Company hires and sector developments

CLO firm promotions

Churchill has announced the promotion of Mat Linett, md, from deputy head of underwriting and portfolio management to head of underwriting and Eric Wieczorek to md, underwriting and portfolio management. Additionally, the firm announced several more promotions across the investment and finance teams, effective 1 March 2019.

Derivatives expansion

Dentons has expanded its derivatives practice with the hire of Yusuf Battiwala as partner in London. Battiwala was previously counsel at Allen & Overy and has extensive experience in advising on a wide range of OTC derivatives and structured finance transactions, as well as regulatory developments affecting these markets. He has particular experience in advising on conventional and Shari’a-compliant derivatives transactions in emerging market jurisdictions.

ILS hire

Hannover Re US has appointed Jeff Burt as president, responsible for the firm’s life and health reinsurance business in the US. Burt joined Hannover Re US in 2003 as vp, marketing and since 2009 he has led the financial solutions business unit, delivering capital-oriented solutions across the firm’s entire US portfolio, including capital relief, embedded value securitisations, structured insurance risk and reinsurance M&A. In 2014, he guided the establishment of Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America (Bermuda), where he continues to serve as president and ceo.

Mortgage platform boosts funding

BSI Financial Services, a mortgage servicing operations platform, has partnered with two institutional investors to purchase mortgage servicing rights (MSRs). This capability is funded by a capital raise in excess of US$140m, which was nearly three times the amount targeted. BSI Financial will source, perform due diligence and service MSR assets acquired in partnership with these investors.