Castel underwriting business MCI wraps up management buyout

Medical & Commercial International (MCI), a division of Castel Underwriting Agencies, has completed a management buyout from the club-style MGA formation platform.

MCI is a specialised casualty underwriting business launched on the Castel MGA platform in 2015. It writes over $50 million of annual gross written premium across its main classes, including life sciences (including clinical trials), health sciences (including medical malpractice) and international general liability.

Following completion of the transaction, MCI will be majority owned and controlled by its management team, led by chief executive Philip Trafford.

Castel’s MGA model provides the opportunity for its underwriting businesses to become independent through a mutually agreed exit strategy after four to seven years.

Mark Birrell, chief executive of Castel, said: "Phil and the team have built a strong, sustainable business. Castel has a singular focus on supporting its underwriting businesses to achieve maturity and flourish as MGAs. The growth MCI has achieved since launching on our platform is testament to their market knowledge and robust plan. We wish MCI every success on this next phase of their development.”

Philip Trafford, chief executive of MCI, commented: “MCI’s specialised and disciplined underwriting approach has enabled a successful business to be built over the course of the last 5 years. Castel’s support incubating MCI in these formative years has been an important factor in preparing the business for this moment. We are very much looking forward to the next exciting phase of MCI’s journey.”