Reps & Warranties insurance, as well as other types of Transaction Insurance products, benefit the parties in a merger or acquisition in different ways. Strategic acquirers, for example, often have different objectives than financial acquirers, but Transaction Insurance can help both achieve their goals. This session will explore how Transaction Insurance products benefit public companies as well as private companies, strategic acquirers as well as financial acquirers, and buyers as well as sellers. It will look at various transaction scenarios and evaluate the options for facilitating the transaction from the perspective of the various parties.

• Stephanie Hyde, Executive Director, PE-Risk [Moderator]
• Audrey Rampinelli, Senior Risk Executive
• Lori Seidenberg, ARM, Global Director of Real Assets Insurance, BlackRock, Inc.
• Michele D. Welsh, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Carlisle Companies Incorporated

Due diligence is a critical element in evaluating the viability of a merger or acquisition and is a key input in the underwriting process. The scope, sophistication and form of due diligence, however, varies by deal size and certain other considerations, such as whether the acquirer is a strategic buyer or a financial buyer. What are the implications of varying levels of due diligence on underwriting? This session will examine the elements of due diligence to understand how the type and depth of due diligence affects an underwriter’s ability to accurately assess risk, and what the implications are for availability and cost.

• Toria Lessman, Senior Vice President – Underwriting Leader, QBE North America[Moderator]
• Michael McGowan, Director of M&A Insurance, AXA XL
• Laurance D. Shapiro, Senior Vice President, Willis Towers Watson
• Aaron T. Slavens, Partner, Holland & Knight

The adoption of Transactional Risk Insurance in the international markets has been phenomenal and its surge in popularity in the USA continues at pace. Deborah McBrearty reflects on how her international experience has been an incredible learning curve and how this specialty insurance can accompany an evolving transaction market, no matter the jurisdiction and to its benefit.

• Deborah McBrearty, Global Head of Transaction Risk Insurance, Tokio Marine HCC

This session will look at growth opportunities in Transaction Insurance, including public-to-private deals, transactions in countries that traditionally have not used Reps & Warranties insurance, and deals within industries such as banking and healthcare which either have not traditionally used these products or have been especially challenging for underwriters.

• John McNally, Leader, Transaction Advisory Board Practice, JLT [Moderator]
• Kenneth W. De Berry, CPA, President, Concord Specialty Risk
• Nicholas DeMartini, North America P&C VP, Senior Underwriter, Casualty, Partner Re
• Gabriel Gershowitz, Counsel, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP
• Michael Turnbull, North America M&A Manager, AIG

This session will examine the life cycles of both first-party and third-party claims. Using case studies, it will provide an in depth look at the claims process and offer insights into issues such as establishing loss and damages that typically must be addressed in the claim management process.

• Stephen P. Davidson, Managing Director, Aon [Moderator]
• Joao dos Santos, Senior Managing Director, Ankura
• Sarah H. Mitchell, Counsel, Vinson & Elkins LLP
• Marc Sherman, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal
• Elisa Zurlini, Assistant Vice President, Financial Institutions, Mergers & Acquisitions, AIG

How are coverage disputes typically handled in the world of Transaction Insurance? This session will look at various dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration and, especially, mediation. Using a case study, panelists will examine how mediation functions to resolve real-life claims issues.

• Peter Rosen, Mediator & Arbitrator, JAMS [Moderator]
• Arthur Aufses III, Partner, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
• Joseph Finnerty, Partner, DLA Piper

This perennially popular session will provide insights into Transaction Insurance products and their marketplace from the perspective of senior executives.

• Jay Rittberg, Managing Principal, Euclid Transactional LLC [Moderator]
• Matt Heinz, Senior Managing Director, Aon
• Bill M. Monat, Executive Vice President, Transactional Solutions Leader, Willis Towers Watson
• Craig Schioppo, Transactional Risk Practice Leader, Managing Director, Marsh USA Inc.