Insurance Services

Insurance Services

    Insurance Services

  • Our Insurance Services capability is deep, but simply defined, with our teams aligned to our core insurance markets: Intermediaries, Insurer & Market and Captives. We work with and help develop Lloyd’s syndicates, MGAs, brokers, insurers, reinsurers and international captive owners.

    We have successfully supported the launch and host of more than 70 MGAs, and established ourselves as the go-to partner for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to start new MGA platforms. In addition we provide core operations and capacity management services for brokers and MGAs, and we are the leading provider of legacy solutions for end-of-life broker portfolios. 

    Our global top seventh ranked Captive Management business provides technical solutions to captive customers in Europe, the US, Latin America, Canada, Asia, Guernsey, Australasia and the UK . From our bases in Bermuda and the US our team delivers captive operations, including rent-a-captive, re-insurance advice, and exit solutions. Our Lloyd’s Managing Agency business also provides access to the Captive Syndicate solution, offering a highly effective alternative for captive owners to diversify their risk financing, reduce collateral requirements and minimise costs.

    Our Market Services team is recognised as one of the leading specialist providers of services to (Re)insurers & MGAs, providing insurance operations and consulting solutions for start-up, live and legacy partners, globally. Our services include premium credit control, delegated authority management, reinsurance project support, audit solutions and financial review programmes.

    Our Lloyd’s business, Asta, is the leading third-party managing agent and over the last two decades has helped over 35 syndicates launch successfully in the UK and overseas. With multiple entities and £2.2 billion of gross premium currently under management, we are the first choice for underwriting entrepreneurs, insurtechs and global insurers whose ambition is to establish a business at Lloyd’s. Our range of solutions includes the Lloyd’s Syndicate, Syndicate-in-a-Box, Special Purpose Arrangement and Captive Syndicate.

    Disclaimer: Lloyd’s is proposing to transfer certain EEA insurance policies to Lloyd’s Brussels. The proposed transfer will not change terms and conditions of any policy, except that Lloyd’s Brussels will become the insurer and Data Controller in respect of the transferred policies. Further information about the proposal (including whether it could affect your pre-transfer position), which policies are transferring, your rights and what you need to do can be found at lloyds.com/brexittransfer. 

  • An independent launch and host incubation platform for new and established MGAs and intermediaries.

    • MGA Solutions

      We operate as an independent incubator platform offering a “launch and host” service to entrepreneurs, private companies and corporates who are looking to establish a Managing General Agent (MGA). We achieve this through providing advisory / consulting services and through the utilisation of our FCA regulatory permissions under an Appointed Representative Framework. In the UK we operate through our subsidiary, Davies MGA Services Limited.

      We deliver professional support services to existing fully authorised MGAs, as well as general bespoke service support to entities involved in the delegated underwriting arena.

      We ensure our clients have the required level of resources and structured regulatory oversight controls and processes in place to guarantee that they operate to the highest regulatory standards.

      Disclaimer: Lloyd’s is proposing to transfer certain EEA insurance policies to Lloyd’s Brussels. The proposed transfer will not change terms and conditions of any policy, except that Lloyd’s Brussels will become the insurer and Data Controller in respect of the transferred policies. Further information about the proposal (including whether it could affect your pre-transfer position), which policies are transferring, your rights and what you need to do can be found at lloyds.com/brexittransfer. 

    • Broker Solutions

      Through our subsidiary Davies Broking Services, an FCA authorised intermediary with Lloyd’s accreditation, we operate as an independent, fee for service, incubator platform offering a “launch and host” service to fledgling Intermediaries in the UK. We achieve this through the utilisation of our FCA regulatory permissions under an Appointed Representative Framework and by providing access to the Lloyd’s market via Davies Broking Services broking permissions.

      We provide capacity support services in a wide range of insurance classes and disciplines, as well as general bespoke service support to entities involved in the broking and delegated underwriting arena.

      We ensure our clients operate with the required level of resources and structured regulatory oversight controls and processes to guarantee that they operate to the highest regulatory standards.

      Disclaimer: Lloyd’s is proposing to transfer certain EEA insurance policies to Lloyd’s Brussels. The proposed transfer will not change terms and conditions of any policy, except that Lloyd’s Brussels will become the insurer and Data Controller in respect of the transferred policies. Further information about the proposal (including whether it could affect your pre-transfer position), which policies are transferring, your rights and what you need to do can be found at lloyds.com/brexittransfer. 

    Meet the team

  • Asta Managing Agency – our Lloyd’s platform

    Asta Managing Agency Ltd (AMA) is a third party managing agent which means we don’t have our own syndicate or any capital at risk. Our sole focus is therefore on meeting the needs of our clients who do.

    For entrepreneurial underwriters or established insurers seeking access to the Lloyd’s market, we work with you to find the route that best meets your needs. Depending on your circumstances and objectives, we offer a range of bespoke solutions including a full “Syndicate”, a “Syndicate-in-a-Box”, a “Special Purpose Arrangement” (SPA), or “Captive Syndicate”. Whichever route is chosen, we’ll work with you to ensure your proposed business plan provides accretive value to Lloyd’s and meets with their entry requirements.

    • Syndicate

      A Lloyd’s syndicate is the ideal solution for:

      • Existing insurers seeking additional distribution via the Lloyd’s platform
      • Innovative start-up businesses offering different products and distribution

    • Syndicate-in-a-Box

      A Lloyd’s Syndicate-in-a-Box is the ideal solution for:

      • Innovative start-up businesses offering different products and distribution
      • Significant, established MGAs/MGUs seeking to take underwriting risk into their own business
      • Single geography or product line experts unable to set up independently

    • Special Purpose Arrangement

      A Lloyd’s Special Purpose Arrangement is the ideal solution for:

      • A business or capital provider seeking to gain exposure to underwriting at Lloyd’s and the additional distribution it offers
      • Businesses seeking flexibility of either a cost-effective long-term partnership with a “host” syndicate, or migration to full syndicate over time

    • Captive Syndicate

      The Lloyd’s Captive Syndicate could suit any Captive writing First Party or related Third Party risks – from the large blue-chip to the smaller privately owned Captive – with multi-national risk exposure and seeking a cost-effective alternative to fronting, more control over its working insurance layers, and reduced tax and regulatory risk. The types of captives that are suited to the syndicate model include, among others:

      • Groups
      • Associations
      • Single Parent
      • Protected Cell Companies (PCCs)
      • Incorporated Cell Companies (ICCs)
      • Segregated Account Companies (SACs)
      • Risk Retention Groups (RRGs)

    • Ongoing management

      Once your business is established at Lloyd’s we provide continued access to a wide-ranging team of specialist experts who deliver everything your business needs and more – Underwriting Management, Compliance, Actuarial, HR, IT, Finance, Risk Management and Company Secretarial – all under one roof, providing you with a truly complete solution.

    • Lifecycle support

      Some of our clients choose to partner with us in the longer term, testimony to our expertise, flexibility and ability to move with the times and respond to a changing business environment. We help reduce your operating costs through economies of scale. We achieve this by providing all of our clients the same depth of expertise and breadth of services that would otherwise be expensive to resource independently.

    • Post migration services

      As part of their long-term strategy, some of our clients choose to move on to independence but continue to receive key services from us. This helps to reduce ongoing costs associated with resourcing and recruiting for non-core functions that distract from the business of underwriting.

    Meet the team

  • Legacy business frequently takes valuable resource in a broking firm away from their primary role of winning and servicing live business which negatively impacts results and bottom line costs. Our ‘Broker Wrap’ services will enhance the value of the broker’s live business, removing the uncertainty and challenges associated with legacy business.

    Broker Wrap takes all the responsibility for legacy issues away from the broker from a set point in time. Where it is able to do so our Intermediary Services, through its subsidiary Davies Intermediary Support Services Limited, purchases the legacy entity in its entirety, for a nominal purchase prices and an agreed fee to cover the run-off. If it is not possible to acquire the entity, the wrap can still be completed by securing client consent to the transfer.

    This provides significant cost savings, in most cases, at least 30% when compared with the broker’s expected run-off costs. Our broker wrap services also deliver a drastic reduction in the run off period. In a typical reinsurance run-off the legacy period may extend beyond 10 years whereas the wrap will allow a broker to clear the legacy and remove their ongoing responsibilities within 12 months.

    Disclaimer: Lloyd’s is proposing to transfer certain EEA insurance policies to Lloyd’s Brussels. The proposed transfer will not change terms and conditions of any policy, except that Lloyd’s Brussels will become the insurer and Data Controller in respect of the transferred policies. Further information about the proposal (including whether it could affect your pre-transfer position), which policies are transferring, your rights and what you need to do can be found at lloyds.com/brexittransfer. 

    Meet the team

  • We support the management of the Delegated Authority (DA) business lifecycle to meet operational, regulatory & compliance needs. The flexibility of the service offering means it can be adopted as either an end-to-end or modular solution and is customised to meet the specific needs of individual clients whilst benefiting from a bespoke service solution.

    Our service has been designed to meet the need for a flexible and scalable service offering delivered by a highly expertise and resource in an environment of increasing operational burden and regulatory complexity, ultimately driving market efficiency.

    • Binding Authority Management

      Our team have been providing services to our Lloyd’s and Company market clients since 2010 to improve coverholder management and performance including compliance and regulatory reporting as well as credit control reporting on a declaration by declaration basis.

      We provide a comprehensive solution and believe our purpose built system BACCUS, in conjunction with our service solution is the only offering that provides such a bespoke and flexible approach to ensure the requirements of all interested parties are met.

      We process more than 3,000 new binding authorities annually, capturing key data obtained from over 100,000 bordereaux.

      Our team of experienced insurance technicians has a proven track record in on-boarding new clients onto their chosen software platforms such as DDM and the improvement in timely receipt of bordereaux from brokers, Coverholder’s, TPA’s and market associations to enhance data quality to further improve the delivery of key information to clients.

      Our managed service covers:

      • Contract setup
      • Bordereau administration
      • Bordereau uploads
      • Creation of mapping templates
      • Data enrichment
      • Reconciliation
      • Query resolution
      • Management information including Compliance and Regulatory reporting
      • Bordereau distribution
      • Data extracts

      To deliver meaningful management information, our team supports clients with the delivery of third party system implementations and processes. We recognise that third party systems have varying degrees of capabilities and tailor our service to compliment the managed service offering to ensure effective collaboration with existing software and to meet individual requirements.

    • Loss Fund Service

      Over the last six years, we have returned over £160m to the market for Lloyd’s managing agents and London Market companies across a variety of classes.

      What is a Loss Fund?

      Loss Funds are monies held in trust by a third party (TPA) or broker on behalf of the capacity provider which are used to facilitate the payments of claims at a set agreed value. Over-funding and mismanagement of Loss Funds is an inherent problem within the London Market. Specifically, a lack of clarity around the value of the TPA/Third Party Loss Funds and the historically poor administration experienced by Lloyd’s and London Market carriers.

      How we help our clients

      Our Legacy Loss Fund Service is a dedicated, professional resource that provides expertise on improving the client’s bottom line. Our team of dedicated and specialised individuals have devised a strategic and effective forensic process to attain the best results for our clients.

      Through our Loss Fund experience, over the last 6 years we have returned over £160m of funds which would be classed as “closed years” to the market and have identified several areas which may provide London Market insurers with the identification of: Written-off, Lost or Forgotten.

      The solution

      We provide a comprehensive analysis of Loss Funds held in trust, identifying and resolving any unreconciled ledgers, implementing systems and procedures to prevent future mismanagement.

      It is a dedicated professional resource that provides expertise on improving our client’s bottom line.

      Benefits 

      • Comprehensive analysis of Loss Funds held in trust (live and legacy), including a managed Loss Fund Service Identifying missing Loss Funds
      • Reconciling historic Loss Funds
      • Recovering surplus funds in cash
      • When funds are returned, outstanding losses can be reduced simultaneously
      • Full data cleansing
      • Monitoring of current Loss Funds
      • Recovering Loss Funds on contracts that are closed or purged, around 20% of the recoveries relate to these
      • Implementing controls and procedures to prevent future mismanagement
      • Improved management information

    • Consultancy

      Our Delegated Authority Group Services (“DAGS”) is a unique and pioneering market offering to the Insurance industry which has been designed to meet the requirements within the Delegated Authority life cycle.

      Our solution enables clients to invoke change or react quickly to changes in their DA landscape, market conditions or meet their regulatory requirements. This solution is underpinned by an expertise-led team that are fully trained in all aspects of the DA landscape including Underwriting Management (at Senior Levels), Business Planning, Compliance, Operations, Legal, Audit, Service etc.

      The DAGS offering is structured into the three tiers identified as follows:

      Tier 1 – Strategy & Appetite

      • Existing portfolio analysis & insights
      • Target portfolio vs current operational landscape
      • Operational strategy & identification of expertise & solutions required

      Tier 2 – Operations & Governance

      Provision of services and resource to support the DA lifecycle, e.g. flexible DUM resource, bordereau mapping and processing, credit control and audit & inspection services

      Tier 3 – Performance Management

      • Holistic performance metrics measuring UW and operational performance
      • Expert insight on performance, advise on the impact and on risk appetite / operations

    Meet the team

  • We have over 20 years of experience in delivering a cost effective premium credit control solution to the Lloyd’s, Company, Legacy (including discontinued lines), Direct Settlement and MGA markets. Get in touch for a free consultation. 

    The service focuses on improving payment performance through targeted credit control, enhanced data quality through management of EPI’s and management reporting. This is delivered by building extensive working relationships with brokers to understand the factors effecting settlement.

    We are the LMA’s preferred credit control service provider to the Lloyd’s Market.

    Our service solution is flexible to meet our client’s requirements and is delivered through our own bespoke system or using third-party client systems. Get in touch for a free consultation. 

    • Lloyd’s Credit Control

      We have been the LMA’s preferred credit control service provider to the Lloyd’s market since 2013 and currently manage in excess of £8.5bn of premium across 54% of Lloyd’s UMR’s.

      All clients are members of the services Oversight Board which governs the service and is responsible for ensuring key deliverables are achieved and includes our annual service strategy which measures performance against agreed targets in line with our service KPIs. This provides operations information to increase knowledge and awareness to stimulate actions leading to improved payment performance.

      We have a proven track record of enhancing cash flow for our clients and the key deliverables are:

      • A cost effective outsourcing solution
      • A significant improvement in premium collection performance
      • Enhanced data integrity through management of EPI’s
      • Continued data cleansing to ensure complete accuracy of reports
      • Positive balance sheet impact from accelerated cash flow
      • The development and implementation of best practices in relation to the recording, monitoring and collection of premiums
      • Membership of an Oversight Working Group which works towards delivering the Boards ‘Annual Service Strategy’

       

      Free Consultation

    • Legacy and Discontinued Lines

      We stimulate the payment of premiums on client’s legacy years of account, where to date we have realised in excess of £500m of legacy/trapped premium.

      Typically the premium collected does not form part of our client’s debtors as they may not be aware of the premiums owed to them.

      The benefits are:

      • Increased profitability from unbudgeted premium collections
      • Positive balance sheet impact from additional cash flow
      • No risk to our clients – we are only remunerated when successful
      • Improved management of EPI’s

       

      Free Consultation

    • Company Credit Control

      We provide non-bureau and bureau credit control as well as cash reconciliation services to our clients.

      The service is delivered through a solution utilising our in-house systems, third party systems and an experienced team of insurance practitioners to meet client requirements.

      We have a proven track record of enhancing cash flow for our clients and the key deliverables are:

      • A cost effective outsourcing solution
      • A significant improvement in premium collection performance
      • Enhanced data integrity through management of EPI’s
      • Continued data cleansing to ensure complete accuracy of reports
      • Positive balance sheet impact from accelerated cash flow
      • The development and implementation of best practices in relation to the recording, monitoring and collection of premiums

       

      Free Consultation

    • Direct Settlement

      Our direct settlement service designed for service companies is delivered through a solution utilising our in-house systems, third party systems and by an experienced team of insurance practitioners to meet client requirements.

      The service offering is bespoke to our client’s requirements and includes, cash management through bank account reconciliation, cash allocation, credit control and bordereau production.

      We deliver:

      • A cost effective outsourcing solution
      • A significant improvement in premium collection performance
      • Enhanced data integrity through management of EPI’s
      • The development and implementation of best practices in relation to the recording, monitoring and collection of premiums

       

      Free Consultation

    • MGA Direct Settlement

      We provide a complete solution for all administrative MGA processes. Our extensive knowledge of credit control and bordereau management means we are the go to service provider for MGA’s.

      The service captures the full life cycle of the policy from the initial risk capture to the production of a written bordereau and creation and settlement of the paid premium bordereau. We allow the managing agent to focus on growing their business whilst our experienced staff deliver:

      • Credit control of outstanding aged debt, including statementing
      • Cash reconciliation and allocation
      • Written and paid bordereau production

       

      Free Consultation

    • MGA Credit Control

      MGA credit control and bordereau production

      Our team provides a complete solution for all administrative MGA processes. The service captures the full life cycle of a policy; from the initial risk capture to the production of a written bordereau and creation and settlement of the paid premium bordereaux.

       

      Free Consultation

    Meet the team

  • Our global top seventh ranked captive management business provides technical solutions to captives in Europe, the U.S., Latin America, Canada, Asia, Guernsey, Australasia, and the UK.

    Our operation was initially formed in Bermuda over 40 years ago and we have expanded to cover all U.S. domiciles as well as the Cayman Islands.

    Our team delivers full service captive capabilities including feasibility studies, incorporation services, reinsurance and insurance advice, full ongoing management services, exit solutions and the Captive Syndicate at Lloyds.

    We create solutions for clients’ specific insurance requirements. Our vast experience and network of contacts in the industry enables us to create the right solution for our clients whether it be captive or rent-a captive/segregated account and also determine the risks and layers that should be retained.

    We are able to assist our clients in finding fronting and reinsurance partners as well as leading third party service providers in the industry including claims providers, actuaries, letter of credit and trust providers, investment advisors, bankers and legal advisors.

    As well as captives, we manage a number of commercial insurers and reinsurers.

    • Rent-a-captive

      Rent-a-captive is a facility whereby a client (sponsor) ‘rents’ the capital of a registered insurer to underwrite insurance business.
      No risk is retained in the rent-a-captive facility therefore all risks must be fully collateralized by premium, additional capital contributions, reinsurance or letters of credit.

      Benefits:

      • Segregated account for a client’s stand-alone insurance program
      • Underwriting profits determined by own loss experience
      • No pooling of risks with other segregated accounts
      • Robust legislation ensures that one account cannot attach to the assets and liabilities of another account

       

      Common uses:

      • Single line deductible reimbursement
      • Medical stop loss
      • Single parent risks that are too small for stand-alone captive

    • Programme design

      We have significant experience and expertise in the formation of captives. We design programs that provide for the most cost effective coverage for your insurance needs, taking into account the capital available and your appetite for risk.

      We provide independent and unbiased advice on the potential program and coordinate the consultants needed to perform the analysis and make the application submission to the domiciliary regulatory authority.

      This includes:

      Feasibility Analysis – we bring together a team of professional consultants, including actuaries and lawyers, to provide an analysis on the feasibility of the proposed underwriting and advise on the structure, financing and regulatory requirements.

      Coordination of Service Providers – we coordinate the service providers’ work to complete the application for submission to the Insurance Regulator.

      Submission to the Insurance Regulator – we are available to the Insurance Regulator to guide the application through the process to ultimate approval.

      Implementation – we coordinate the activities required to get the approved captive up and running, from initial meetings to drafting bye-laws, policy wordings, opening bank accounts and appointing on-going service providers and directors and officers.

    • Reinsurance solutions

      Through our fully licensed Bermuda broker and UK domiciled Lloyd’s Broker, we can access the Bermuda Reinsurance Market which is among the top three Reinsurance Markets in the world along with London and the USA.

      We also have a number of strategic alliances through Brokers that give us access to all the world markets.

      This enables us to:

      • Place reinsurance coverage on an excess of loss or quota share basis.
      • Place reinsurance coverage on an aggregate basis.
      • Access the most appropriate markets to ensure the best coverage at the most affordable price.

    Captive Management Team

  • Our Lloyd’s Managing Agent Asta, has extensive experience of launching and managing a variety of businesses at Lloyd’s, and we can now provide the same range of expertise and services to new and established Captive Owners and their Managers to help them achieve greater consistency and control over their risk management strategy.

    We achieve this by establishing a Captive Syndicate at Lloyd’s which offers, licensed paper, reduced reliance on fronting partners and competitive fees. It’s a highly effective alternative for Captive Owners to diversify their risk financing, reduce collateral requirements and minimise costs.

    The flexible platform provided by a Lloyd’s Captive Syndicate could suit any Captive writing First Party or related Third Party risks – from the large blue-chip to the smaller privately owned Captive – with multi-national risk exposure and seeking a cost-effective alternative to fronting, more control over its working insurance layers, and reduced tax and regulatory risk.

    A Captive Syndicate at Lloyd’s offers a UK domiciled and regulated Captive (re)insurance solution to common pain points experienced by both

    Captive Owners and their Managers:

    • UK domiciled and regulated Captive (re)insurance solution at Lloyd’s, offering stability and security.
    • Access to Lloyd’s global license network giving direct insurance access in over 80 countries.
    • Cost efficient relative to other Captive domiciles, depending on insured geography and current fronting fees.
    • Flexibility to accommodate fronting in territories where Lloyd’s is unlicensed.
    • A Captive Syndicate can write both first party and related third party risks and sets their own coverage, retentions and wording.
    • Reduced reliance on fronting arrangements means a Captive Syndicate has more control over risk appetite, ensuring captives have continuity of cover
    • Captive Syndicates share the financial strength rating of the Lloyd’s market:
      • AA- Fitch, A + S&P, A A.M Best
      • Resulting in lower collateral requirements where fronting arrangements are required
      • Meeting internal insurance purchasing risk appetites
      • Solvency II compliant.

    Meet the team

  • Our Reinsurance Project Services has gained an unrivalled reputation for providing services to the Lloyd’s, London and international insurance markets since 2007.  We have successfully assisted over 15 carriers in the UK and overseas market to deliver their reinsurance TOM, supporting them through their reinsurance software transition. We have worked on the majority of reinsurance products utilised in the industry.

    In the constantly changing world of reinsurance, we supply experienced technical resource to support the business. Our services include data validation in readiness for change, support in respect of full implementation, strengthening, migration and upgrading an existing system.

    • System Implementation

      Full Implementation/Strengthening/Migration/Upgrade

      Our team offers a dedicated service to risk carriers who wish to delegate the implementation, strengthening, migration and/or upgrade of a reinsurance software to a third-party. This delegated approach reduces the impact a project will have on the clients own resource, by allowing the continuation of daily BAU roles.

      We will deliver:

      • Business justification and scoping phases
      • Mapping and coding tasks
      • Contract loading/contract review
      • UAT
      • Scenario testing
      • Financial reconciliation

    • Portfolio Strengthening & Peer Reviews

      Peer Review

      We offer a third party peer review of data held on reinsurance software, this provides clients with an independent review for internal business controls. Examples of peer reviews as follows:

      • Contract set up on outwards reinsurance systems
      • Claim recovery results on outwards reinsurance systems

    • BAU Resource

      BAU Surge Resource

      The success of deploying in-sourced project resource depends upon a deep working knowledge and the ability to adapt and integrate. We supply experienced personnel to support ceded reinsurance teams in areas such as:

      • Outwards reinsurance processing
      • Technical accounting activity

      Utilising surge resource, leaves the incumbent staff to continue with their daily roles.

    • Health Check

      Pre Migration Health Check

      In our experience prior to any migration, the key to a smooth transition lies in preparation. Most delays are caused by issues with existing data. Be that ceding data, coding or inaccuracies within the RI results themselves. A review would validate data requirements pre system conversion and could be done months before an implementation start date.

      Examples of validations are

      • Confirming source data
      • Coding requirements (may need to map to a single source)
      • Standardising free text information
      • Incomplete records (manual spreadsheets for example not being maintained).

    Meet the team

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Chris Butcher, Executive Chairman - Intermediary & Market Services

Insurance Services team

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