TowerBrook and Further Global Capital Management (“Further Global”), a private equity firm focused on the financial services industry, today announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement, under which affiliates of TowerBrook and Further Global will acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of ProSight Global, Inc. (NYSE: PROS) (“ProSight” or “the Company”), a domestic specialty insurance company, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $586,000,000.
Under the terms of the agreement, ProSight stockholders will receive $12.85 per share of common stock, which represents a 42% premium to the closing share price as on September 23, 2020, the last trading day prior to media reports about a possible acquisition by TowerBrook. TowerBrook will acquire a majority stake in ProSight, with Further Global serving as a key minority co-investor.
The merger agreement was recommended by a special committee of the ProSight Board of Directors and was then approved by ProSight’s full Board. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals, and the completion of a reinsurance transaction with Enstar that will serve to reposition ProSight’s capital in support of future growth. Affiliates of the Merchant Banking business of Goldman Sachs and TPG Global, LLC have executed a written consent to approve the transaction, thereby providing the required stockholder approval for the transaction. No further action by other ProSight stockholders is required to approve the transaction.
Founded in 2009, ProSight is an innovative property and casualty insurance company writing a diverse mix of admitted and non-admitted specialty lines of business in all 50 states. ProSight is a fully licensed and fully rated turnkey platform with significant franchise value in its core niches. The Company has a number of long-standing and successful distribution relationships, a well-developed technology platform, and scalable infrastructure.
Upon closing, Jonathan Ritz will become CEO, while ProSight’s current President and CEO, Larry Hannon, will continue serving as President. Mr. Ritz joins ProSight after previously serving as President of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, Chief Operating Officer of Validus Holdings Limited, and Chief Executive Officer of Validus Specialty. Upon completion of the transaction, ProSight will become a private company with the flexibility and capital to accelerate its next stage of growth, and Mr. Ritz and Mr. Hannon will work together with TowerBrook and Further Global to continue ProSight’s development and strategic realignment.
“This is a very exciting and challenging insurance market which is undergoing significant changes in distribution, pricing, capital management, and capacity exiting across many lines of business,” said Jonathan Ritz. “Increased frequency and magnitude of natural catastrophes, social inflation, and the COVID-19 crisis have contributed to substantial market dislocations, and ProSight represents a quality platform that is well-positioned to capitalize on this environment. I am looking forward to working with the Company’s many talented underwriters, employees, and distribution partners to build a market-leading specialty insurance company.”
“This transaction and the new partnership with TowerBrook and Further Global will expand ProSight’s underwriting capabilities and fund investments in talent and technology that will improve our offerings to distribution partners and customers,” said Larry Hannon. “Since our founding 12 years ago, our employees have dedicated themselves to creating a differentiated specialty insurance company. I’m very proud of what we created, thank them for their dedication, and very much look forward to working closely with Jonathan as we write ProSight’s next chapter as a private company.”
TowerBrook and Further Global’s investment in ProSight is the result of a targeted approach to the insurance market. This acquisition aligns with TowerBrook’s investment strategy to back strong management teams operating in growth markets and builds on a long history of investing in the insurance and financial services industries. Further Global’s investment in ProSight is a continuation of its principals’ successful track record of investing in the insurance and reinsurance industries over the past 22 years. TowerBrook and Further Global will work with ProSight’s management team in furtherance of building an enduring specialty insurance franchise.
