Howden announced the acquisition of Granular Investments Limited and Granular Investments EU SAS. This transaction strengthens Howden’s credit risk transfer capabilities in Europe and enhances Howden’s product offerings for large financial institutions.
Founded in 2019 by Giuliano Giovannetti and Richard Sullivan, Granular Investments is an intermediary and advisor in credit risk transfer and capital relief, specialising in synthetic securitisation and single-name credit risk solutions for banks and insurers.
This transaction strengthens Howden’s presence in the credit risk transfer space in Europe, for the benefit of banks, insurers and the wider economy. Giuliano and Richard will be working closely with the global credit and political risk team and capabilities within Howden CAP, further building out Howden’s strength in this specialised area.
Alessandro Minucci, Head of Financial Institutions, Howden Europe, said: “I am delighted to welcome Giuliano and Richard to Howden. Their decades of experience working with banks and insurers as peers, combined with their deep regulatory expertise and strong track record, will be instrumental in broadening insurer participation in the credit risk-sharing market alongside banks and funds - to the benefit of the real economy.”
Giuliano Giovannetti and Richard Sullivan, Co-founders of Granular Investments, added: “Joining Howden is an exciting next step for us. Granular Investments was built on competence and trust with both insurers and banks, and at Howden, we have found a team of experienced, like-minded entrepreneurs, working together with a shared focus on delivering for clients. As part of Howden, we will expand the range of our solutions and our reach, engaging both global insurers and local financial institutions. Howden has seen extraordinary growth in recent years, and we are excited to be part of its future.”
Luigi Sturani, CEO, Howden Europe, commented: "At Howden, we continue to build a business that attracts the best talent, the most innovative teams, and the strongest expertise in the market. The acquisition of Granular Investments is a prime example of that ambition in action. Giuliano and Richard’s decision to join us reflects the compelling opportunity we offer - an entrepreneurial environment with global reach, where experienced professionals can thrive. Their expertise in credit risk transfer and securitisation enhances our ability to provide cutting-edge solutions for banks and insurers, reinforcing Howden’s position as the partner of choice for financial institutions across Europe."
