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Basis of Presentation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Kestrel Group Ltd ("Parent Company" or "Kestrel Group") and its subsidiaries (the "Company" or "Kestrel"). They have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
These interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative, if annualized, of those to be expected for the full year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Kestrel Group Ltd transitioned from Article 5 to Article 7 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the SEC since its core business fundamentally shifted from a general commercial operation to primarily functioning as an insurance company under its recent business combination as discussed further below. This change in SEC filing status necessitated significant adjustments to how the Company presents its balance sheet, income statement and other financial statements, to align with the specific requirements of Article 7 for insurance companies. As a result, the Company's assets, liabilities, and equity accounts have been reclassified to fit the new presentation requirements under Article 7. Certain prior year comparatives have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. The effect of these reclassifications had no impact on previously reported shareholders' equity or net income, except the 2024 Kestrel equity was recast to conform with the current number of common shares issued to Kestrel equityholders and revised equity structure. Please see section on Accounting Treatment for the Combination for further details on reclassifications.
Introductory Note
On May 27, 2025, Kestrel Group LLC (“Kestrel LLC”) and Maiden Holdings, Ltd. (“Maiden”) completed their previously announced combination agreement ("Combination"), forming a new, publicly listed specialty program company operating under the name Kestrel Group Ltd. The Combination, which had been previously announced on December 30, 2024, effectuated the transaction via the formation of a new Bermuda holding company, Bermuda Ranger Topco Ltd. ("Bermuda NewCo"). Both Kestrel LLC and Maiden completed a series of transactions to become indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Bermuda NewCo, and upon the closing of the transactions, Bermuda NewCo was renamed “Kestrel Group Ltd” and rebranded as Kestrel Group and is the successor company to Maiden.
Maiden shares ceased trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market ("Nasdaq") at close of market on May 27, 2025 and Kestrel Group shares began trading on the Nasdaq on May 28, 2025 under the ticker symbol “KG”. The Combination creates a capital light, fee-based insurance platform with the ability to selectively deploy underwriting capacity to optimize shareholder returns.
As of June 30, 2025, Maiden Reinsurance Ltd. (“Maiden Reinsurance”) owns approximately 22.4% of the Company's total outstanding common shares, which is eliminated for accounting and financial reporting purposes in our condensed consolidated financial statements. On April 29, 2025, Maiden shareholders approved a proposal to remove the 9.5% voting limitation at the Company's special general meeting of its shareholders ("Special Meeting"). The ownership of the common shares by Maiden Reinsurance was made in compliance with Maiden Reinsurance's investment policy and approved by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation ("Vermont DFR"). On April 29, 2025, all proposals related to Maiden’s business combination with Kestrel were approved by Maiden’s shareholders.
Pursuant to the terms of the Combination, at the closing of the transaction on May 27, 2025, each issued and outstanding common share of Maiden, par value $0.01 per share, was automatically canceled and converted into the right to receive one-twentieth (0.05) of a common share in Kestrel Group. Please see Note 6. Shareholders' Equity for details of authorized share capital under the combined company.
The equityholders of Kestrel LLC at the closing date received an aggregate of $40.0 million in upfront cash and 2,749,996 common shares of the combined company. In addition, the former equityholders of Kestrel Group LLC remain entitled to receive contingent consideration up to the lesser of (x) $45.0 million payable in common shares of Kestrel Group upon the achievement of certain financial milestones, and (y) 2.75 million common shares of Kestrel Group.
Following completion of the Combination, the board of directors of Kestrel Group consists of seven directors, made up of four directors selected by Kestrel Intermediate Ledbetter Holdings LLC, two of whom are independent under applicable securities laws and stock exchange rules, and three directors selected by AmTrust, two of whom are independent under applicable securities laws and stock exchange rules. Please see Note 10. Related Party Transactions for information regarding the Company's relationship with AmTrust.
Legacy Reinsurance Operations
The Combination was completed with both parties in receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, including from the Vermont DFR which included approval for the extraordinary dividend required to complete the transaction. Under the conditions stipulated in the Vermont DFR approval, Maiden Reinsurance is no longer permitted to include the intercompany loan receivable from Maiden Holdings (and related accrued interest) as an admitted asset for statutory capital and reporting purposes.
1. Basis of Presentation (continued)
As a result, Maiden Reinsurance's ratio of risk-based capital to total adjusted capital was significantly reduced, which remains sufficient to not only support the dividends related to the Combination with Kestrel and recurring annual dividends (and which require prior approval by the Vermont DFR) but the ability to selectively underwrite business in support of the Company's Program Services segment in the future.
Accounting Treatment for the Combination
Maiden was the legal acquirer of Kestrel. However, as a result of the terms of the Combination, for accounting purposes, the transaction is treated as a reverse acquisition and accounted for using the acquisition method in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. This determination is primarily based on the following factors: 1) the former Kestrel LLC equityholders have the ability to nominate a majority of the members of the board of directors of the combined company and 2) subsequent to consummation of the transaction, when combined with the shares held by Maiden Reinsurance, which shares Luke Ledbetter (acting in his capacity as President of Maiden Reinsurance) is authorized and has the discretion to vote on behalf of Maiden Reinsurance, the former Kestrel LLC equityholders have a majority of the voting rights of the combined company. As such, Maiden is treated as the acquired company for accounting purposes.
Accordingly, for financial reporting purposes, the net assets of Kestrel LLC are stated at historical carrying values and its condensed consolidated financial statements are presented as the predecessor to the combined company in the historical financial statements following consummation of the transaction on May 27, 2025. The assets and liabilities of Maiden are recorded at their fair values measured as of the acquisition date. Any excess of the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired over the purchase price is recorded as a gain on bargain purchase. Based on final fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, a bargain purchase gain of $73,590 was recognized in this transaction. The operating results of Maiden are only presented within the consolidated results of Kestrel from the date of acquisition going forward. Please refer to Note 15. Business Combination for additional details regarding the accounting treatment for the Combination.
Program Service Operations
Kestrel specializes in providing fronting services to insurance program managers, managing general agents (MGAs), reinsurers, and reinsurance brokers. Kestrel facilitates insurance transactions utilizing its exclusive management contracts with four insurance carriers, all of which are rated A- “Excellent” by A.M. Best. These contracts enable Kestrel LLC to offer both admitted and surplus lines in all U.S. states. Kestrel LLC generally does not assume significant underwriting risk and produces lines of business such as casualty, workers’ compensation, catastrophe-exposed property, and non-catastrophe-exposed property, with diverse risk durations, sizes, and product types.
As noted, Kestrel will continue to write business through its exclusive use of four A.M. Best A- FSC XV insurance carriers, Sierra Specialty Insurance Company, Rochdale Insurance Company, Park National Insurance Company and Republic Fire and Casualty Insurance Company (collectively, “AmTrust Insurance Companies”), all subsidiaries of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (“AmTrust”). Pursuant to the terms of the Combination Agreement, Kestrel retains the option to acquire the AmTrust Insurance Companies from AmTrust for a period of up to three years after closing of the Combination. AmTrust is a significant shareholder of Kestrel Group. Please see Note 10. Related Party Transactions for further information regarding the Company's relationship with AmTrust.
Legacy Reinsurance Operations
The Company does not presently underwrite prospective reinsurance risks but may consider selectively deploying underwriting capacity in support of the Company's program services operations to optimize shareholder returns. The Company has various historic reinsurance programs underwritten by Maiden Reinsurance which are in run-off, including liabilities associated with AmTrust reinsurance agreements which were terminated in 2019 as discussed in Note 10. Related Party Transactions. In addition, the Company has a retroactive reinsurance agreement and a commutation agreement that further reduces its exposure and limits the potential volatility related to AmTrust liabilities, as further discussed in Note 8. Reinsurance.
The Company is also running off certain business related to its Genesis Legacy Solutions ("GLS") platform. In November 2020, Maiden formed its indirect wholly owned subsidiary GLS, which specialized in providing a full range of legacy services to small insurance entities, particularly those in run-off or with blocks of reserves that are no longer core to those companies' operations, working with clients to develop and implement finality solutions including acquiring entire companies. Having completed the capital commitment made to GLS in November 2020, Maiden did not commit any additional capital to new opportunities and continues to run-off the existing accounts underwritten by GLS. GLS continues to wind down the remaining open accounts, with one reinsurance agreement remaining open and one entity completing its run-off.
Short-term income protection business was written on a primary basis by our wholly owned subsidiaries Maiden Life Försäkrings AB ("Maiden LF") and Maiden General Försäkrings AB ("Maiden GF") in the Scandinavian and Northern European markets. On November 29, 2024, Maiden entered into an agreement to sell its Swedish subsidiaries, Maiden LF and Maiden GF to a group of international insurance and reinsurance companies headquartered in the United Kingdom. Maiden GF and Maiden LF were the principal operating subsidiaries of the Company’s International Insurance Services (“IIS”) platform. The transaction was subject to customary regulatory approvals. In June 2025, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (“SFSA”) declined to approve the sale of Maiden GF and Maiden LF. The proposed acquirer, whose application was denied by the SFSA, has subsequently indicated its intent to proceed with the acquisition of only Maiden GF at the previously agreed valuation and believes it will satisfactorily address the deficiencies identified by the SFSA in its June 2025 decision. Maiden and the proposed acquirer are currently in the process of finalizing the terms of an amended sale agreement and this transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
1. Basis of Presentation (continued)
The sale will continue to be an all-cash transaction and pursuant to the proposed terms of the agreement, certain existing staff of Maiden GF will transition to the proposed acquirer. In the wake of the decision of the SFSA, management continues to evaluate strategic alternatives for that business, including a possible sale to a different third-party or a possible run-off and liquidation of the entity. Maiden LF and Maiden GF are not writing any new business and their non-insurance related assets and liabilities are represented as held-for-sale in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Please refer to "Note 14. Assets Held for Sale" for additional information regarding the effect of the pending transactions on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Except as explicitly described as held for sale or as discontinued operations, and unless otherwise noted, all discussions and amounts presented herein relate to the Company's continuing operations except for net income, net income attributable to Kestrel and net income attributable to Kestrel common shareholders.