[London, UK, 16^th September 2024] – Industry leaders in the European life settlement and broader secondary life markets came together at the Secondary Life Markets Conference 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden on 12^th September to discuss the prevailing challenges and opportunities in front of them as the year enters the home stretch.

Held at the offices of EY in the centre of Sweden’s capital city, secondary life market participants heard from expert speakers in the field who dissected the nuances of the impacts of recent macroeconomic and mortality-related events in the industry.

The general consensus was that, while the past two years have been challenging, reasons for optimism abound.

“The impact of the higher interest rate environment of the past couple of years has undoubtedly impacted fundraising in the life settlement market, and investor appetite for secondary life markets solutions generally, just like it has in other private asset classes,” said Chris Wells, Executive Director at ELSA.

“But the overwhelming consensus at the conference was one of positivity, with expectations for lower rates on both sides of the Atlantic offering promise, while the long-term, structural tailwinds of increased awareness and activity in the secondary market continue to raise the floor in terms of the size and impact of our market.”

Holding the event in Stockholm marks the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic that ELSA has held an event outside of London. According to Hanna Persson, Head of Sales and Investor Relations at Ress Capital and Chair of the ELSA Conference Committee, that ELSA was able to do that speaks to the growing interest in life settlements and secondary life markets generally.

“Institutional investors from all corners of the investment management industry are increasingly paying more attention to our market,” she said.

“Hosting the event in Stockholm this year enabled us to get in front of an audience that we might not have had the opportunity to otherwise. Making new connections and broadening our audience is critical in terms of growing the life settlement and secondary life markets and I am delighted that the event was such a success.”