Starr has finalized its purchase of IQUW Group, creating a bigger specialty reinsurance and insurance business with operations in London, Bermuda, and the UK motor market. This merger expands Starr’s reach and builds on its position at Lloyd’s of London, where the newly combined entity becomes the ninth-largest managing agent.
The deal brings together both companies’ reinsurance efforts under Starr Re. IQUW’s Bermuda-based reinsurer and its London reinsurance business will now operate under the Starr brand. This strengthens Starr’s ability to offer capital and services across various regions and business lines. Together, their reinsurance portfolios cover multiple geographies, reflecting their existing markets.
In 2025, IQUW Group reported gross written premiums of $1.88 billion. This includes business from IQUW’s Syndicate 1856, ERS (Syndicate 218), and IQUW Re Bermuda. Syndicate 1856 will be rebranded to carry the Starr name, while ERS, known as a specialist UK motor insurer at Lloyd’s, will keep its current brand. Starr’s Syndicate 1919 remains the same.
This acquisition follows a wider industry trend where reinsurance and specialty insurers are growing larger and more diverse, especially in London and Bermuda. Others like Arch Capital Group and RenaissanceRe have also been growing through acquisitions and portfolio expansions, mixing underwriting skills with technology and data.
Starr’s combined business now operates from hubs in London and Bermuda, offering a wider range of products. These include property, casualty, accident and health insurance, and specialty lines such as aviation, marine, and energy.
The deal went through all needed regulatory approvals, but the financial details were not shared. Moving forward, the focus will be on blending underwriting, branding, and distribution while keeping strong relationships with brokers and clients across their main markets.