer covering underwriting years 2018-2023.
- Insurance Australia Group (IAG)coreAdverse development cover providing approximately US$442 million of excess cover over US$1.7 billion of underlying reserves for long-tail insurance business.
- AIGcoreADC protecting AIG's retained exposure to adverse development on assumed reinsurance contracts from Validus Re up to $400 million limit.
- Aspen Insurance HoldingsflagshipLandmark $1.9 billion ground-up loss portfolio transfer for 2019 and prior business, one of Enstar's largest transactions.
- CranmorecoreSubsidiary providing specialist consulting on risk and liability issues including technical inspections, claim reviews, delegated authority compliance and due diligence support. Operations in UK, US and Belgium.
- Cavello Bay Reinsurance LimitedflagshipEnstar's flagship carrier and group designated reinsurer, licensed by Bermuda Monetary Authority, providing 'A' rated paper from AM Best and S&P, recognized as Reciprocal Jurisdiction Reinsurer in over 10 US states.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Enstar Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- R&Q Insurance Holdings: R&Q is a London-based specialty insurance and reinsurance group focused on legacy portfolio solutions, run-off management, and program servicing - directly comparable to Enstar's LPT, ADC, and IBT offerings for cedents seeking finality.
- Compre Group: Compre is a Bermuda-domiciled legacy insurance group specializing in the acquisition and management of discontinued insurance and reinsurance portfolios, directly competing with Enstar in the LPT and run-off consolidation market.
- Catalina Holdings: Catalina is a specialty insurance group focused on acquiring and managing non-life run-off portfolios globally, directly comparable to Enstar's Cavello Bay platform and offering similar LPT, ADC, and IBT solutions to cedents.
- Premia Reinsurance: Premia Re is a run-off reinsurance platform that acquires legacy portfolios from primary insurers and reinsurers, directly competing with Enstar in the LPT and ADC market for non-life run-off liabilities globally.
Broad incumbents
- RenaissanceRe: RenaissanceRe is a major specialty reinsurer with run-off and legacy portfolio management capabilities alongside its core catastrophe and specialty reinsurance business, making it an incumbent peer in the broader re/insurance market where Enstar operates.
- Swiss Re: Swiss Re is one of the world's largest reinsurers offering LPT, ADC, and run-off solutions as part of a broader portfolio that includes life & health and P&C reinsurance, comparable in scope but much larger and more diversified than Enstar.
- Munich Re: Munich Re is a global reinsurance incumbent offering LPT and run-off solutions, and a counterparty to Enstar in transactions (Enstar acquired portfolios from Munich Re subsidiaries Great Lakes Insurance SE and HSB Engineering in 2020), reflecting its role as both competitor and deal counterparty.
- PartnerRe: PartnerRe is a global multi-line reinsurer offering specialty and P&C reinsurance including run-off solutions, broadly comparable to Enstar's broader re/insurance platform though with a more diversified live book.
Emerging players
- Artex Capital Solutions: Artex is a global ILS and alternative risk solutions manager that has entered into a strategic arrangement with Enstar to provide exit solutions for ILS vehicles; while technically a partner, Artex also represents an emerging ILS-adjacent player in the legacy and risk transfer space.
- Convex Group: Convex is a specialty insurance and reinsurance group that has built capacity in the legacy and structured solutions market, representing an emerging player with partial overlap in the ILS and retrospective solutions space where Enstar is positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Enstar Group social profiles
Digital presenceEnstar Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Enstar Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Enstar Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Enstar Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Enstar Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Enstar Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Enstar Group
What does Enstar Group do?
Enstar Group is a global insurance and reinsurance group providing retrospective (run-off) insurance solutions through transactions such as Loss Portfolio Transfers (LPT), Adverse Development Covers (ADC), Insurance Business Transfers (IBT), Reinsurance to Close (RITC), Legal Entity Sales, and Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) solutions. Its flagship carrier Cavello Bay Reinsurance Limited delivers A-rated paper, and the group provides claims management and specialist consulting through subsidiary Cranmore.
Is Enstar Group a public or private company?
Enstar Group is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Enstar Group founded?
Enstar Group was founded in 1993. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Enstar Group based?
Enstar Group is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
How does Enstar Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retrospective Insurance Solutions are the primary driver. The others are reinsurance Premiums and specialist Consulting Services.
Who are Enstar Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are R&Q Insurance Holdings, Compre Group, Catalina Holdings and Premia Reinsurance. Broad incumbents are RenaissanceRe, Swiss Re, Munich Re and PartnerRe. Emerging players are Artex Capital Solutions and Convex Group.
Does Enstar Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Enstar Group.
What industry is Enstar Group in?
Enstar Group's product category is Legacy Insurance and Reinsurance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAGAH, Reinsurance & Risk Transfer Platforms (Placement, Treaty/Fac, ILS Tech). Its NAICS code is 524130 and its SIC code is 6331.