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Syndicate 1985
Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended
Contents
Directors and administration .................................................................................................. 1
Active Underwriter’s report .................................................................................................... 2
Managing Agent's report ....................................................................................................... 3
Statement of Managing Agent's responsibilities .................................................................. 10
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Syndicate 1985 ........................................ 11
Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income .............................................. 15
Statement of financial position ............................................................................................ 17
Statement of changes in Members' balances ...................................................................... 19
Statement of cash flows ...................................................................................................... 20
1. Basis of preparation ..................................................................................................... 21
2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements ............................................................. 22
3. Significant accounting policies ..................................................................................... 23
4. Analysis of underwriting result...................................................................................... 30
5. Technical provisions .................................................................................................... 33
6. Net operating expenses ............................................................................................... 34
7. Auditor’s remuneration ................................................................................................. 34
8. Key management personnel compensation ................................................................. 35
9. Staff numbers and costs .............................................................................................. 35
10. Investment return ..................................................................................................... 35
11. Financial Investments ............................................................................................... 36
12. Debtors arising out of direct insurance operations .................................................... 39
13. Debtors arising out of reinsurance operations .......................................................... 39
14. Other debtors ........................................................................................................... 40
15. Creditors arising out of direct insurance operations .................................................. 40
16. Creditors arising out of reinsurance operations ......................................................... 40
17. Other creditors .......................................................................................................... 40
18. Cash and cash equivalents....................................................................................... 41
19. Related parties ......................................................................................................... 42
20. Disclosure of interests .............................................................................................. 42
21. Funds at Lloyd's ....................................................................................................... 43
22. Off-balance sheet items ............................................................................................ 43
23. Risk management .................................................................................................... 44
24. Post balance sheet events........................................................................................ 57
1
Directors and administration
Managing Agent
Directors
P A Jardine (Chairman)*
R P Barke
C V Barley
S Bradbury
E M Catchpole*
S Fisher*
L Harfitt
D B Jones
L J M McMaster
A F J Neden*
S D Redmond*
K Shah*
Non-Executive Directors*
Managing Agent's registered office
5th Floor
20 Gracechurch Street
London
EC3V 0BG
Managing Agent's registered number
1918744
Active Underwriter
R A Boyd
Bankers and investment managers
Barclays
Royal Bank of Canada
Citibank
Registered Auditor
Forvis Mazars LLP
Signing Actuary
Forvis Mazars LLP
2
Active Underwriter’s report
Flux Syndicate 1985 has completed its 2nd year of underwriting and has provided capital
providers in 2025 with a meaningful year three growth opportunity, building on the back of
excellent performance and progress against our key objectives of:
•
Providing a single conduit to the diversified, low volatility and profitable Acrisure agency
distribution and underwriting network.
•
Bringing new accretive business to the London market which has a differentiated
risk/reward profile from other Syndicates.
• Providing our investors with a strong risk adjusted and diversifying return on capital
generated from a unique distribution portfolio.
We close the 2024 YOA with an Ultimate GWP of £150.3m with a forecast Net Combined Ratio
of 89.9% (91.1% booked NCOR which includes a prudency margin of 2.2%). This is an
improvement on our final Approved 2024 SBF of 93.4%. Portfolio composition by class of
business was as planned and is characterised by high diversification, low average line size
and limited natural catastrophe exposure.
The strategy continues to be development of routes to market in accessing the highly sought
after and unique Acrisure retail, wholesale and reinsurance portfolio. Having made faster than
expected progress on accessing the core retail business in 2023 & 2024, we are projecting
2025 GWP of £250m and an NCOR of 90.79%. This is growth of 74% on the 2024 GWP and
ahead of the original 5-year plan that assumed 2025 GWP of around £200m. This accelerated
growth is testament to the success of our first two years and progress made in strategically
partnering with strategic carriers accessing the core retail portfolio of the Acrisure distribution
network.
Acrisure provides insurance services to 1 in 20 small businesses in the United States
amounting to over one million customers and is the fastest growing insurance brokerage in
insurance industry history with over $35bn in premium now placed into the insurance market.
Flux has unparalleled preferred access to this business and will continue in 2025 to tailor a
diversified, profitable and sustainable portfolio for our investors and the London market. We
continue to experience strong levels of support throughout the Acrisure organisation and Flux’s
partnership with Acrisure represents an increasingly important strategic pillar for their
corporate strategy.
Flux receives direct capital support to the syndicate from Acrisure alongside a panel of Lloyd’s
private capital members, institutional funds and trade capital. The Flux teams appreciate the
continued support of our capital providers and look forward to continuing to work with you and
new investors as we develop this new and exciting innovation to the market.
3
Managing Agent's report
The Syndicate's Managing Agent is a company registered in England and Wales. The
Directors of the Managing Agent present their report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The financial statements herein have been prepared using the annual basis of accounting as
required by Statutory Instrument No 1950 of 2008, The Insurance Accounts Directive (Lloyd's
Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008 (“Lloyds Regulations 2008”).
Results
The result for calendar year 2024 is a profit of $6,683,000 (2023: Loss of $214,640).
The Syndicate presents its results under FRS102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable
in the UK and Republic of Ireland. In accordance with FRS102, the Syndicate has identified its
insurance contracts and accounted for them in accordance with FRS103 Insurance Contracts.
Principal activity and review of the business
The Syndicate’s principal activity is the underwriting of direct insurance and reinsurance
business in the Lloyd’s market.
A further review is included in the Active Underwriter’s report on page 2.
Gross written premium income by class of business for the calendar year was as follows:
2024
$’000
2023
$’000
Accident & Health 221 -
Casualty 155,437 65,186
Marine 1,439 2,066
Property 12,492 2,945
Specialty 29,648 22,147
199,237 92,344
The Syndicate's financial key performance indicators during the year were as follows:
2024
$’000
2023
$’000
Gross premiums written 199,237 92,344
Profit / (Loss) for the financial year 6,683 (215)
Combined ratio* 94.1% 101.2%
*The combined ratio is the ratio of net claims incurred and net operating expenses to net
premiums earned in the calendar year. Lower ratios represent better performance.
4
Managing Agent’s report continued
The performance of the Syndicate has been assessed by measuring, as a percentage of
underwriting capacity, the 36-month forecasted result on a funded accounting basis for an
individual underwriting year of account (“YOA”). The return on capacity for each underwriting
year is shown below.
2024 YOA
Open
2023 YOA
Open
Capacity ($’000) 158,334 107,053
Forecast result ($’000) 16,303 13,364
Forecast return on capacity (%) 10.3% 12.5%
5
Managing Agent’s report continued
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Syndicate sets risk appetite annually, which is approved by the Agency as part of the
Syndicate’s business planning and Solvency Capital Requirement (“SCR”) process. The
Agency Risk and Solvency Committee meets at least quarterly to oversee the risk
management framework. The Syndicate Board, a sub-committee of the Agency Board,
reviews the risk profile as reflected in the risk register, and monitors performance against risk
appetite using a series of key risk indicators. The principal risk and uncertainties facing the
Syndicate are as follows:
Insurance risk
Insurance risk includes the risks that a policy will be written for too low a premium or provide
inappropriate cover (underwriting risk), that the frequency or severity of insured events will be
higher than expected (claims risk), or that estimates of claims subsequently prove to be
insufficient (reserving risk). The Syndicate Board and Underwriting Committee manages
insurance risk through challenge and oversight of the approved business plan, which sets out
targets for volumes, pricing, line sizes and retention by class of business. The Syndicate
Board then monitors performance against the business plan and the aggregation of risk
through exposure management reporting through the year. The Syndicate Board considers
any proposed underwriting that impacts the Syndicate’s Environmental, Social and
Governance (“ESG”) profile to ensure consistency with the agreed ESG approach. Reserve
adequacy is monitored through quarterly review by the Asta Actuarial team and the Reserving
Committee.
Credit risk
The key aspect of credit risk is reinsurance counterparty risk which is the risk of default by one
or more of the Syndicate’s reinsurers and intermediaries. The Syndicate’s policy is to only use
approved reinsurers, supported by collateralisation where required. The Agency Reinsurance
Security Committee sets approval and usage criteria, monitors reinsurer ratings and is required
to approve and oversee the application of the reinsurer approval policy. The Syndicate may
also be exposed to broker credit risk, in particular where risk transfer arrangements are in
place. Aged debt reporting for premiums is reviewed in the Syndicate Board.
6
Managing Agent’s report continued
Market risk
Market risk exposure impacting the Syndicate relates to fluctuations in interest rates or
exchange rates and inflation. The Syndicate is exposed to foreign exchange movements as
a result of mismatches between the currencies in which assets and liabilities are denominated.
The Agency’s policy is to maintain received income or incurred expenditure in the core
currencies in which they were received or paid. Any surplus or deficit in a core currency would
be subject to review by the Syndicate Board.
Investments are monitored quarterly with the Syndicate Board that review the performance,
duration and ESG ratings for the investments.
Liquidity risk
This is the risk that the Syndicate will not be able to meet its liabilities as they fall due, owing
to a shortfall in cash or can only meet obligations at excessive cost. To mitigate this risk the
Syndicate Board reviews cash flow projections regularly and ensures that, where needed, the
Syndicate has liquidity facilities in place or has utilised the option of a cash call from Capital
providers.
The Syndicate has in place a trade loan facility and working capital facility with Barclays which
are not currently utilised.
Operational risk
This is the risk that errors caused by people, processes, systems and external events lead to
losses to the Syndicate. The Agency seeks to manage this risk through a robust operational
risk and control framework including detailed procedure manuals and a thorough training
programme. This is underpinned by a structured programme of testing of processes and
systems by internal audit, who serve as an independent line of assurance, reporting directly to
the Chair of the Agency Audit Committee. Business continuity and disaster recovery plans
are in place and are regularly updated and tested.
Regulatory risk is the risk of loss owing to a breach of regulatory requirements or failure to
respond to regulatory change. The Agency is required to comply with the requirements of the
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) and Lloyd’s. Lloyd’s
requirements include those imposed on the Lloyd’s market by overseas regulators. The
Agency has a Compliance and Governance Director who manages a function that monitors
business activity and regulatory developments to assess any effects on both the Agency and
the Syndicate.
The Syndicate has no appetite for failing to adhere to the requirements of the FCA Consumer
Duty regulations and continues its focus on ensuring that it is treating customers fairly. The
Syndicate manages and monitors consumer duty risk through a suite of risk indicators and
reporting metrics as part of its documented consumer duty risk framework. The consumer duty
risk framework is consistently applied across all Asta syndicates and is overseen by the
Conduct Oversight Group (COG), which is an Agency Board Committee that includes a non-
executive director as a member who fulfils the role of Consumer Duty Champion.
7
Managing Agent’s report continued
Group and strategic risk
Group Risk is the risk of contagion that arises from being associated with key stakeholders
and the impact that activities and events that occur within other connected or third parties has
on the business.
Strategic risk covers the risks faced by the Syndicate due to changes in underlying strategy of
the business or that of its key stakeholders (including strategic conflicts of interest).
Future developments
The Syndicate will continue to transact the current classes of general direct insurance and
reinsurance business. If opportunities arise to write new classes of business, these will be
investigated at the appropriate time.
The capacity for the 2025 underwriting year is $283.6m (2024 underwriting year: $158.3m).
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability
The Syndicate has documented a position with regard to ESG and sustainability, which is
submitted annually to Lloyd’s as part of business planning. The position has been developed
in alignment with Lloyd’s principles and expectations, broader regulatory requirements, and to
support the Syndicate’s strategic objectives. Lloyd’s published an updated version of its
“Insuring the Transition” Roadmap as well as its principles for doing business regarding
sustainability, and the Syndicate continues to ensure its approach aligns with those
expectations.
Following the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) Supervisory Statement in 2019 and
subsequent Dear CEO letter in 2020, Asta have built a climate change framework, applicable
to all syndicates, covering physical, transition and liability climate change risks, based on the
underlying business written by each syndicate. Asta’s managed syndicates accept climate
change risk where it is an inherent part of an insurance business model, providing it is
understood, managed, and controlled and/or compensated. There is no appetite for
uncontrolled, unmanaged exposure to the financial risks of climate change.
The framework ensures Board-level engagement and accountability with Lloyd’s and PRA’s
requirements and expectations, assigning clear responsibilities for managing the financial risks
associated with climate change. The Agency’s Chief Risk Officer, who is a Board member, is
responsible for the climate change framework, including identifying and managing financial
climate related risks.
Asta monitors regulatory guidance and expectations on managing the financial risks of climate
change.
8
Managing Agent’s report continued
Emerging risks
An emerging risk or opportunity is defined as “a developing issue, triggered externally, with
the potential to have a significant business impact but which may not be sufficiently understood
or accounted for”. The business impact in this case could represent a downside risk or an
upside opportunity. Emerging risks and opportunities include:
•
Syndicate insurable risks, as areas of potential future losses or new product offerings;
•
Those risks that may affect a syndicate’s ability to carry out normal business operations
and/or lead to unplanned significant costs/income;
•
Both new risks and those which are re-emerging in a new context.
The Agency and Syndicate continue to monitor the impact of emerging risks on the Syndicate’s
business, taking into account their impacts on the strategic direction of the Syndicate.
Monitoring takes place in various forums, including the Asta Emerging Risks and Opportunities
Group (“EROG”) which meets quarterly and considers emerging risks and opportunities from
both an internal and external lens. Specific areas of focus over the external environment
across the year at Syndicate and Asta level include:
•
The geopolitical landscape from a tension and broader political risk impact, including
any exposures stemming from regional conflicts (e.g. Russia - Ukraine conflict).
• The heightened inflationary environment and subsequent volatility surrounding inflation
risk. This has also been considered by the Syndicate within their annual business
planning process and reserve reviews.
Directors
Details of the Directors and officers of the Managing Agent that were serving at the date of
signing these financial statements are provided on page 1. Changes to Directors from the last
report were as follows:
K A Green Resigned 30 September 2024
A F J Neden Appointed 1 January 2025
S Fisher Appointed 1 February 2025
9
Managing Agent’s report continued
Disclosure of information to the auditor
So far as each person who was a Director of the Managing Agent at the date of approving the
report is aware, there is no relevant audit information, being information needed by the
Syndicate auditor in connection with the auditor's report, of which the auditor is unaware.
Having made enquiries of fellow Directors of the Agency and the Syndicate's auditors, each
Director has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken as a Director to become
aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Syndicate's auditor is aware
of that information.
Independent Auditor
The Managing Agent intends to reappoint Forvis Mazars LLP as the Syndicate’s auditor.
Syndicate Annual General Meeting
In accordance with the Syndicate Meetings (Amendment No 1) Byelaw (No 18 of 2000) the
Managing Agent does not propose holding an annual meeting this year; objections to this
proposal or the intention to reappoint the auditors for a further 12 months can be made by
Syndicate members within 21 days of this notice.
On behalf of the Board
Director
06 March 2025
10
Statement of Managing Agent's responsibilities
The Managing Agent is responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with
applicable law and regulations.
The Insurance Accounts Directive (Lloyd's Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations
2008 require the managing agent to prepare financial statements at 31 December each year
in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom
Accounting Standards and applicable law) including FRS 102 “the Financial Reporting
Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” and FRS 103 “Insurance Contracts”.
The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs
of the Syndicate as at that date and of its profit or loss for that year.
In preparing the financial statements, the managing agent is required to:
•
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently subject to changes
arising on the adoption of new accounting standards in the year;
•
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
• state whether applicable Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any
material departures disclosed and explained in the notes to the Syndicate accounts;
and
•
prepare the Syndicate Accounts on the basis that the Syndicate will continue to write
future business unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Syndicate will do so.
The Managing Agent is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose
with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Syndicate and enable it to
comply with the Insurance Accounts Directive (Lloyd's Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts)
Regulations 2008. It is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Syndicate and
hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other
irregularities.
The Managing Agent is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and
financial information included on the business' website. Legislation in the United Kingdom
governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation
in other jurisdictions.
The Managing Agent is responsible for the preparation and review of the iXBRL tagging that
has been applied to the Syndicate Accounts in accordance with the instructions issued by
Lloyd’s, including designing, implementing and maintaining systems, processes and internal
controls to result in tagging that is free from material non-compliance with the instructions,
whether due to fraud or error.
11
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Syndicate 1985
Opinion
We have audited the syndicate annual accounts of Syndicate 1985 (the “syndicate”) for the year ended
31 December 2024 which comprise the Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income,
the Statement of financial position, the Statement of changes in Members’ balances, the Statement of
cash flows, and notes to the syndicate annual accounts, including a summary of significant accounting
policies.
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United
Kingdom Accounting Standards, including The Syndicate accounts instructions Version V2.0 as
modified by the Frequently Asked Questions Version V1.1 issued by Lloyd’s (the “Lloyd’s Syndicate
Accounts Instructions”, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic
of Ireland” and FRS 103 “Insurance Contracts” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting
Practice).
In our opinion the syndicate annual accounts:
• give a true and fair view of the state of the syndicate’s affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of
its profit for the year then ended;
• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted
Accounting Practice; and
•
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of The Insurance Accounts Directive
(Lloyd’s Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008 and the requirements within
Lloyd’s Syndicate Accounts Instructions.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)), The
Insurance Accounts Directive (Lloyd’s Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008, the
Lloyd’s Syndicate Accounts Instructions and other applicable law. Our responsibilities under those
standards are further described in the “Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the syndicate annual
accounts” section of our report. We are independent of the syndicate in accordance with the ethical
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the syndicate annual accounts in the UK, including the
FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to other entities of public interest, and we have fulfilled our other
ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we
have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Other matter – iXBRL tagging
In forming our opinion on the syndicate annual accounts, which is not modified, we draw attention to the
fact that this report may be included within a document to which iXBRL tagging has been applied. This
auditors’ report provides no assurance over whether the iXBRL tagging has been applied in accordance
with the Lloyd’s Syndicate Accounts Instructions.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the syndicate annual accounts, we have concluded that the Managing Agent’s use of the
going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the syndicate annual accounts is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to
events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the syndicate's ability
to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the syndicate annual
accounts are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Managing Agent with respect to going concern are
described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Syndicate Annual Report and Accounts,
other than the syndicate annual accounts and our auditor’s report thereon. The Managing Agent is
12
Independent auditor’s report continued
responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the syndicate annual accounts does not cover the
other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express
any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other
information is materially inconsistent with the syndicate annual accounts or our knowledge obtained in
the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material
inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives
rise to a material misstatement in the syndicate annual accounts. If, based on the work we have
performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required
to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by The Insurance Accounts Directive
(Lloyd’s Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
•
the information given in the Managing Agent’s Report for the financial year for which the
syndicate annual accounts are prepared is consistent with the syndicate annual accounts; and
•
the Managing Agent’s Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal
requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the syndicate and its environment obtained in the course
of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Managing Agent’s Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which The Insurance Accounts
Directive (Lloyd’s Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you, if
in our opinion:
•
the Managing Agent in respect of the syndicate has not kept adequate accounting records; or
• the syndicate annual accounts are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
• certain disclosures of the Managing Agent’s remuneration specified by law are not made; or
•
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of the Managing Agent
As explained more fully in the Statement of Managing Agent’s Responsibilities set out on page 10, the
Managing Agent is responsible for the preparation of the syndicate annual accounts and for being
satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Managing Agent
determines is necessary to enable the preparation of the syndicate annual accounts that are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the syndicate annual accounts, the Managing Agent is responsible for assessing the
syndicate’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going
concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Managing Agent either intends for
the syndicate to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the syndicate annual accounts
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the syndicate annual accounts as a
whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report
that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that
an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it
exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on
the basis of the syndicate annual accounts.
13
Independent auditor’s report continued
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed
below.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design
procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect
of irregularities, including fraud.
Based on our understanding of the syndicate and its industry, we considered that non-compliance with
the following laws and regulations might have a material effect on the syndicate annual accounts:
regulatory and supervisory requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority (‘PRA’), the Financial
Conduct Authority, and regulations set by the Council of Lloyd’s and the data protection act.
To help us identify instances of non-compliance with these laws and regulations, and in identifying and
assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect to non-compliance, our procedures included,
but were not limited to:
• Gaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the syndicate and
the industry in which it operates, and considering the risk of acts by the syndicate which were
contrary to the applicable laws and regulations, including fraud;
•
Inquiring of directors and management of the Managing Agent and the syndicate’s management
as to whether the syndicate is in compliance with laws and regulations, and discussing their
policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations;
• Inspecting correspondence, if any, with relevant licensing or regulatory authorities including the
PRA, FCA and the Council of Lloyd’s;
•
Reviewing minutes of meetings of the Managing Agent in the year; and
• Discussing amongst the engagement team the laws and regulations listed above, and
remaining alert to any indications of non-compliance.
We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the preparation of the
syndicate annual accounts such as: United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, The
Insurance Accounts Directive (Lloyd’s Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008, and the
Lloyd’s Syndicate Accounts Instructions.
In addition, we evaluated the directors’ and management of the Managing Agent’s and the syndicate
management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the syndicate annual
accounts, including the risk of management override of controls and determined that the principal risks
related to posting manual journal entries to manipulate financial performance, management bias through
judgements and assumptions in significant accounting estimates, in particular in relation to the
provisions for the claims outstanding, specifically IBNR, estimation of premium income and earnings
pattern, revenue recognition (cut off assertion) and significant one-off or unusual transactions.
Our audit procedures in relation to fraud included but were not limited to:
•
Making enquiries of the directors and management of the Managing Agent and syndicate
management on whether they had knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;
•
Gaining an understanding of the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud;
•
Discussing amongst the engagement team the risks of fraud;
•
Addressing the risks of fraud through management override of controls by performing journal
entry testing;
•
Reviewing the accounting estimate in relation to valuation of insurance liabilities for evidence
of management bias and performing procedures to respond to the fraud risk in revenue
recognition; and
14
Independent auditor’s report continued
• Designing audit procedures to incorporate unpredictability around nature, timing or extent of our
testing.
The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities, including fraud, rests with
both those charged with governance and management.
As with any audit, there remained a risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion,
forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities
.
This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of the audit report
This report is made solely to the syndicate’s members as a body in accordance with The Insurance
Accounts Directive (Lloyd’s Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has
been undertaken so that we might state to the syndicate’s members those matters we are required to
state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we
do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the syndicate and the syndicate’s members,
as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Cece Jakimovska (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Forvis Mazars LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor
London
Date:
06-03-2025
15
Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income
Technical account – general business
For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Notes | 2024 $’000 | 2023 $’000 |
| Gross premiums written 4 | | |
| Outward reinsurance premiums | ( | ( |
| Premiums written, net of reinsurance | | |
| Changes in unearned premium | ||
| Change in the gross provision for unearned premiums | ( | ( |
Change in the provision for unearned premiums reinsurers’ share | | |
| Net change in provisions for unearned premiums 5 | ( | ( |
| Earned premiums, net of reinsurance 5 | | |
Allocated investment return transferred from the non-technical account 10 | | |
| Other technical income, net of reinsurance | ||
| Claims paid | ||
| Gross amount 5 | ( | ( |
| Reinsurers’ share 5 | | |
| Net claims paid | ( | ( |
| Changes in the provision for claims | ||
| Gross amount 5 | ( | ( |
| Reinsurers’ share | | |
| Net change in provisions for claims 5 | ( | ( |
| Claims incurred, net of reinsurance | ( | ( |
| Net operating expenses 6 | ( | ( |
Balance on the technical account – general business | | ( |
All the amounts above are in respect of continuing operations.
The notes on pages 21 to 57 form part of these financial statements.
16
Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income continued
Non-technical account – general business
For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Notes | 2024 $’000 | 2023 $’000 |
Balance on the technical account – general business | ( | |
| Investment income 10 | | |
| Realised gains on investments 10 | | |
| Unrealised gains on investments 10 | | |
| Investment expenses and charges 10 | | |
| Total investment return | | |
Allocated investment return transferred to the general business technical account | ( | ( |
Gain on foreign exchange | | |
| Profit/(loss) for the financial year | ( |
There were no recognised gains and losses in the year other than those reported in the
statement of profit or loss, and hence no statement of other comprehensive income has been
presented.
All the amounts above are in respect of continuing operations.
The notes on pages 21 to 57 form part of these financial statements.
17
Statement of financial position
As at 31 December 2024
Notes
2024
$’000
2023
$’000
Assets
Investments
Financial investments 11 31,933 1,178
Deposits with ceding undertakings - -
Reinsurers' share of technical provisions
Provision for unearned premiums 5 13,849 7,303
Claims outstanding 5 3,868 913
Debtors
Debtors arising out of direct insurance operations 12 38,647 17,020
Debtors arising out of reinsurance operations 13 111,661 46,363
Other debtors 14 550 119
Other assets
Cash at bank and in hand 18 6,416 2,763
Other 1,002 221
Prepayments and accrued income
Deferred acquisition costs 5 29,081 13,180
Other prepayments and accrued income 3,514 1,709
Total assets 240,521 90,769
The notes on pages 21 to 57 form part of these financial statements.
18
Statement of financial position continued
As at 31 December 2024
Notes | 2024 $’000 | 2023 $’000 |
Members’ balance and liabilities | ||
| Capital and reserves | ||
Members’ balances | ( | |
| ( | ||
| Technical provisions | ||
| Provision for unearned premiums 5 | | |
Claims outstanding 5 | | |
| | ||
| Creditors | ||
| Creditors arising out of direct insurance operations 15 | | |
Creditors arising out of reinsurance operations 16 | | |
Amounts owed to credit institutions 18 | | |
| Other creditors including taxation and social security 17 & 19 | | |
| | ||
Accruals and deferred income | | |
Total liabilities | | |
| Total liabilities, capital and reserves | |
The notes on pages 21 to 57 form part of these financial statements.
The financial statements on pages 15 to 20 were approved by Board of Directors on 25
February 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
R P Barke
Director
06 March 2025
19
Statement of changes in Members' balances
For the year ended 31 December 2024
2024 $’000 | 2023 $’000 | |
Members’ balances brought forward at 1 January | ( | |
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year | ( | |
Payments of profit to members’ personal reserve funds | | |
Losses collected on closure of underwriting year | | |
Cash calls on open underwriting years | | |
Members agent fees | ( | ( |
Net movement on funds in syndicate | | |
Other | | |
| Members’ balances carried forward at 31 December | | ( |
Members participate on Syndicates by reference to years of account (YOA) and their
ultimate result, assets and liabilities are assessed with reference to policies incepting in that
year of account in respect of their membership of a particular year.
20
Statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 December 2024
Notes | 2024 $’000 | Restated 2023 $’000 |
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||
| Profit/(loss) for the financial year | ( | |
| Adjustments: | ||
| Increase in gross technical provisions | | |
| (Increase) in reinsurers’ share of technical provisions | ( | ( |
| (Increase) in debtors | ( | ( |
| Increase in creditors | | |
| (Increase) in deposits received from reinsurers | | |
| Movement in other assets/liabilities | ( | ( |
| Foreign exchange | | |
| Investment return | ( | ( |
| Net cash flows from operating activities | ( | |
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||
| Purchase of equity and debt instruments | | |
| Sale of equity and debt instruments | | |
| Investment income received | | |
| Net cash flows from investing activities | | |
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||
| Distribution of profit | | |
| Collection of losses | | |
| Injection of Funds in Syndicate | | |
| Other | ( | |
| Net cash flows from financing activities | ( | |
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year | | |
| Foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents | ( | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 18 | |
21
Notes to the financial statements
1. Basis of preparation
Statement of compliance
Flux Syndicate (“The Syndicate”) comprises a group of members of the Society of Lloyd’s that
underwrites insurance business in the London Market. The address of the Syndicate’s
managing agent is 20 Gracechurch St, London, EC3V 0BG.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with The Insurance Accounts
Directive (Lloyd's Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008, applicable
Accounting Standards in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, including Financial
Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102), Financial Reporting Standard 103 (FRS 103) in relation
to insurance contracts, and the Lloyd’s Syndicate Accounts Instructions Version 2.0 as
modified by the Frequently Asked Questions Version 1.1 issued by Lloyd’s.
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, with the exception
of financial assets which are measured at fair value through the profit and loss account.
The financial statements are presented in USD, the functional currency of the Syndicate is
USD. All amounts have been rounded to the nearest thousand, unless otherwise indicated.
Going Concern
The Directors of the Managing Agent have assessed the Syndicate’s ability to continue as a
going concern. As part of this assessment, the Directors have considered cash flow forecasts,
the availability of financial resources, consistency of loss ratios, credit worthiness of reinsurers,
capital support for the existing underwriting years, business plans for future underwriting years
and availability of future capital support. Following this assessment, the Directors consider it
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and financial
statements for a period of at least twelve months from when the syndicate annual accounts
are authorised for issue.
Restatement of comparative information
During 2024, Lloyd's introduced changes to the syndicate accounts process to rationalise and
standardise financial reporting across the market. As a result, certain comparative information
has been restated to ensure consistency with current year presentation and compliance with
the Lloyd's Syndicate Accounts Instructions. The changes comprise:
•
Reclassification changes
Certain financial statement line items have been reclassified whilst the underlying
amounts remain unchanged. The changes are the reclassification of overseas
deposits, previously shown as a separate balance sheet item, to form part of other
assets on note 11, further reclassifications on note 23, to include debtors arising out of
Direct / Reinsurance operations, Provisions for unearned premiums, Deferred
acquisition costs and other Prepayments and accrued income to show a total asset
position, the split of Other debtors by Debtors arising out of direct / Reinsurance
operations and Other debtors and accrued interest. The reclassification on note 6
shows a change in allocation between Acquisition costs and Deferred acquisition costs
gross and net has been updated. The comparative balances in the notes mentioned
above have been affected.
22
2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In preparing these financial statements, the Directors of the Managing Agent have made
judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of the Syndicate’s
accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses.
The following critical accounting estimates have been made in applying the Syndicate’s
accounting policies:
•
Valuation of claims reserves
The measurement of the provision for claims outstanding involves judgements and
assumptions about the future that have a significant effect on the value recognised in
the financial statements.
The provision for claims outstanding comprises the estimated cost of settling all claims
incurred but unpaid at the balance sheet date, whether reported or not. This is a
judgemental and complex area due to the subjectivity inherent in estimating the impact
of claims events that have occurred but for which the eventual outcome remains
uncertain.
Case estimates are generally set by skilled claims technicians applying their
experience and knowledge to the circumstances of individual claims. Critical
judgement is applied when estimating the value of amounts that should be provided
for claims that have been incurred at the reporting date but have not yet been
reported (IBNR) to the Syndicate. This is a source of significant estimation
uncertainty.
The ultimate cost of outstanding claims is estimated using a range of techniques
including actuarial and statistical projections, benchmarking, case by case review and
judgement. Statistical techniques assume that past claims development experience
can be used as a basis to project ultimate claims costs. Typical methods employed
include, but are not limited to, the chain ladder method and the Bornhuetter-Ferguson
method, whilst plan and pricing loss ratios are also considered.
The reserving process will disaggregate the insured risks into reserving classes –
these are collections of risks of a similar profile. Each reserving class will be
assessed separately, and corresponding claims development patterns will be
selected as bases against which to forecast expected claims. Judgement is used to
assess the extent to which past trends may not apply in the future. When selecting
historic data to use for claims forecasting purposes, the suitability and reliability of the
dataset is considered.
A dataset that most closely resembles the expected risk profile of a given reserving
class will be selected. The benchmark data provided by Lloyd’s is generally used as
reserving development patterns, but these can be substituted by or blended with
additional data, providing that this additional data has an established track record and
is relevant.
Whilst the Directors consider that the claims reserves are fairly stated based on the
information currently available to them, the ultimate liability will vary as a result of
subsequent information and events.
23
Critical accounting estimates and judgments continued
Sensitivities relating to this critical judgement have been assessed in further detail in note 23.
•
Estimated premium income (“EPI”)
For the majority of assumed (inwards) reinsurance policies, EPI is initially used as the
basis for reporting gross premiums written. EPI is a measure of expected premium
income over the life of a policy. These estimates, typically supplied by the cedent, are
judgemental and could result in misstatements of revenue recorded in the financial
statements.
•
Pipeline premium
Pipeline premium relates to premium that has likely been written as at the report date,
but due to reporting delays through the distribution chain, the premium has not yet
been reported to the Syndicate. Reasons for the reporting delay typically revolve
around a natural lag in receiving the premium bordereaux from brokers or coverholders
– bordereaux are generally produced monthly or quarterly in arrears. Pipeline premium
is included within Gross Premiums Written on the statement of profit of loss.
There is significant uncertainty when estimating pipeline premium. Estimates are frequently
based upon information provided by the business producers, or sometimes a statistical
approach is adopted based on past experience. Given that pipeline premium relates to
hypothetical policies that have been bound just before the balance sheet date, the vast majority
of this premium is usually unearned.
3. Significant accounting policies
The following principal accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items
which are considered material in relation to the Syndicate’s financial statements.
Gross premiums
Gross written premiums comprise the total premiums receivable for the whole period of cover
provided by the contracts entered into during the reporting period, regardless of whether these
are wholly due for payment in the reporting period, together with any adjustments arising in
the reporting period to such premiums receivable in respect of business written in prior
reporting periods. They are recognised on the date on which the policy commences. This is
applicable to both direct premium and assured (inwards reinsurance) premium. Gross written
premiums are stated gross of brokerage payable to intermediaries, and exclude taxes and
duties levied on the policyholder.
Ceded reinsurance premiums
Reinsurance written premiums comprise the total premiums payable for the whole cover
provided by contracts entered into the period, including portfolio premiums payable, and are
recognised on the date on which the policy incepts. Premiums include any adjustments arising
in the accounting period in respect of reinsurance contracts incepting in prior accounting
periods. They are recognised on the date on which the policy commences.
24
Significant accounting policies continued
Provisions for unearned premiums
Unearned premiums are those proportions of premiums written up to the reporting date that
relate to periods of risk after the reporting date. In respect of general insurance business,
written premiums are recognised as earned over the period of the policy on a time
apportionment basis having regard where appropriate, to the incidence of risk. The proportion
attributable to subsequent periods is deferred as a provision for unearned premiums.
Unearned reinsurance premiums are those proportions of ceded premiums written up to the
reporting date that relate to periods of risk after the reporting date. Ceded reinsurance
premiums are earned on the same basis as the inwards business being protected.
Claims incurred
Claims incurred comprise claims and claims handling expenses (both internal and external)
paid in the year and the movement in provision for outstanding claims and settlement
expenses processed in the year. The provision for claims comprises amounts set aside for
claims notified and claims incurred, but not yet reported (IBNR). The Syndicate does not
discount its liability for outstanding claims.
The amount included in respect of IBNR is based on statistical techniques of estimation applied
by actuaries. These techniques generally involve projecting from past experience of the
development of claims over time to form a view of the likely ultimate claims to be experienced,
having regard to variations in the business accepted and the underlying terms and conditions.
The provision for claims also includes amounts in respect of internal and external claims
handling costs. For the most recent years, where a high degree of volatility arises from
projections, estimates may be based in part on output from rating and other models of the
business accepted and assessments of underwriting conditions. An element of IBNR can also
relate to specific large losses.
The reinsurers’ share of provisions for claims is based on calculated amounts of outstanding
claims and projections for IBNR, net of estimated irrecoverable amounts, having regard to the
reinsurance programme in place for the class of business and the claims experience for the
year. The Syndicate uses a number of statistical techniques to assist in making these
estimates where relevant.
Accordingly, the two most critical assumptions as regards claims provisions are that the past
is a reasonable predictor of the likely level of claims development and that the rating and other
models used for current business are fair reflections of the likely level of ultimate claims to be
incurred.
The Directors consider that the provisions for gross claims and related reinsurance recoveries
are fairly stated on the basis of the information currently available to them. However, ultimate
liability will vary as a result of subsequent information and events and this may result in
significant adjustments to the amounts provided.
Adjustments to the amounts of claims provisions established in prior years are reflected in the
financial statements for the period in which the adjustments are made. The methods used,
and the estimates made, are reviewed regularly.
25
Significant accounting policies continued
Unexpired risks
A provision for unexpired risks is made where claims and related expenses are likely to arise
after the end of the financial period in respect of contracts concluded before that date, are
expected to exceed the unearned premiums and premiums receivable under these contracts,
after the deduction of any acquisition costs deferred.
The provision for unexpired risks is calculated separately by reference to classes of business
which are managed together.
As at 31 December 2024, the Syndicate had a nil net unexpired risk provision, (2023: nil).
Reinsurance assets
The Syndicate cedes insurance risk in the normal course of business. Reinsurance assets
represent balances due from reinsurance companies. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers
are estimated in a manner consistent with the outstanding claims provision including IBNR or
settled claims associated with the reinsurer's policies and are in accordance with the related
reinsurance contract.
Reinsurance assets are reviewed for impairment at each reporting date, or more frequently if
an indication of impairment arises during the reporting year. Impairment occurs when there is
objective evidence as a result of an event that occurred after initial recognition of the
reinsurance asset that the Syndicate may not receive all outstanding amounts due under the
terms of the contract and the event has a reliably measurable impact on the amounts that the
Syndicate will receive from the reinsurer. The impairment loss is recorded in the statement of
profit or loss.
Gains or losses on buying reinsurance are recognised in the statement of profit or loss
immediately at the date of purchase and are not amortised.
Ceded reinsurance arrangements do not relieve the Syndicate from its obligations to
policyholders.
Acquisition costs
Acquisition costs comprise costs arising from the conclusion of insurance contracts. They
include both direct costs, such as intermediary commissions or the cost of drawing up the
insurance document, and indirect costs, such as the administrative expenses connected with
the processing of proposals and the issuing of policies.
The deferred acquisition cost asset represents the proportion of acquisition costs
corresponding to the proportion of gross premiums written that is unearned at the balance
sheet date. Deferred acquisition costs are amortised over the period in which the related
premiums are earned.
Foreign currencies
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are initially
recorded in the functional currency at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transactions.
Monetary assets and liabilities (which include all assets and liabilities arising from insurance
contracts including unearned premiums and deferred acquisition costs) denominated in foreign
currencies are retranslated into the functional currency at the exchange rate ruling on the
reporting date.
26
Significant accounting policies continued
Foreign exchange differences are recorded in the non-technical account.
The following currency exchange rates have been used for principal foreign currency
transactions:
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
Start of
Period
Rate
End of
Period
Rate
Average
Rate
Start of
Period
Rate
End of
Period
Rate
Average
Rate
GBP
USD
CAD
EUR
Financial assets and liabilities
In applying FRS 102, the Syndicate has chosen to apply the recognition and measurement
provisions of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (as adopted for use
in the UK).
The accounting classification of financial assets and liabilities determines the way in which
they are measured and changes in those values are presented in the statement of profit or
loss and other comprehensive income. Financial assets and liabilities are classified on their
initial recognition.
The initial classification of a financial instrument shall take into account contractual terms
including those relating to future variations. Once the classification of a financial instrument is
determined at initial recognition, reassessment is only required subsequently when there has
been a modification of contractual terms that is relevant to an assessment of the classification.
Financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss comprise financial
assets and financial liabilities held for trading and those designated as such on initial
recognition. Investments in shares and other variable yield securities, units in unit trusts, and
debt and other fixed income securities are designated as at fair value through profit or loss on
initial recognition, as they are managed on a fair value basis in accordance with the
Syndicate’s investment strategy. Other financial assets, principally certain debt and other fixed
income securities are classified as available for sale.
Deposits with credit institutions, debtors, and accrued interest are classified as loans and
receivables.
Financial instruments are recognised when the Syndicate becomes a party to the contractual
provisions of the instrument. Financial assets are derecognised if the Syndicate’s contractual
rights to the cash flows from the financial assets expire or if the Syndicate transfers the
financial asset to another party without retaining control of substantially all risks and rewards
of the asset. A financial liability is derecognised when its contractual obligations are
discharged, cancelled or expired.
27
Significant accounting policies continued
Regular way purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised and derecognised, as
applicable, on the trade date, i.e., the date that the Syndicate commits itself to purchase or sell
the asset.
A financial asset or financial liability is measured initially at fair value plus, for a financial asset
or financial liability not at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs that are directly
attributable to its acquisition or issue.
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are measured at fair value with fair value
changes recognised immediately in profit or loss. Net gains or net losses on financial assets
measured at fair value through profit or loss includes foreign exchange gains/losses arising on
their translation to the functional currency but excludes interest and dividend income.
Financial assets classified as available for sale are initially recognised at fair value, which
typically equates to the cost, plus transaction costs directly attributable to its acquisition. After
initial measurement, these assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Interest earned
whilst holding available for sale financial assets is reported as interest income. Impairment
losses and foreign exchange gains or losses are reported in profit or loss. Other fair value
changes are recognised in other comprehensive income. Any gain or loss recognised in OCI
will be recycled to profit and loss on derecognition of the asset.
Objective evidence that financial assets are impaired includes observable data that comes to
the attention of the Syndicate about any significant financial difficulty of the issuer, or significant
changes in the technological, market, economic or legal environment in which the issuer
operates.
Impairment losses on available for sale financial assets are recognised by reclassifying the
losses accumulated in other comprehensive income to profit or loss. The net cumulative loss
that is reclassified from other comprehensive income to profit or loss is the difference between
the acquisition cost, net of any principal repayment, and the current fair value, less any
impairment loss recognised previously in profit or loss. If, in a subsequent period, the fair value
of an impaired available for sale debt security increases and the increase can be related
objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised, the impairment
loss is reversed through profit or loss. Otherwise it is reversed through the statement of
comprehensive income.
Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset, and the net amount presented in the balance
sheet when, and only when, the Syndicate currently has a legal right to set off the amounts
and intends either to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability
simultaneously.
Investment return
Investment return comprises investment income and movements in unrealised gains and
losses on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss, less investment management
expenses, interest expense, realised losses and impairment losses. Investment income
comprises interest income, dividends receivable and realised investment gains.
For the purpose of separately presenting investment income and unrealised gains and losses
for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, interest income is calculated using the
effective interest method excluding transaction costs that are expensed when incurred. For
investments at fair value through profit or loss, realised gains and losses represent the
difference between the net proceeds on disposal and the purchase price.
28
Significant accounting policies continued
Unrealised investment gains and losses represent the difference between the fair value at the
balance sheet date and the fair value at the previous balance sheet date, or purchase price if
acquired during the year. Movements in unrealised investment gains and losses comprise the
increase/decrease in the reporting period in the value of the investments held at the reporting
date and the reversal of unrealised investment gains and losses recognised in earlier reporting
periods in respect of investment disposals of the current period.
Investment return is initially recorded in the non-technical account. The return is transferred in
full to the general business technical account to reflect the investment return on funds
supporting underwriting business.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits with maturities of three
months or less from the acquisition date that are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in
fair value and are used by the Syndicate in the management of its short-term commitments.
Cash and cash equivalents are carried at amortised cost in the statement of financial position.
Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the Syndicate’s
cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose
of the statement of cash flows.
Taxation
Under Schedule 19 of the Finance Act 1993 managing agents are not required to deduct basic
rate income tax from trading income. In addition, all UK basic rate income tax (currently at
20%) deducted from Syndicate investment income is recoverable by managing agents and
consequently the distribution made to members or their members’ agents is gross of tax.
Capital appreciation falls within trading income and is also distributed gross of tax.
No provision has been made for any other overseas tax payable by members on underwriting
results or investment earnings. Any payments on account made by the Syndicate during the
year have been included in the balance sheet under the heading ‘other debtors’.
Operating expenses
Where expenses are incurred by the Managing Agent for the administration of managed
syndicates, these expenses are apportioned using various methods depending on the type of
expense. Expenses which are incurred jointly are apportioned between the Managing Agent
and the Syndicate depending on the amount of work performed, resources used, and volume
of business transacted.
Reinsurers’ commission and profit participation
Reinsurers’ commissions and profit participations, which include reinsurance profit
commission and overriding commission, are treated as a contribution to expenses.
Debtors and creditors
Insurance debtors and creditors include amounts due to and from agents, brokers and
insurance contract holders. These are classified as debt instruments as they are non-derivative
financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted on an active market.
Insurance debtors are measured at amortised cost less any provision for impairments.
29
Significant accounting policies continued
Insurance creditors are stated at amortised cost. The Syndicate does not have any debtors
directly with policyholders, all transactions occur via an intermediary.
Where permitted under UK GAAP accounting standards, insurance creditors are netted off
against insurance debtors where the legally enforceable right to offset exists.
Reinsurance debtors and creditors include amounts due to and from reinsurers. These are
classified as debt instruments as they are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or
determinable payments that are not quoted on an active market. Reinsurance debtors are
measured at amortised cost less any provision for impairments. Reinsurance creditors are
stated at amortised cost. Reinsurance debtors principally relates to claims recoveries where
the underlying claim has been settled and the recovery is due. Reinsurance creditors are
primarily premiums payable for reinsurance contracts and are recognised as an expense when
due
30
4. Analysis of underwriting result
An analysis of the underwriting result before investment return is presented in the table below:
2024
Gross
premiums
written
Gross
premium
earned
Gross
claims
incurred
Net
operating
expenses
Reinsurance
balance
Underwriting
Result
$’000 $’000 $’000 $‘000 $’000 $’000
Direct
insurance
Marine 2,396 1,865 (1,182) (597) (122) (36)
Fire and other
damage to
property 2,532 2,240 (1,792) (772) (142) (466)
Third party
liability 57,703 45,437 (25,173) (18,952) (2,861) (1,549)
Total Direct 62,631 49,542 (28,147) (20,321) (3,125) (2,051)
Reinsurance
acceptances 136,606 63,626 (36,589) (15,050) (3,915) 8,072
Total
199,237 113,168 (64,736) (35,371) (7,040) 6,021
The below is an additional disclosure for Lloyd’s reporting purposes and is included to facilitate
the classification of the above segments into the Lloyd’s aggregate classes of business:
2024
Gross
premiums
written
Gross
premium
earned
Gross
claims
incurred
Net
operating
expenses
Reinsurance
balance
Underwriting
Result
Additional
analysis
$’000 $’000 $’000 $‘000 $’000 $’000
Fire and damage to
property of which is:
Specialties
- - - - - -
Energy
- - - - - -
Third party liability of which
is:
Energy
- - - - - -
31
Analysis of underwriting result continued
2023
Gross
written
premiums
Gross
premium
earned
Gross
claims
incurred
Net
operating
expenses
Reinsurance
balance
Underwriting
Result
$’000 $’000 $’000 $‘000 $’000 $’000
Direct
insurance:
Marine 663 331 (164) (154) (25) (12)
Fire and other
damage to
property 2,465 1,211 (583) (430) (91) 107
Third-party
liability 30,086 12,489 (5,983) (5,147) (934) 425
Total Direct
33,214 14,031 (6,730) (5,731) (1,050) 520
Reinsurance
acceptances 59,130 19,454 (11,843) (7,164) (1,326) (879)
Total
92,344 33,485 (18,573) (12,895) (2,376) (359)
The below is an additional disclosure for Lloyd’s reporting purposes and is included to facilitate
the classification of the above segments into the Lloyd’s aggregate classes of business:
2023
Gross
premiums
written
Gross
premium
earned
Gross
claims
incurred
Net
operating
expenses
Reinsurance
balance
Underwriting
Result
Additional
analysis
$’000 $’000 $’000 $‘000 $’000 $’000
Fire and damage to
property of which is:
Specialties
- - - - - -
Energy
- - - - - -
Third party liability of which
is:
Energy
- - - - - -
32
Analysis of underwriting result continued
The gross premiums written for direct insurance by underwriting location is presented in the
table below:
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
United Kingdom 199,237 92,344
European Union Member States - -
US - -
Rest of the world - -
Total gross premiums written 199,237 92,344
No gains or losses were recognised in profit or loss during the year on buying reinsurance
(2023: nil).
33
5. Technical provisions
2024
Gross
provisions
$’000
Reinsurance
assets
$’000
Net
$’000
Claims outstanding
Balance at 1 January 18,356 (913) 17,443
Claims paid during the year (5,604) 276 (5,328)
Expected cost of current year claims 64,736 (3,237) 61,499
Change in estimates of prior year provisions - - -
Foreign exchange movements (155) 6 (149)
Balance at 31 December 77,333 (3,868) 73,465
Unearned premiums
Balance at 1 January 58,874 (7,303) 51,571
Premiums written during the year 199,237 (16,823) 182,414
Premiums earned during the year (113,168) 10,276 (102,892)
Foreign exchange movements (68) 1 (67)
Balance at 31 December 144,875 (13,849) 131,026
Deferred acquisition costs
Balance at 1 January 13,180 (1,449) 11,731
Incurred deferred acquisition costs 43,703 (3,589) 40,114
Amortised deferred acquisition costs (27,780) 2,190 (25,590)
Foreign exchange movements (22) 1 (21)
Balance at 31 December 29,081 (2,847) 26,234
2023 - Restated
Gross
provisions
$’000
Reinsurance
assets
$’000
Net
$’000
Claims outstanding
Balance at 1 January - - -
Claims paid during the year (222) 16 (206)
Expected cost of current year claims 18,573 (929) 17,644
Change in estimates of prior year provisions - - -
Foreign exchange movements 5 - 5
Balance at 31 December 18,356 (913) 17,443
Unearned premiums
Balance at 1 January - - -
Premiums written during the year 92,344 (10,351) 81,993
Premiums earned during the year (33,485) 3,305 (30,180)
Foreign exchange movements 15 (257) (242)
Balance at 31 December 58,874 (7,303) 51,571
Deferred acquisition costs
Balance at 1 January - - -
Incurred deferred acquisition costs 21,496 (2,162) 19,334
Amortised deferred acquisition costs (8,320) 724 (7,596)
Foreign exchange movements 4 (11) (7)
Balance at 31 December 13,180 (1,449) 11,731
34
6. Net operating expenses
2024
Restated
2023
$’000 $’000
Acquisition costs (43,703) (21,496)
Change in deferred acquisition costs 15,923 13,176
Reinsurance commissions and profit participation 2,190 724
Administration expenses (7,809) (4,470)
Members’ standard personal expenses (1,972) (829)
Net operating expenses (35,371) (12,895)
Total commissions for direct insurance business for the year amounted to:
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Total commission for direct insurance business (21,787) (9,891)
7. Auditor’s remuneration
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Fees payable to the Syndicate’s auditor for the audit of these
financial statements (196) (175)
Fees payable to the Syndicate’s auditor and its associates in
respect of other services pursuant to legislation (185) (129)
Total (381) (304)
In addition to the amounts disclosed above, an additional final settlement of $62.5k was paid to the
auditors during 2024 in relation to the completion of the 2023 audit.
Auditors’ remuneration is included as part of administrative expenses in note 6.
35
8. Key management personnel compensation
The Active Underwriter’s salary was not recharged to the Syndicate during 2024. The cost is
borne by Flux Serveco Limited.
The aggregate emoluments of the Directors and staff of the Asta Group are charged to
companies of the Asta Group in accordance with the proportion of their time associated with
each company. Further disclosures regarding Directors’ emoluments are provided in the
financial statements of Asta Managing Agency Ltd.
No emoluments of the Directors of Asta Managing Agency Ltd were directly charged to the
Syndicate. No other compensation was payable to key management personnel.
9. Staff numbers and costs
All staff are employed by Flux Serveco Limited.
The Syndicate staff costs are contained within a set charge levied by Flux Serveco Limited.
The following amounts were recharged by the service company to the Syndicate in respect of
payroll costs:
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Service Company recharge (2,665) (1,124)
Total (2,665) (1,124)
10. Investment return
2024 2023
From financial assets designated at fair value through profit or
loss
$’000 $’000
Interest and similar income
- -
Dividend income
- -
Interest on cash at bank 266 17
Gains on the realisation of investments
10 3
Losses on the realisation of investments
- -
Unrealised gains on investments
160 -
Unrealised losses on investments
- -
Investment management expenses
- -
Total investment return
436 20
36
11. Financial Investments
31 December 2024
Carrying
value
Cost
$’000 $’000
Shares and other variable yield securities and units in unit trusts 31,933 31,776
Debt securities and other fixed income securities - -
Loans and deposits with credit institutions - -
Syndicate loans to central fund - -
Other investments - -
Total financial investments 31,933 31,776
Carrying
value
Cost
$’000 $’000
Shares and other variable yield securities and units in unit trusts 1,178 1,178
Debt securities and other fixed income securities - -
Loans and deposits with credit institutions - -
Syndicate loans to central fund - -
Other investments - -
Total financial investments 1,178 1,178
37
Financial investments continued
The table below presents an analysis of financial investments by their measurement
classification:
2024
Restated
2023
$’000 $’000
Financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss 31,933 1,178
Financial assets measured at fair value as available for sale - -
Financial assets measured at amortised cost - -
Total financial investments 31,933 1,178
The Syndicate classifies its financial instruments held at fair value in its balance sheet using a
fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used in the valuation techniques as follows:
•
Level 1 – financial assets that are measured by reference to published quotes in an
active market. A financial instrument is regarded as quoted in an active market if quoted
prices are readily and regularly available from an exchange, dealer, broker, industry
group, pricing service or regulatory agency and those prices represent actual and
regularly occurring market transactions on an arm’s length basis.
• Level 2 – financial assets measured using a valuation technique based on assumptions
that are supported by prices from observable current market transactions. For
example, assets for which pricing is obtained via pricing services but where prices have
not been determined in an active market, financial assets with fair values based on
broker quotes, investments in private equity funds with fair values obtained via fund
managers and assets that are valued using the Syndicate’s own models whereby the
significant inputs into the assumptions are market observable.
• Level 3 – financial assets measured using a valuation technique (model) based on
assumptions that are neither supported by prices from observable current market
transactions in the same instrument nor are they based on available market data.
Therefore, unobservable inputs reflect the Syndicate's own assumptions about the
assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including
assumptions about risk). These inputs are developed based on the best information
available, which might include the Syndicate’s own data.
38
Financial investments continued
The following table shows financial investments recorded at fair value analysed between the
three levels in the fair value hierarchy.
2024 $’000
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets held at
amortised cost
Total
Shares and other variable yield
securities and units in unit trusts 5,188 26,745 - - 31,933
Debt securities and other fixed
income securities - - - - -
Loans and deposits with credit
institutions - - - - -
Syndicate loans to central fund - - - - -
Other investments - - - - -
Total 5,188 26,745 - - 31,933
2023 $’000
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Assets held at
amortised cost
Total
Shares and other variable yield
securities and units in unit trusts 1,178 - - - 1,178
Debt securities and other fixed
income securities - - - - -
Loans and deposits with credit
institutions - - - - -
Syndicate loans to central fund - - - - -
Other investments - - - -
Total 1,178 - - - 1,178
39
Financial investments continued
Information on the methods and assumptions used to determine fair values for each major
category of financial instrument measured at fair value is provided below.
Debt securities are generally valued using prices provided by external pricing vendors. Pricing
vendors will often determine prices by consolidating prices of recent trades for identical or
similar securities obtained from a panel of market makers into a composite price. The pricing
service may make adjustments for the elapsed time from a trade date to the valuation date to
take into account available market information. Lacking recently reported trades, pricing
vendors will use modelling techniques to determine a security price.
Some government and supranational securities are listed on recognised exchanges and are
generally classified as level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Those that are not listed on a
recognised exchange are generally based on composite prices of recent trades in the same
instrument and are generally classified as level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Corporate bonds, including asset backed securities, that are not listed on a recognised
exchange or are traded in an established over the counter market are also mainly valued using
composite prices. Where prices are based on multiple quotes and those quotes are based on
actual recent transactions in the same instrument the securities are classified as level 2,
otherwise they are classified as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
At the reporting date Level 1 and Level 2 financial assets and liabilities were valued using
valuation techniques based on observable market data. All of the investments categorised as
Level 3 are fair valued based on the inputs to the valuation technique used.
12. Debtors arising out of direct insurance operations
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Due within one year 38,647 17,020
Due after one year - -
Total 38,647 17,020
13. Debtors arising out of reinsurance operations
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Due within one year 111,661 46,363
Due after one year - -
Total 111,661 46,363
40
14. Other debtors
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Due within one year 550 119
Due after one year - -
Total 550 119
15. Creditors arising out of direct insurance operations
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Due within one year 51 1
Due after one year - -
Total 51 1
16. Creditors arising out of reinsurance operations
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Due within one year 7,125 233
Due after one year - -
Total 7,125 233
17. Other creditors
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Due within one year - 6,500
Due after one year - -
Total - 6,500
41
18. Cash and cash equivalents
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Cash at bank and in hand 6,416 2,763
Deposits with credit institutions - -
Shares and other variable yield securities and units in unit trusts 31,933 1,178
Bank overdrafts - (3,577)
Total cash and cash equivalents 38,349 364
Shares and other variable yield securities and units in unit trusts are investments in nature but
are treated as cash and cash equivalents for cash flow purposes, so therefore are included in
both Financial investments and Cash and cash equivalents.
Bank overdrafts represents the utilised overdraft facility and is repayable on demand. This
facility has a limit of $6.35m.
Of the total cash and cash equivalents, the following amount was held in regulated bank
accounts in overseas jurisdictions:
2024 2023
$’000 $’000
Total cash and cash equivalents held in regulated accounts in overseas
jurisdictions 5,032 1,165
42
19. Related parties
Asta provides services and support to the Syndicate 1985 in its capacity as Managing Agent.
During the year, Managing Agency fees of $1.2m were charged to the Syndicate (2023:
$0.5m). Asta also recharged $2.9m worth of service charges in the year (2023: $2.0m) and as
at 31 December 2024 a cumulative amount of $0.3m is owed to Asta in respect of this service
(2023: $0.4m).
During 2024, the syndicate repaid $6.5m related to a loan facility from Acrisure Insurance
Holdings. This facility was not renewed during the year.
Acrisure sponsored the establishment of the Flux Syndicate in 2023 and provides insurance
services via Flux Serveco Limited. Flux Serveco Limited recharged expenses to the Syndicate
during 2024 of $2.6m (2023: $1.1m).
Acrisure also act as broker for Flux and brokerage amounting to $3.9m (2023: $2.2m) was
paid during 2024.
From time to time, syndicates managed by Asta enter into (re)insurance contracts with one
another. All such transactions are subject to Asta’s internal controls which ensure that all are
compliant with Lloyd’s Related Party Byelaw provisions. All transactions are on an arm’s length
basis.
Asta Capital Ltd, the parent of Asta Managing Agency Ltd, is owned by the Davies Group but
maintains a level of independence by virtue of separate boards and a separate governance
structure. Other entities within the wider Davies Group provide insurance-related services to
the syndicates under Asta’s management. The provision of these services is managed by a
separate management team distinct from Asta, and these services are provided at an arm’s
length basis.
The ultimate parent company of Asta Managing Agency Ltd is Tennessee Topco Ltd.
20. Disclosure of interests
During 2024 Asta was the Managing Agent for the following syndicates on behalf of third-party
capital providers:
•
Syndicates 1322, 1609, 1699, 1892, 1985, 1988, 2525, 2689, 2786, 3123, 4242 and
4747.
•
Special Purpose Arrangement 1416.
• Syndicates-in-a-Box 1796, 1902, 1922, 1966, 2427, 2880, 3456 and 5183.
During 2024, Asta took on management of the following syndicates:
• Syndicate 1922 on 1 January 2024
•
Syndicate 1966 on 13 June 2024
•
Syndicate 2427 on 1 May 2024
• Syndicate 3123 on 1 July 2024.
43
Disclosure of interests continued
On 1 January 2024, Asta reinsured to close Syndicate 2288 into Renaissance Re Syndicate
1458.
On 1 January 2025, Asta took on management of Syndicate 1618.
The agency also provides administrative services to syndicates and special purpose
arrangements, also undertaking several ancillary roles for other clients.
The Financial Statements of the Managing Agency can be obtained by application to the
Registered Office (see page 1).
21. Funds at Lloyd's
Every member is required to hold capital at Lloyd's which is held in trust and known as Funds
at Lloyd's (“FAL”). These funds are intended primarily to cover circumstances where Syndicate
assets prove insufficient to meet participating members' underwriting liabilities. The level of
FAL that Lloyd's requires a member to maintain is determined by Lloyd's based on PRA
requirements and resource criteria. FAL has regard to a number of factors including the nature
and amount of risk to be underwritten by the member and the assessment of the reserving risk
in respect of business that has been underwritten. Since FAL is not under the management of
the managing agent, no amount has been shown in these financial statements by way of such
capital resources. However, the managing agent is able to make a call on the members' FAL
to meet liquidity requirements or to settle losses.
22. Off-balance sheet items
The Syndicate has not been party to an arrangement, which is not reflected in its statements
of financial position, where material risks and benefits arise for the Syndicate.
44
23. Risk management
a) Governance framework
The Syndicate's risk and financial management framework aims to protect the Syndicate's
members capital from events that might otherwise prevent the Syndicate from meeting its
policyholder obligations, while maximising the returns to its members. The Directors recognise
the critical importance of having efficient and effective risk management systems in place.
Asta maintains a risk management function for the Syndicate with clear terms of reference
from the Syndicate Board, its committees and sub committees.
Asta supplements this with a clear organisational structure with documented delegated
authorities and responsibilities from the main Asta Managing Agency board to the Syndicate
who perform the underwriting activities. Lastly, the Syndicate policy framework sets its risk
management and control and business conduct standards for operations. Asta reviews and
monitors each policy to ensure compliance with the policy throughout the Syndicate.
The Syndicate Board approves the risk management policies and meets regularly to approve
any commercial, regulatory and organisational requirements of such policies. These policies
define the identification of risk and its interpretation to ensure the appropriate quality and
diversification of assets, align underwriting and reinsurance strategy to the Syndicate goals,
and specify reporting requirements. The Syndicate Board places significant emphasis on the
assessment and documentation of risks and controls, including the articulation of the
Syndicate's risk appetite.
b) Capital management objectives, policies and approach
Capital framework at Lloyd's
The Society of Lloyd's (Lloyd's) is a regulated undertaking and subject to the supervision of
the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Within the supervisory framework, Lloyd's applies capital requirements at member level and
centrally to ensure that Lloyd's complies with Solvency II capital requirements, and beyond
that to meet its own financial strength, licence and ratings objectives.
Although Lloyd's capital setting processes use a capital requirement set at Syndicate level as
a starting point, the requirement to meet Solvency II and Lloyd's capital requirements apply at
overall and member level only respectively, not at Syndicate level. Accordingly the capital
requirement in respect of the Syndicate is not disclosed in these financial statements.
Lloyd's capital setting process
In order to meet Lloyd's requirements, each Syndicate is required to calculate its Solvency
Capital Requirement (SCR) for the prospective underwriting year. This amount must be
sufficient to cover a 1 in 200 year loss, reflecting uncertainty in the ultimate run-off of
underwriting liabilities (SCR 'to ultimate'). The Syndicate must also calculate its SCR at the
same confidence level but reflecting uncertainty over a one year time horizon (one year SCR)
for Lloyd's to use in meeting Solvency II requirements. The SCRs of each Syndicate are
subject to review by Lloyd's and approval by the Lloyd's Capital and Planning Group.
45
Risk management continued
A Syndicate may be comprised of one or more underwriting members of Lloyd's. Each member
is liable for its own share of underwriting liabilities on the Syndicate on which it is participating
but not other members' shares. Accordingly, the capital requirement that Lloyd's sets for each
member operates on a similar basis. Each member's SCR shall thus be determined by the
sum of the member's share of the Syndicate SCR 'to ultimate'. Where a member participates
on more than one Syndicate, a credit for diversification is provided to reflect the spread of risk,
but consistent with determining an SCR which reflects the capital requirement to cover a 1 in
200 year loss 'to ultimate' for that member. Over and above this, Lloyd's applies a capital uplift
to the member's capital requirement, known as the Economic Capital Assessment (ECA). The
purpose of this uplift, which is a Lloyd's not a Solvency II requirement, is to meet Lloyd's
financial strength, licence and ratings objectives. The capital uplift applied for 2024 was 35%
of the member's SCR 'to ultimate'.
Provision of capital by members
Each member may provide capital to meet its ECA either by assets held in trust by Lloyd's
specifically for that member (funds at Lloyd's), held within and managed within a Syndicate
(funds in Syndicate) or as the member's share of the members' balances on each Syndicate
on which it participates. Accordingly, the ending members balances reported on the Statement
of Financial Position on page 18, represent resources available to meet members' and Lloyd's
capital requirements.
c) Insurance risk
The principal risk the Syndicate faces under insurance contracts is that the actual claims and
benefit payments or the timing thereof, differ from expectations. This is influenced by the
frequency of claims, severity of claims, actual benefits paid and subsequent development of
long-term claims. Therefore, the objective of the Syndicate is to ensure that sufficient reserves
are available to cover these liabilities.
The risk exposure is mitigated by diversification across a large portfolio of insurance contracts
and geographical areas. The variability of risks is also improved by careful selection and
implementation of underwriting strategy guidelines, as well as the use of reinsurance
arrangements.
The Syndicate purchases reinsurance as part of its risk mitigation programme. The Syndicate’s
reinsurance program is predominantly covered by a whole account, non-proportional losses
occurring during policy which covers the calendar year. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers
are estimated in a manner consistent with the outstanding claims provision and are in
accordance with the reinsurance contracts. The Syndicate's placement of reinsurance is
diversified such that it is neither dependent on a single reinsurer nor are the operations
substantially dependent upon any single reinsurance contract.
Sub committees of the Syndicate Board oversee the management of reserving risk. The use
of standardised and internal modelling techniques, as well as benchmarking and the review of
claims development are key in mitigating reserving risk. The purpose of these underwriting,
reinsurance and reserving strategies is to limit exposure to catastrophes or large losses based
on the Syndicate's risk appetite as decided by the Syndicate Board.
The Syndicate uses its own risk management software to assess catastrophe exposure.
However, there is always a risk that the assumptions and techniques used in these models
are unreliable or that claims arising from an un-modelled event are greater than those arising
from a modelled event.
46
Risk management continued
Key assumptions
The principal assumption underlying the liability estimates is that the future claims
development will follow a similar pattern to past claims development experience. This includes
assumptions in respect of average claim costs, claim handling costs, claim inflation factors
and claim numbers for each underwriting year. Additional qualitative judgements are used to
assess the extent to which past trends may not apply in the future, for example: once-off
occurrence; changes in market factors such as public attitude to claiming: economic
conditions: as well as internal factors such as portfolio mix, policy conditions and claims
handling procedures. Judgement is further used to assess the extent to which external factors
such as judicial decisions and government legislation affect the estimates.
Other key circumstances affecting the reliability of assumptions include variation in interest
rates, delays in settlement and changes in foreign currency rates.
Sensitivities
The claim liabilities are sensitive to the key assumptions that follow. It has not been possible
to quantify the sensitivity of certain assumptions, such as legislative changes, uncertainty in
the estimation process. The following analysis is performed for reasonably possible
movements in key assumptions with all other assumptions held constant, showing the impact
on net liabilities, profit and members' balances. The correlation of assumptions will have a
significant effect in determining the ultimate claims liabilities, but to demonstrate the impact
due to changes in assumptions, assumptions had to be changed on an individual basis. It
should be noted that movements in these assumptions are non-linear.
The method used for deriving sensitivity information and significant assumptions did not
change from the previous period.
Sensitivity
General insurance business sensitivities as at 31
December 2024
+5.0%
$’000
-5.0%
$’000
Claims outstanding – gross of reinsurance (3,867) 3,867
Claims outstanding – net of reinsurance (3,673) 3,673
Impact on members balance (3,673) 3,673
Impact on profit (movement in year) (3,673) 3,673
Sensitivity
General insurance business sensitivities as at 31
December 2023
+5.0%
$’000
-5.0%
$’000
Claims outstanding – gross of reinsurance (918) 918
Claims outstanding – net of reinsurance (872) 872
Impact on members balance (872) 872
Impact on profit (movement in year) (872) 872
47
Risk management continued
Claims development
The tables below show the Syndicate's cumulative incurred claims development, including
both claims notified and IBNR for each underwriting year, together with the cumulative
payments to date on a gross and net of reinsurance basis at the balance sheet date.
The Syndicate has elected to translate estimated claims and claims payments at a consistent
rate of exchange as determined by the balance sheet date.
The uncertainty associated with the ultimate claims experience of an underwriting year is
greatest when the underwriting year is at an early stage of development and the margin for
future experience potentially being more adverse than assumed is at its highest. As claims
develop, and the ultimate cost of the claims becomes more certain, the relative level of margin
should decrease. Due, however, to the uncertainty inherent in the claims estimation process,
initial reserves may not always be in a surplus. This is particularly so for large catastrophe
claims where uncertainly is initially great.
d) Financial risk
The focus of financial risk management for the Syndicate is ensuring that the proceeds from
its financial assets are sufficient to fund the obligations arising from its insurance contracts.
All numbers presented in $’000
Underwriting year 2023 2024
Estimate of cumulative gross claims
incurred
At end of first underwriting year 18,565 29,116
One year later 54,016
Less cumulative gross claims paid (4,990) (809)
Gross claims reserves 49,026 28,307
Total gross claims reserves 77,333
All numbers presented in $’000
Underwriting year
2023 2024
Estimate of cumulative net claims
incurred
At end of first underwriting year
17,636 27,659
One year later
51,315
Less cumulative net claims paid
(4,740) (769)
Net claims reserves
46,575 26,890
Total net claims reserves
73,465
48
Risk management continued
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss by failing
to discharge an obligation. The Syndicate has the following policies and procedures in place
to mitigate the exposure to credit risk:
•
Reinsurance is placed with counterparties that have a good credit rating and
concentration of risk is avoided by following policy guidelines in respect of
counterparties' limits. If the counterparty is downgraded or does not have a good credit
rating, then collateral is sought to mitigate any risk. This is monitored by the Syndicate
Board.
The tables below show the maximum exposure to credit risk (including an analysis of financial
assets exposed to credit risk) for the components of the statement of financial position. The
maximum exposure is shown gross, before the effect of mitigation through collateral
agreements and the use of credit derivatives.
2024 $’000
Neither
past due
nor
impaired
assets
Past due
but not
impaired
assets
Gross
value of
impaired
assets
Impairment
allowance
Total
Shares and other variable
yield securities and units in
unit trusts
31,933 - - - 31,933
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities
- - - - -
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions
- - - - -
Syndicate loans to central
fund
- - - - -
Other investments
- - - - -
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding
3,868 - - 3,868
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations
97,799 13,862 - - 111,661
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations
27,225 11,422 - - 38,647
Cash at bank and in hand
6,416 - - - 6,416
Overseas deposits
1,002 - - - 1,002
Other debtors and accrued
interest
46,994 - - - 46,994
Total
215,237 25,284 - - 240,521
49
Risk management continued
2023 - Restated $’000
Neither
past due
nor
impaired
assets
Past due
but not
impaired
assets
Gross
value of
impaired
assets
Impairment
allowance
Total
Shares and other variable
yield securities and units in
unit trusts
1,178 - - - 1,178
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities
- - - - -
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions
- - - - -
Syndicate loans to central
fund
- - - - -
Other investments
- - - - -
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding
913 - - - 913
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations
46,363 - - - 46,363
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations
17,020 - - - 17,020
Cash at bank and in hand
2,763 - - - 2,763
Overseas deposits
221 - - - 221
Other debtors and accrued
interest
22,311 - - - 22,311
Total
90,769 - - - 90,769
50
Risk management continued
The table below sets out the age analysis of financial assets that are past due but not impaired
at the balance sheet date:
2024 $’000
0-3 months
past due
3-6 months
past due
6-12
months
past due
Greater
than 1 year
past due
Total
Shares and other variable
yield securities and units in
unit trusts
- - - - -
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities
- - - - -
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions
- - - - -
Syndicate loans to central
fund
- - - - -
Other investments
- - - - -
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding
- - - - -
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations
- - - - -
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations
5,511 254 2,694 2,963 11,422
Cash at bank and in hand
- - - - -
Overseas deposits
- - - - -
Other debtors and accrued
interest
12,650 391 283 538 13,862
Total
18,161 645 2,977 3,501 25,284
51
Risk management continued
2023 $’000
0-3 months
past due
3-6 months
past due
6-12
months
past due
Greater
than 1 year
past due
Total
Shares and other variable
yield securities and units in
unit trusts
- - - - -
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities
- - - - -
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions
- - - - -
Syndicate loans to central
fund
- - - - -
Other investments
- - - - -
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding
- - - - -
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations
- - - - -
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations
- - - - -
Cash at bank and in hand
- - - - -
Overseas deposits
- - - - -
Other debtors and accrued
interest
- - - - -
Total
- - - - -
52
Risk management continued
The table below provides information regarding the credit risk exposure of the Syndicate at the
reporting date by classifying assets according to independent credit ratings of the
counterparties. AAA is the highest possible rating.
2024 $’000
AAA AA A BBB Other Not
Rated
Total
Shares and other variable
yield securities and units in
unit trusts
- - 31,933 - - - 31,933
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities - - - - - - -
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions - - - - - - -
Syndicate loans to central
fund - - - - - - -
Other investments - - - - - - -
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding - - 3,868 - - - 3,868
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations - - 78 - - 111,583 111,661
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations - - - - - 38,647 38,647
Cash at bank and in hand - - 6,416 - - - 6,416
Overseas deposits 292 45 67 51 266 281 1,002
Other debtors and accrued
interest - - - - - 46,994 46,994
Total 292 45 42,362 51 266 197,505 240,521
53
Risk management continued
2023 - Restated $’000
AAA AA A BBB Other Not
Rated
Total
Shares and other variable
yield securities and units in
unit trusts
- - 1,178 - - - 1,178
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities - - - - - - -
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions - - - - - - -
Syndicate loans to central
fund - - - - - - -
Other investments - - - - - - -
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding - - 913 - - - 913
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations - - 10 - - 46,353 46,363
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations - - - - - 17,020 17,020
Cash at bank and in hand - - 2,763 - - - 2,763
Overseas deposits 87 6 14 11 17 86 221
Other debtors and accrued
interest - - - - -
22,311 22,311
Total 87 6 4,878 11 17 85,770 90,769
Credit exposure
It is the Syndicate's policy to maintain accurate and consistent risk ratings across its credit
portfolio. This enables management to focus on the applicable risks and the comparison of
credit exposures across all lines of business.
54
Risk management continued
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Syndicate may not have enough cash to pay insurance claims
and other liabilities. This risk is reduced by reviewing the Syndicate’s expected cash
obligations on a weekly basis and keeping adequate cash on deposit to meet those obligations.
Further, a Liquidity Committee meets monthly to review liquidity strength and forthcoming
liquidity needs on a monthly basis.
The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Syndicate's financial liabilities based
on remaining undiscounted contractual obligations, including interest payable and outstanding
claim liabilities based on the estimated timing of claim payments resulting from recognised
insurance liabilities. Repayments which are subject to notice are treated as if notice were to
be given immediately.
2024 $’000
No stated
maturity
$
0-1 Year
$
1-3 Years
$
3-5 Years
$
> 5 years
$ Total $
Claims
outstanding - 13,041 22,238 15,481 26,573 77,333
Creditors - 7,176 - - - 7,176
Total - 20,217 22,238 15,481 26,573 84,509
2023 $’000
No stated
maturity 0-1 Year 1-3 Years 3-5 Years > 5 years Total
Claims
outstanding - 2,809 5,644 3,779 6,124 18,356
Creditors - 10,311 - - - 10,311
Total - 13,120 5,644 3,779 6,124 28,667
55
Risk management continued
Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument or
insurance contract will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. Market risk comprises
three types of risk: currency risk, interest rate risk and other price risk. Other price risk has
been assessed as negligible, given that the Syndicate does not invest in equities.
The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures
within acceptable parameters, while optimising the return on risk.
a) Currency risk
Currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will
fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates.
The Syndicate's functional currency is USD and its exposure to foreign exchange risk arises
primarily with respect to transactions in Sterling, Euro and Canadian Dollar. The Syndicate
seeks to mitigate the risk by matching the estimated foreign currency denominated liabilities
with assets denominated in the same currency.
The Syndicate matches its currency position, so it holds net assets across a number of
currencies. The Syndicate takes into consideration the underlying currency of the Syndicate's
required capital and invests its assets proportionately across these currencies so as to protect
the solvency of the Syndicate, against variation in foreign exchange rates.
The following table summarises the exposure of the financial assets and liabilities to foreign
currency exchange risk at the reporting date, as follows, with all numbers reported in converted
US Dollar.
56
Risk management continued
2024 - $’000
GBP USD EUR CAD Total
Investments - 29,495 - 2,438 31,933
Reinsurers’ share of
technical provisions 277
17,369 35 36 17,717
Debtors 5,608 149,339 (2,504) (1,585) 150,858
Other assets 2,944 2,016 2,031 427 7,418
Other Prepayments and
accrued income 1,728 30,865 - 2 32,595
Total assets 10,557 229,084 (438) 1,318 240,521
Technical provisions (12,156) (208,034) (1,101) (917) (222,208)
Deposits received from
reinsurers - - - - -
Creditors 2,699 (10,070) 101 94 (7,176)
Accruals and deferred
income - (4,865) - - (4,865)
Total liabilities (9,457) (222,969) (1,000) (823) (234,249)
Total capital and
reserves 1,100 6,115 (1,438) 495 6,272
2023 – $’000
Restated
GBP USD EUR CAD Total
Investments - 360 - 818 1,178
Reinsurers’ share of
technical provisions 1 8,209 6 - 8,216
Debtors 885 63,321 (52) (652) 63,502
Other assets 219 1,803 863 99 2,984
Other Prepayments
and accrued income 1,707 13,180 - 2 14,889
Total assets 2,812 86,873 817 267 90,769
Technical provisions (223) (76,287) (689) (31) (77,230)
Deposits received
from reinsurers - - - - -
Creditors (3,542) (6,808) 19 20 (10,311)
Accruals and
deferred income (3,513) - - - (3,513)
Total liabilities (7,278) (83,095) (670) (11) (91,054)
Total capital and
reserves (4,466) 3,778 147 256 (285)
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Risk management continued
Sensitivity to changes
The table below gives an indication of the impact on profit of a percentage change in the
relative strength of the US dollar against the value of the Sterling, Euro, Canadian Dollar
simultaneously. The analysis is based on the information as at the reporting date.
Currency risk
Impact on profit and member’s balance
2024
2023
$’000 $’000
10 percent increase in USD/GBP exchange rate 100 (274)
10 percent decrease in USD/GBP exchange rate (122) 355
10 percent increase in USD/EUR exchange rate
(131) 13
10 percent decrease in USD/EUR exchange rate
160 (16)
10 percent increase in USD/CAD exchange rate
45 23
10 percent decrease in USD/CAD exchange rate (55)
(28)
b) Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will
fluctuate in response to changes in market interest rates.
Floating rate instruments expose the Syndicate to cash flow interest risk, whereas fixed rate
instruments expose the Syndicate to fair value interest risk.
The Syndicate has no significant concentration of interest rate risk.
Insurance liabilities are not discounted and therefore are not exposed to interest rate risk.
24. Post balance sheet events
There are no post balance sheet events.
