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Arch aims to grow Australia LMI business

Bermuda-based specialty lines insurer Arch Capital Group is looking to further grow its presence in Australia after completing its acquisition of Westpac’s lenders’ mortgage insurance (LMI) unit for $350 million at book value.

When the deal was announced in March, the two parties said the sale price would be determined at completion of the transaction.

Westpac Group says the sale price includes a pre-completion dividend of $52 million and is subject to completion adjustments.

Arch Capital Group says with the completion of the deal, it will proceed to combine the operations of Westpac Lenders Mortgage Insurance (WLMI) with its existing Australian LMI company, Arch LMI.

WLMI will retain its existing risk in-force and the newly combined entity under Arch will become Westpac’s exclusive provider of LMI on new mortgage originations for a period of 10 years.

The deal with Westpac includes an exclusive 10-year agreement for Arch to provide LMI to the bank’s customers.

Arch says WLMI has been a provider of LMI in the Australian market since 2011 and the acquisition augments Arch MI’s position as the only globally diversified insurer of mortgage credit risk.

In addition to Australia, Arch has mortgage insurance and reinsurance operations in Bermuda, Europe and the US.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Westpac and leveraging this acquisition to further establish Arch LMI as a market leader that provides innovative solutions and excellent service to clients across Australia,” CEO Global Mortgage David Gansberg said.

The sale of the LMI unit is part of Westpac’s efforts to focus on its core lending business. The bank has already sold a chunk of its non-banking assets including its general insurance arm to Allianz and life business to TAL Dai-ichi Life Australia.