ANV's LaunchPad Aims to Reshape Specialty Insurance Market

NEW YORK, NY – May 18, 2026 – ANV Group Holdings Ltd., the global insurance intermediary platform spun out of AmTrust and Blackstone, has officially entered the MGA incubation space with the launch of ANV LaunchPad. The initiative is designed to build and scale specialty insurance businesses by partnering with experienced underwriters, and it has already unveiled its first venture: Hastings Tax Underwriters, a specialist MGA focused on the complex world of tax liability insurance.

This dual announcement marks a significant strategic move for ANV, which was established in December 2025. By creating a structured pathway for underwriting entrepreneurs, the company is signaling its ambition to not only grow its own portfolio but also to influence the very architecture of how niche insurance products are brought to market.

A New Blueprint for Building MGAs

ANV LaunchPad is being positioned as more than just a source of capital. The company describes it as a structured, end-to-end service designed to accelerate the journey from concept to a fully operational Managing General Agency (MGA). The incubator provides comprehensive support, including crucial services like capacity placement, product and policy development, and technology integration. The stated goal is to create an efficient and rapid go-to-market timeline by handling the operational and regulatory heavy lifting, allowing new MGA leaders to concentrate on their core strengths: underwriting and building distribution networks.

“LaunchPad is a natural extension of how we build businesses at ANV,” said Adam Karkowsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ANV, in a statement. “We partner with proven underwriters who want to build and own differentiated MGAs while operating within a broader established infrastructure. LaunchPad allows us to do that in a disciplined, repeatable way, while preserving the independence and entrepreneurial focus that underpin successful MGA businesses.”

This model is part of a growing trend in the insurance industry, where platforms are emerging to foster specialized underwriting talent. However, ANV's version stands out due to the formidable backing of its parent entities and its comprehensive approach. The platform's ability to offer stable, long-term capacity—a common pain point for new MGAs—is significantly bolstered by a 10-year capacity agreement with AmTrust Financial Services. This, combined with the strategic and financial support from Blackstone Credit & Insurance, creates a powerful value proposition for attracting top-tier underwriting talent.

The Strategic Power Play Behind ANV

Understanding ANV's latest move requires looking at its recent formation. The company was created in late 2025 when AmTrust and Blackstone spun off a portfolio of seven AmTrust MGAs and fee-based businesses into a new, independent entity. This portfolio already included a diverse range of specialty products, from cyber and transaction risk to legal expense and agricultural workers' compensation, giving ANV a solid foundation across the U.S., UK, and Europe.

The leadership team, composed of former AmTrust executives including CEO Adam Karkowsky, CFO Joseph Brecher, and COO Jacob Decter, brought deep institutional knowledge to the new venture. Since its inception, ANV has moved quickly to build out its platform, making key leadership appointments and signaling its intent to grow through acquisition with a March 2026 agreement to acquire UK-based Iris Insurance Brokers Ltd.

The launch of the incubator is a clear execution of ANV's stated strategy to not only manage its existing portfolio but also to actively acquire and incubate new MGAs. By creating a repeatable process for launching new ventures, ANV is building a scalable engine for growth, backed by the financial might and strategic oversight of Blackstone. This positions the company to potentially consolidate fragmented specialty markets and become a dominant force in the MGA landscape.

Hastings Tax Underwriters: Targeting a Complex Niche

The choice of a tax liability specialist as LaunchPad's inaugural MGA is telling. Hastings Tax Underwriters enters a niche but rapidly growing segment of the transactional risk market, driven by heightened M&A activity and increasingly complex global tax laws. This type of insurance protects companies from financial losses arising from uncertain tax positions, making it a critical tool in corporate transactions, restructurings, and ongoing risk management.

Leading Hastings are Co-Presidents Craig Farber and Russ Young, whose credentials underscore the high-caliber talent ANV aims to attract. Farber previously served as Managing Director and Co-Head of U.S. Tax Planning & Advisory at Goldman Sachs, while Young honed his expertise in the tax controversy groups of elite law firms Mayer Brown and Baker McKenzie. Their combined experience in high-stakes tax planning and disputes provides the deep technical expertise required to underwrite these intricate risks.

“ANV LaunchPad provided a clear structure for bringing Hastings to market while allowing us to focus on underwriting and building out the business,” commented Craig Farber. “We have developed the business quickly with significant assistance from ANV LaunchPad and expect to continue to build our presence in the tax liability market with thanks to that framework.”

The successful launch of Hastings serves as a proof of concept for the LaunchPad model, demonstrating its ability to attract elite professionals and rapidly deploy them into a high-demand market.

The Evolving Specialty Underwriting Landscape

ANV's initiative reflects a broader shift in the insurance industry toward specialization and agility. As risks become more complex and interconnected, monolithic carriers can struggle to develop the deep, niche expertise required. MGAs, with their focused underwriting and entrepreneurial culture, are often better equipped to serve these specialized markets.

MGA incubators like LaunchPad represent the next evolution of this trend. They provide a solution to the classic entrepreneurial dilemma: how to gain independence and ownership without being crushed by the administrative and capital-raising burdens of starting a business from scratch. By providing a robust operational backbone and access to stable capacity, these platforms empower underwriters to do what they do best.

The success of this model, however, will depend on maintaining a delicate balance. The platform must provide disciplined oversight and risk management without stifling the entrepreneurial spirit that makes MGAs successful. With its experienced leadership, a clear strategic vision, and the powerful backing of AmTrust and Blackstone, ANV appears well-equipped to navigate this challenge. The industry will be watching closely as ANV LaunchPad continues to roll out new ventures, potentially setting a new standard for how specialty insurance businesses are built and scaled in the years to come.