Distinguished Programs Launches Property-Focused Reinsurer

Distinguished Programs has made a significant advancement in the reinsurance sector with the launch of Distinguished Reinsurance, initiating operations with a property-focused reinsurance division. Frank DiPaola has been named president of DistinguishedRe Property, bringing more than 25 years of reinsurance expertise to lead a team of professionals specializing in underwriting, pricing, catastrophe modeling, and legal matters.

This strategic development follows a recent transaction where White Mountains Insurance Group acquired a 51% majority interest in Distinguished Programs for $230 million, finalized in September 2025. The current leadership team remains in place as the company embarks on a growth-oriented strategy backed by White Mountains' support.

Coverage is underwritten by Antares Reinsurance Company Limited, a Bermuda-based reinsurer with an A- rating from both AM Best and S&P. As part of the Antares Global insurance group owned by QIC, Antares Re engages in property, casualty, and specialty lines through its offerings at Lloyd's and the company market.

The new property reinsurance group offers excess of loss facultative, semi-automatic, and property treaty options with a substantial capacity of up to $50 million. These services are available to both U.S. domestic and international property markets, accommodating both direct and brokered risk placements.

The entrance of DistinguishedRe occurs amid favorable conditions in the property facultative market, where U.S. and Canadian rates saw a reduction of 25% to 30% during the January 2026 renewals. This trend is driven by competitive pressures from new Managing General Agents (MGAs) and consortiums, as noted by Gallagher Re.

Jason Rotman, president of Distinguished, highlighted that this expansion into reinsurance aligns with the company's strategic objectives. "Our strategy is to invest in skilled teams, and we are delighted to have Frank and his team on board," he stated. "We look forward to collaborating with the Antares team to develop this program."

Frank DiPaola emphasized the group's commitment to a disciplined approach, focusing on providing tailored facultative excess of loss solutions that meet specific client requirements. This reinsurance initiative aligns with Distinguished's model of developing specialized underwriting platforms led by seasoned professionals, complementing its existing specialty lines, such as Marine Cargo, Crisis Management, and Transactional Risk programs, alongside its established property and casualty offerings.