Minicone-led Mereo Advisors rebrands as Cedar Trace

By Michael Loney

June 9 - (The Insurer) - Bermuda-based (re)insurance and asset management group Mereo Advisors Group, which has a close alignment with startup reinsurer Mereo Insurance Limited, has rebranded as Cedar Trace.

Cedar Trace’s business and management team remain the same. The company offers capital solutions across property, casualty and specialty lines.

“The name and logo changes are to draw a clearer distinction between the regulated balance sheet and all the other business lines we currently operate or plan to operate,” said Lawrence Minicone, Cedar Trace’s CEO.

Cedar Trace has a close alignment with Mereo Insurance Limited, the Bermuda reinsurance company that was launched in February with an A-minus financial strength rating from AM Best.

“This relationship will not change after the rebranding,” Cedar Trace said.

All companies within the Cedar Trace Group will change names.

Mereo Advisors Holdings Limited is now Cedar Trace Advisers Holdings Limited; Mereo Advisors Limited is now Cedar Trace Advisers Limited; Mereo Capital Limited is now Cedar Trace Capital Management Limited; and Mereo ILS Opportunities Limited is now Cedar Trace ILS Opportunities Limited.

Cedar Trace’s management also includes Brian Duperreault as executive chairman, Neil Strong as president, Jonathan Reiss as chief financial officer and Richard Holden as chief underwriting officer of Cedar Trace ILS.

The launch of Mereo Insurance Limited was led by Susquehanna Private Equity Investments and The Andover Companies, with preferred equity provided by Ares Management Alternative Credit funds.

Mereo Insurance Limited’s leadership includes Duperreualt as chairman and David Croom-Johnson as CEO.