Agora receives ‘in principle’ approval to establish full syndicate
Asta, the leading third-party managing agent at Lloyd’s, today announces it has received “in principle” approval from the Lloyd’s Franchise Board to establish and manage Agora syndicate 3268.
In 2015, Asta and leading marine insurance provider Skuld announced the launch of Special Purpose Arrangement (SPA) 6126, specialising in the property direct & facultative, binder and treaty markets. After two successful years of business, the Lloyd’s Franchise Board has approved the transition of SPA 6126 into a syndicate.
Asta expects the syndicate to commence underwriting on or after 1 January 2018. Syndicate 3268 has planned gross premium of £98m for 2018 and its active underwriter will be Mike Pritchard, who has served as chairman and CEO of SPA 6126 since its creation. He has more than 30 years of industry experience and a successful track record in the syndicate’s specialist classes.
Agora syndicate 3268 will continue to underwrite property business with a focus on direct & facultative, binders and treaty business worldwide. It will be privately capitalised by a number of well-known industry players.
Asta CEO Julian Tighe said: “Over the past two years, Agora has developed an exceptional reputation in the market as an underwriter-driven and owned business. Mike and his team of experienced and skilled underwriters have developed a profitable and diversified book of business. We look forward to continuing to work alongside Mike and all his team as they take this next step in the evolution to become an independent syndicate.”
Agora CEO Mike Pritchard added: “I am very pleased to confirm that we will be fulfilling our long-term ambition of transitioning Agora from an SPA into a syndicate. Over the past two years we have grown from strength to strength and built a robust and diversified book of business with the hard work of all the team and the support of Skuld, all our capital partners, and managing agent Asta. I am pleased with the confidence that Lloyd’s has demonstrated in us and our business plan and look forward to the prospect of continuing the Agora story in 2018.”
For further information, please contact:
Haggie Partners
Damian Beeley
Tel: + 44 20 7562 4444
Damian.beeley@haggie.co.uk
Samantha Whiteley
Tel: + 44 20 7562 4444
Samantha.whiteley@haggie.co.uk
Notes for Editors
About Asta
Asta Capital Limited is the parent company of:
- Asta Insurance Markets Ltd
- Asta Managing Agency Ltd
- Asta Insurance Services Ltd
- Asta Management Services Ltd
- Asta Underwriting Management Ltd
Asta Managing Agency Ltd is the leading third party managing agent at Lloyd’s and is responsible for nine syndicates with capacity under management in 2017 of approximately UK£1bn:
Syndicate 1729 (Dale Underwriting Partners)
Syndicate 1897 (Skuld), SPA 6126
Syndicate 2357 (Nephila)
Syndicate 2525 (DL Dale & Others)
Syndicate 2689 (Verto)
Syndicate 2786 (Everest)
Syndicate 4242 (ICAT), SPA 6123 (ICAT)
Syndicate 5886 (Blenheim)
MGAs
Asta Underwriting Management Limited (AUML) launched in 2015, making the skills, experience and capabilities behind Asta’s success as the leading third party managing agency at Lloyd’s available, for the first time, to the MGA market.
MGAs under management:
- Pelican Underwriting Management
- OverArk Limited