XL Innovate Acquires New Energy Risk

DUBLIN, Ireland, Sept. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- XL Group plc ("XL" or the "Company") (NYSE: XL) announced today that XL Innovate, the venture capital initiative sponsored by the Company, has acquired all of the shares of New Energy Risk, Inc.

Tom Hutton, Managing Partner of XL Innovate, said: "New Energy Risk has developed and delivered to the market unique performance warranty products which enable clean technology companies to obtain the project financing they need in order to grow.  We look forward to the continued expansion of New Energy Risk under the leadership of CEO Tom Dickson who has a respected track record of leading companies that respond to market opportunities with creative solutions grounded in high quality analytics, underwriting and risk assessment.  New Energy Risk is a great example of the kinds of businesses XL Innovate looks to grow. It develops and applies innovative insurance solutions based on engineering analytics, addressing new risks and underserved markets, and providing particularly high impact value for its clients."

Mr. Dickson has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry, including executive and underwriting leadership positions. He founded and ran Meetinghouse LLC, a private firm specializing in investment management for insurance, reinsurance and structured credit markets.  Mr. Dickson previously served as CEO and Chief Underwriting Officer of the Centre Group, an innovative international insurance and reinsurance group.

Commenting on his new role, Mr. Dickson said: "I'm excited to be back in an underwriting role, and particularly excited by the opportunity to address such high value client relationships throughout the world.  At New Energy Risk, we collaborate closely with customers, brokers, financiers and other intermediaries in developing customized policies to encourage customer acceptance and support financing of renewable and clean energy technologies."  

In 2013, New Energy Risk launched an innovative technology performance insurance product for the cleantech industry, which has been used by companies like Bloom Energy, a Silicon Valley based fuel cell company. Over the past three years, New Energy Risk has worked with XL and Munich Re to insure the performance of Bloom Energy's technology, improving the financing in support of the installation of nearly 65 megawatts of clean, reliable electricity.

About XL Innovate

XL Innovate is an XL sponsored venture capital initiative focused on making investments in companies with businesses that address the world's most complex risk and ensuring the relevancy of the insurance industry today and into the future. XL Innovate will seek to invest in companies that strive to create opportunities outside of the traditional underwriting space by finding ways to underwrite currently uninsured risks. To learn more, visit www.xlinnovate.com  

About New Energy Risk

New Energy Risk is a provider of innovative data analytics, strategic consulting and financial risk transfer solutions to the renewable energy industry worldwide. It was founded by Tom Hutton in 2011 to serve as a risk assessor and intermediary between clean-energy innovators and insurers. For more information, visit www.newenergyrisk.com.

About Bloom Energy

Bloom Energy is a provider of breakthrough solid oxide fuel cell technology generating clean, highly-efficient on-site power from multiple fuel sources. The company was founded in 2001 with a mission to make clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone in the world. Bloom Energy Servers are currently producing power for several Fortune 500 companies including Google, Walmart, AT&T, eBay, Staples, The Coca-Cola Company, as well as notable non-profit organizations such as Caltech and Kaiser Permanente. For more information, visit www.bloomenergy.com.

About XL Group plc

XL Group plc (NYSE:XL), through its subsidiaries and under the XL Catlin brand, is a global insurance and reinsurance company providing property, casualty and specialty products to industrial, commercial and professional firms, insurance companies and other enterprises throughout the world. Clients look to XL Catlin for answers to their most complex risks and to help move their world forward. To learn more, visit www.xlcatlin.com.

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SOURCE XL Group plc