Over 300 years ago Lloyd’s began in Edward Lloyd’s coffee house as a place where ship-owners could meet people with capital to insure them. Since then, Lloyd’s has grown from its marine insurance base to become the world’s leading market for specialist property and casualty insurance, covering some of the world’s largest, most complicated and unique risks.
Today, Lloyd’s remains a face-to-face market, with all the dynamism and innovation that a market generates. Like any market, it enables those with something to sell – underwriters providing insurance coverage – to make contact with those who want to buy – brokers, working on behalf of their clients who are seeking insurance. We gain our strength from the diversity of managing agents who choose to operate here, backed by capital from diverse sources around the world.
The Underwriting Room is central to the smooth running of the Lloyd’s subscription market, where large and complex risks can be shared between market participants. We offer a range of distribution channels that allow managing agents to access specialist businesses.
Together, the syndicates underwriting at Lloyd’s form one of the world’s largest commercial insurers, and a leading reinsurer. As at 31 December 2008 our market was home to 51 managing agents and 80 syndicates.
However, more important than sheer size is the breadth and depth of specialist broking and underwriting expertise, brought together under one roof at Lloyd’s. That’s why we’re often the first to insure new, unusual and complex risks.
Risks aren’t confined by oceans, borders or boundaries, so neither is the Lloyd’s market. Our global reach is balanced by local knowledge.
Lloyd’s accepts business from over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Our 80 licences, supported by a network of local offices, ensures access to insurance markets large and small.
