Catholic Church Insurance will transfer its national workers’ compensation legacy portfolio to personal injury claims manager EML Group.

The parties announced the loss transfer agreement today, including a reinsurance premium of more than $100 million.

EML said: “The transaction brings together [our] specialist claims management and insurance capabilities to support the continued run-off of CCI’s workers’ compensation business.

“[We have] managed CCI’s tail liabilities following its withdrawal from new workers’ compensation business in NSW. These types of claims are complex and can stay open for many years, needing consistent, specialist management throughout.”

The transfer remains subject to regulatory and court approvals.

CCI’s annual report for the year to June 2025 said it had “continued to implement a carefully staged scale-down of the company, after deciding in May 2023 to go into run-off”.

Catholic Church Insurance CEO Tim Farren says the loss transfer agreement marks “the next important step in [CCI’s] orderly process to close the organisation.

“CCI has been in partnership with EML since 2023, and they represent the natural partner to take on these liabilities, given their commitment and aligned values with CCI to injured workers and the broader Catholic community.”

EML says it will continue managing legacy CCI workers’ compensation claims, supporting people with long-term, complex and serious injuries.

“We’re proud to be providing continuity for injured workers and support for their employers,” EML Solutions CEO Angus McCullagh said.

“We see a broader opportunity to help insurers transfer historical portfolios, bringing EML’s specialist expertise to the long-term management of complex claims.”

CCI’s 2025 annual report – the latest available on its website – showed a group net profit of $91.36 million following a $51.8 million loss a year earlier.

“The principal activity of the company is the run-off of claims related to property, workers’ compensation and casualty risks of entities of the Catholic community in Australia, as well as certain clients in the broader Christian community,” the report said.