A special purpose vehicle designed to allow investors to assume the risk and share in the profits or losses on a group of insurance policies (a “book of business”) written by a particular insurer or assumed by a particular reinsurer (collectively “re/insurer”). A re/insurer will usually only cede the premiums associated with a book of business to such an entity if the investors place sufficient funds in the vehicle to ensure that it can meet claims if they arise. Typically, the liability of investors is limited to these funds. The vehicle is often formed as an independent company and to provide additional capacity to the re/insurer to write property catastrophe business or other short tail lines. The original capacity is usually provided through a quota share or similar type arrangement. The re/insurer normally charges a fee (ceding commission) for originating and managing the sidecar business and may sometimes also receive a profit commission if the book of business is profitable. Because the investors’ capital is usually intended to be invested in this vehicle for a short-term, the sidecar has a limited existence, often for only one year, after which investors may withdraw their investment. These structures have become quite prominent in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as a vehicle for re/insurers to add risk bearing capacity, and for investors to participate in the potential profits resulting from sharp price increases in re/insurance.