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Syndicate 2689
Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended
Contents
Directors and administration .................................................................................................. 1
Active Underwriter’s report .................................................................................................... 2
Managing Agent's report ....................................................................................................... 4
Statement of Managing Agent's responsibilities .................................................................. 10
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Syndicate 2689 ......................................... 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 ............................................................. 21
3. Significant accounting policies ..................................................................................... 23
4. Analysis of underwriting result...................................................................................... 29
5. Technical provisions .................................................................................................... 31
6. Net operating expenses ............................................................................................... 32
7. Auditor’s remuneration ................................................................................................. 33
8. Key management personnel compensation ................................................................. 33
9. Staff numbers and costs .............................................................................................. 33
10. Investment return ..................................................................................................... 34
11. Financial Investments ............................................................................................... 34
12. Debtors arising out of direct insurance operations .................................................... 37
13. Debtors arising out of reinsurance operations .......................................................... 37
14. Other debtors ........................................................................................................... 38
15. Creditors arising out of direct insurance operations .................................................. 38
16. Creditors arising out of reinsurance operations ......................................................... 38
17. Cash and cash equivalents....................................................................................... 38
18. Related parties ......................................................................................................... 39
19. Disclosure of interests .............................................................................................. 40
20. Funds at Lloyd's ....................................................................................................... 40
21. Off-balance sheet items ............................................................................................ 40
22. Risk management .................................................................................................... 41
23. Post balance sheet events........................................................................................ 54
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
C P Sharp
Bankers and investment managers
Barclays
Royal Bank of Canada
Citibank
New England Asset Management
Registered Auditor
PKF Littlejohn LLP
Signing Actuary
Ernst & Young LLP
2
Active Underwriter’s report
2024 has been a year of great progress for Hampden Risk Partners. A key strategic pillar for
the team has been to earn the confidence from all stakeholders, be they clients, Lloyd’s,
reinsurers or our supporting capital. Such confidence can only be earned through delivery of
our product – in this case generating consistent profitable returns. The result of the ‘reset’ as
undertaken for the 2023 Year of Account is showing a pleasing immediate impact, with 2023
and 2024 Years of Account both currently projected to be profitable.
As a Follow Only market, we delegate the underlying risk selection to our partner syndicates.
These syndicates – typically in the top quartile of Lloyd’s performers – have rewarded our
support with strong performance metrics. Our role at HRP is to ensure that we capture and
retain shares of these business within a diverse and balanced portfolio. We operate with a
lean staff base which allows us to be dynamic in terms of moving in and out of market
segments. This positions us well to adjust the portfolio to take advantage of hardening market
conditions as well as distancing ourselves from segments that are showing softening that
would detract from our overall profitability potential.
2022 Year Update
The 2022 (and prior) Year of Account has closed with a 0.9% return on capacity. This
represents the first Year of Account that has produced a profit to capital and reflects a premium
paid to an external Reinsurance to Close (RITC) provider over and above our held reserves.
This RITC has drawn a line under the legacy business as underwritten by the loss generating
Chord Re Consortium, allowing the team to focus their full attention on the reset strategy.
2023 Year Update
The 2023 Year of Account is showing a forecast return on capacity of 20.3% against a NCOR
of 80.2%. This compares favourably to the forecast return shown in the previous year’s
accounts, being 4.9% against a NCOR of 95.1%.
This clearly demonstrates the positive impact of our refined approach as we manoeuvred the
portfolio into areas of highest underwriting margin supporting outperforming Lloyd’s
syndicates.
2024 Year Update
The 2024 Year of Account is projecting a return on capacity of 9.5% supported by an NCOR
of 91.9%, outperforming the planned NCOR of 92.9%.
During the course of year there have been both natural and man-made disasters including the
‘Dali’ / Baltimore Bridge incident (which is forecast to be the largest loss in history to impact
the Marine market) and Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused significant damage to
property in Florida and the Carolinas. Whilst the full extent of these events is, as yet, unknown,
we maintain a prudent level of reserves and remain confident that we shall deliver our planned
returns to members.
The GWP of the Syndicate increased by 52% year on year as the Syndicate took advantage
of a growing follow market and continued favourable rating environment. The portfolio was
able to expand into new classes of business and increase in existing markets where conditions
were favourable.
3
Active Underwriter’s report continued
2025 Year Update
Syndicate capacity increased from £75m to £105m supported by a more diversified capital
base, evidencing the growing appeal of our model. Similarly to 2024, 90% of our portfolio has
been underwritten over the 1
st
of January renewal season. We have been delighted to grow
participations within existing lines and further diversifying product lines, with new and renewing
syndicate partners. The team has expanded to six people and is not destined to grow much
beyond that level as we seek to retain our lean profile.
The market is widely known to be showing signs of softening. As a Follow market, we are
aligned with any softening and need to reflect this in our forecasted profitability. We have
ensured that all accounts are priced without undue conservatism. This will ensure that further
softening is accurately shown as reductions against favourable metrics. Our pricing shows
considerable margin across all areas of our business albeit with the expectation of increased
profitability now being eroded.
Offsetting these negative factors is an improved expense ratio and a more efficient outwards
reinsurance strategy.
At the time of writing, California is suffering the worst series of wildfires in its history. Whilst
the Syndicate is not overly exposed to this territory and peril, it is a stark reminder of the
changing risk landscape. Depending on the financial impact on (re)insurance carriers, we may
still witness a slowing of the currently observed rate decreases that are prevalent in the market.
Future Plans
The Syndicate is now an established and respected player in the Follow Only space and has
successfully deployed its strategy for a third year of underwriting post the reset. It has
expanded its footprint of top performing business in the Lloyd’s market and has benefited from
its non-compete status with lead markets; the Syndicate being one of the few follow markets
that does not have a direct underwriting presence.
The key to our success will be our ability to navigate changing market cycles, which we are
well placed to achieve at this stage.
I remain grateful to those who have provided support to the Syndicate and am now delighted
to be able to reward this vote of confidence with positive returns.
Chris Sharp
Active Underwriter, Syndicate 2689
March 2025
4
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 $9,542,814 (2023: loss of $1,502,502).
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
Casualty 16,722
15,700
Marine and Energy 15,150
10,105
Property 40,112
26,700
Speciality Insurance (404)
10,516
Specialty XL 20,390
9,816
War & Terror, Political Risk 9,178
-
101,148
72,837
The Syndicate's financial key performance indicators during the year were as follows:
2024
$
’000
2023
$
’000
Gross premiums written
101,148 72,837
Profit
/
(
Loss
)
for the financial year
9,54
3
(1,502)
Combined ratio*
91.9% 104.4%
*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.
5
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.
Note that the 2022 underwriting year is now closed, as of 31 December 2024.
2024 YOA
Open
2023 YOA
Open
2022 YOA
Closed
Capacity ($’000)
93,750
65,016
89,370
Forecast result ($’000)
8,863
13,229
763
Forecast return on capacity (%)
9.5%
20.3%
0.9%
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 through Investment Managers with quarterly Investment
Committees 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 [and Investment Committee] 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 with Barclays.
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 $131.3m (2024 underwriting year: $95.3m).
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 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.
Auditor
The Managing Agent intends to reappoint PKF Littlejohn 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
C V Barley
Director
5 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. 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 2689
Opinion
We have audited the Syndicate Annual Accounts of Syndicate 2689 (the ‘Syndicate’) for the
year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the Statement of profit or loss and other
comprehensive income, the Statement of changes in Members’ balances, the Statement of
financial position, the Statement of cash flows and notes to the Syndicate Annual Accounts,
including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been
applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards,
including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of
Ireland (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 results 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 Version 2.0 as modified
by the Frequently Asked Questions Version 1.1 issued by Lloyd’s (the “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, 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
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 upon 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.
12
Independent auditor’s report continued
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 responsible for the other information contained within the Syndicate
annual report. 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 themselves. 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 the 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:
adequate accounting records have not been kept on behalf of the Syndicate; or
the Syndicate Annual Accounts are not in agreement with the accounting records and
returns; or
certain disclosures of managing agent emoluments and other benefits 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, 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 Syndicate Annual Accounts that are free
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
13
Independent auditor’s report continued
In preparing the Syndicate Annual Accounts, the managing agent is responsible for assessing
the Syndicate’s ability to continue to write new business, disclosing, as applicable, matters
related to its ability to continue to operate and using the going concern basis of accounting,
unless the managing agent intends to cease to operate the Syndicate 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 these Syndicate
Annual Accounts.
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. The extent to which our procedures
are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
We obtained an understanding of the Syndicate and the insurance sector in which it
operates to identify laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a
direct effect on the Syndicate Annual Accounts such as The Insurance Accounts Directive
(Lloyd’s Syndicate and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008 and the Lloyd’s Syndicate
Accounts Instructions. We obtained our understanding in this regard through discussions
with management, industry research and the application of our cumulative audit knowledge
and experience of the insurance sector.
We determined the principal laws and regulations relevant to the Syndicate in this regard
to be those arising from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Prudential Regulation
Authority (PRA), Lloyd’s of London and the Insurance Accounts Directive (Lloyd’s
Syndicates and Aggregate Accounts) Regulations 2008, and the financial reporting
framework (UK GAAP).
The Company operates in the insurance industry which is a highly regulated environment.
As such the Senior Statutory Auditor considered the experience and expertise of the
engagement team to ensure that the team has the appropriate competence and
capabilities to perform the audit.
We designed our audit procedures to ensure the audit team considered whether there were
any indications of non-compliance by the Syndicate with those laws and regulations. These
procedures included, but were not limited to:
• agreement of the Syndicate Annual Accounts disclosures to underlying supporting
documentation;
• enquiries of management and review of minutes of Board, committee and
management meetings throughout the period;
• understanding the Syndicate’s policies and procedures in monitoring compliance with
laws and regulations;
• inspection of correspondence with Lloyd’s of London, the PRA and FCA; and
• reviewing compliance reports and internal audit reports relating to the Syndicate.
14
Independent auditor’s report continued
We also identified possible risks of material misstatement of the Syndicate Annual
Accounts due to fraud; in particular:
o We considered that there is a rebuttable presumption that there is a significant fraud
risk over revenue recognition. We did not consider fraud over the accuracy of revenue
to be a significant risk for transactions that have been processed during the period as
the segregation of duties between the Syndicate’s and the Managing Agent’s teams
adequately mitigated this risk. However, we considered that there was a potential for
fraud risk over the accuracy and completeness of the estimate for pipeline premiums
at the year-end as this was a key accounting estimate. We performed substantive
testing of income recognised, including the estimated pipeline premiums. These
procedures included an examination of the calculations of the estimated pipeline
premiums and related reinsurance and a review of income declared by bordereaux
as well as engaging in discussions with the Syndicate to confirm that the information
provided to the Manging Agent was complete and accurate.
o We considered that there was potential for management bias in the reporting of
events and transactions in the Syndicate Annual Accounts relating to the valuation of
technical provisions and the calculation of the reinsurer’s share of technical
provisions. To address this, we involved actuarial specialists to assist us in
challenging the assumptions and judgements made by management when auditing
those significant accounting estimates.
o As in all of our audits, we addressed the risk of fraud arising from management
override of controls by performing audit procedures which included, but were not
limited to, the testing of journals, reviewing accounting estimates for evidence of bias
and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that were
unusual or outside the normal course of business.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all
irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the Syndicate Annual
Accounts or non-compliance with laws and regulations. This risk increases the more that
compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in
the Syndicate Annual Accounts, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-
compliance. This risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than
error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, conclusion, omission or
misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the Syndicate Annual Accounts is
located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Syndicate’s members, as a body, in accordance with Part 2
of 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.
Thomas Seaman
(Senior Statutory Auditor) 15 Westferry Circus
For and on behalf of PKF Littlejohn LLP Canary Wharf
Statutory Auditor London E14 4HD
5 March 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 4 101,148
Outward reinsurance premiums (10,824 )
(11,056 )
Premiums written, net of reinsurance 90,324
Changes in unearned premium
Change in the gross provision for unearned premiums (12,999 )
Change in the provision for unearned premiums
reinsurers’ share
(3,325 )
Net change in provisions for unearned premiums 5 (12,329 )
Earned premiums, net of reinsurance 77,995
Allocated investment return transferred from the
non-technical account
Other technical income, net of reinsurance -
Claims paid
Gross amount (40,115 )
(36,123 )
Reinsurers’ share 3,071
Net claims paid (37,044 )
(32,579 )
Changes in the provision for claims
Gross amount (511 )
(22,068 )
Reinsurers’ share (4,023 )
(730 )
Net change in provisions for claims 5 (4,534 )
(22,798 )
Claims incurred, net of reinsurance (41,578 )
(55,377 )
Net operating expenses 6 (30,072 )
(34,958 )
Balance on the technical account – general
business
(1,630 )
All the amounts above are in respect of continuing operations.
The notes on pages 21 to 54 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
(1,630 )
Investment income 10
Realised gains/(losses) on investments 10
Unrealised gains/(losses) on investments 10
Investment expenses and charges 10
(31 )
(36 )
Total investment return
Allocated investment return transferred to the general
business technical account
(3,440 )
(2,207 )
Gain/(loss) on foreign exchange
(242 )
Profit/(loss) for the financial year
(1,502 )
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 54 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 | ||
| Deposits with ceding undertakings | | ||
| Reinsurers' share of technical provisions | |||
| Provision for unearned premiums | 5 | ||
| Claims outstanding | 5 | ||
| Debtors | |||
| Debtors arising out of direct insurance operations | 12 | ||
| Debtors arising out of reinsurance operations | 13 | ||
| Other debtors | 14 | | |
| Other assets | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 17 | ||
| Other | |||
| Prepayments and accrued income | |||
| Deferred acquisition costs | 5 | ||
| Other prepayments and accrued income | | ||
| Total assets |
The notes on pages 21 to 54 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 | | ||
| Other creditors including taxation and social security | | ||
Accruals and deferred income | |||
Total liabilities | |||
| Total liabilities, capital and reserves |
The notes on pages 21 to 54 form part of these financial statements.
The financial statements on pages 15 to 54 were approved by Board of Directors on 18
February 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
R P Barke
Director
5 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 | ( |
20
Statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 December 2024
Notes | 2024 $ ’000 | 2023 $ ’000 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||
| Profit/(loss) for the financial year | ( | ||
| Adjustments: | |||
| Increase/(decrease) in gross technical provisions | ( | ||
(Increase)/decrease in reinsurers’ share of technical provisions | |||
| (Increase)/decrease in debtors | ( | ||
| Increase/(decrease) in creditors | |||
| (Increase)/decrease 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 / Open Year Profit Release | |||
| Injection/(release) of Funds in Syndicate | | ||
| Other | ( | ( | |
| Net cash flows from financing activities | |||
| Net increase/(decrease) 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 |
21
Notes to the financial statements
1. Basis of preparation
Statement of compliance
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 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.
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
22
Critical accounting estimates and judgements continued
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.
Sensitivities relating to this critical judgement have been assessed in further detail in
note 22.
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.
23
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.
Estimated premium income in respect of facility contracts, for example binding authorities and
lines slips, are deemed to be written in a manner that reflects the expected profile of the
underlying business which has been written.
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.
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.
24
Significant accounting policies continued
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.
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.
25
Significant accounting policies continued
Acquisition costs
Acquisition costs comprise costs arising from the conclusion of insurance contracts, such as
intermediary brokerage and commissions.
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.
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 0.79 0.80 0.78
USD 1.00 1.00 1.00
CAD
EUR 0.91 0.97 0.92
AUD 1.47 1.62 1.52
JPY 141.54 157.52 151.20
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.
26
Significant accounting policies continued
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.
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.
Loans and receivables and non-derivative financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost
using the effective interest method, except Syndicate Loans to the Central Fund which are
measured at fair value through profit or loss.
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.
27
Significant accounting policies continued
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.
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.
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.
28
Significant accounting policies continued
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’.
Profit commission
Profit commission is charged by the managing agent at a rate of 10% for the first £10m of profit
and a rate of 7.5% of profit in excess of £10m subject to the operation of a deficit clause. Such
commission is recognised when the year of account becomes profitable but does not become
payable until after the appropriate year of account closes normally at 36 months.
Deposits with ceding undertakings
Deposits with ceding undertakings are funds held by Lloyd’s Europe on behalf of the Syndicate
to settle Part VII claims. These funds are held at amortised cost in the balance sheet.
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.
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 debtor 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.
29
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
Gross
operating
expenses
Reinsurance
balance
Underwriting
Result
$
’
000
$
’
000
$
’
000
$
‘
000
$
’
000
$
’
000
Direct
insurance
Accident &
Health
-
-
(1)
-
-
(1)
Marine
-
(5)
2
(6)
(5)
(14)
Aviation
(23)
(8)
(2,6
61
)
34
(29)
(2,6
64
)
Transport
-
-
-
-
-
-
Energy –
Marine
2 - 14 34 (2) 46
Energy Non
Marine
(12)
(1)
(39)
(8)
(13)
(61)
Fire and other
damage to
property
4,193
3,314
(1,5
52
)
(1,698)
(728)
(6
64
)
Third party
liability
4,606
2,594
(
1,003
)
(971)
(57)
5
63
Pecuniary Loss
891
957
(19)
(208)
(47)
683
Total Direct 9,657
6,851
(5,259)
(2,823)
(881)
(2,112)
Reinsurance
acceptances 91,491
81,298
(35,367)
(27,249)
(10,225)
8,457
Total 101,148
88,149
(40,626)
(30,072)
(11,106)
6,345
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
Gross
operating
expenses
Reinsurance
balance
Underwriting
Result
Additional
analysis
$’000 $’000 $’000 $‘000 $’000 $’000
Fire and damage to property
of which is:
Specialties
3,909
3,908
(1,053)
(1,518)
(965)
373
Energy
-
-
-
-
-
-
Third party liability of which
is:
Energy
-
-
-
-
-
-
30
Analysis of underwriting result continued
2023
Gross
written
premiums
Gross
premium
earned
Gross
claims
incurred
Gross
operating
expenses
Reinsurance
balance
Underwriting
Result
$
’000
$
’000
$
’000
$
‘000
$
’000
$
’000
Direct
insurance
Marine
187
(154)
(
1
51
)
(41)
(34)
(3
80
)
Aviation
(717)
705
134
40
1
8
80
Transport
956
(805)
(
642
)
(255)
(172)
(1,
874
)
Energy –
Marine
480 (417) (28) (241) (71) (757)
Energy Non
Marine
849
(638)
(
3
8
)
(263)
(235)
(1,
174
)
Fire and other
damage to
property
(1,991) 1,855 34 54 10 1,953
Third party
liability
(2,557)
2,7
20
814
437
5
3,9
76
Pecuniary
Loss
(8
5
)
98
(
1,569
)
(71
1
)
(
20
)
(2,2
02
)
Total Direct
(2,87
8
)
3,364
(
1,446
)
(98
0
)
(51
6
)
4
22
Reinsurance
acceptances 75,715
97,515
(56,745)
(33,978)
(11,051)
(4,259)
Total 72,837
100,879
(58,191)
(34,958)
(11,567)
(3,837)
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
Gross
operating
expenses
Reinsurance
balance
Underwriting
Result
Additional
analysis
$’000 $’000 $’000 $‘000 $’000 $’000
Fire and damage to property
of which is:
Specialties 5,690
3,592
(1,171)
(1,046)
(729)
647
Energy -
-
-
-
-
-
Third party liability of which is:
Energy -
-
-
-
-
-
31
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 9,657
(2,878)
European Union Member States -
-
US -
-
Rest of the world -
-
Total gross premiums written 9,657
(2,878)
No gains or losses were recognised in profit or loss during the year on buying reinsurance
(2023: nil).
5. Technical provisions
2024
Gross
provisions
$
’000
Reinsurance
assets
$
’000
Net
$
’000
Claims outstanding
Balance at 1 January
131,452
(8,678)
122,774
Claims paid during the year (40,115)
3,071
(37,044)
Expected cost of current year claims 40,149
952
41,101
Change in estimates of prior year provisions 477
-
477
Foreign exchange movements (508)
9
(499)
Balance at 31 December
131,455
(4,646)
126,809
Unearned premiums
Balance at 1 January 30,775
(386)
30,389
Premiums written during the year 101,148
(10,824)
90,324
Premiums earned during the year (88,149)
10,154
(77,995)
Foreign exchange movements (100)
7
(93)
Balance at 31 December
43,674
(1,049)
42,625
Deferred acquisition costs
Balance at 1 January 7,373
-
7,373
Incurred deferred acquisition costs 24,993
-
24,993
Amortised deferred acquisition costs (20,316)
-
(20,316)
Foreign exchange movements (35)
-
(35)
Balance at 31 December
12,015
-
12,015
32
Technical Provisions continued
6. Net operating expenses
2024
2023
$’000
$’000
Acquisition costs (24,993)
(19,073)
Change in deferred acquisition costs 4,677
(8,628)
Reinsurance commissions and profit participation 279
46
Administration expenses (7,924)
(6,687)
Members’ standard personal expenses (2,111)
(616)
Net operating expenses (30,072)
(34,958)
Total commissions for direct insurance business for the year amounted to:
2024
2023
$’000
$’000
Total commission for direct insurance business (1,954)
1,680
2023
Gross
provisions
$
’000
Reinsurance
assets
$
’000
Net
$’000
Claims outstanding
Balance at 1 January
108,937
(9,399)
99,538
Claims paid during the year (36,123)
3,544
(32,579)
Expected cost of current year claims 70,457
(3,459)
66,998
Change in estimates of prior year provisions (12,266)
645
(11,621)
Foreign exchange movements 447
(9)
438
Balance at 31 December
131,452
(8,678)
122,774
Unearned premiums
Balance at 1 January 58,664
(3,710)
54,954
Premiums written during the year 72,837
(11,056)
61,781
Premiums earned during the year (100,879)
14,381
(86,498)
Foreign exchange movements 153
(1)
152
Balance at 31 December
30,775
(386)
30,389
Deferred acquisition costs
Balance at 1 January 15,936
-
15,936
Incurred deferred acquisition costs 19,073
-
19,073
Amortised deferred acquisition costs (27,701)
-
(27,701)
Foreign exchange movements 65
-
65
Balance at 31 December
7,373
-
7,373
33
7. Auditor’s remuneration
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’000
Fees payable to the Syndicate’s auditor for the audit of these
financial statements (136)
(253)
Fees payable to the Syndicate’s auditor and its associates in
respect of other services pursuant to legislation (93)
(152)
Total (229)
(405)
Auditors’ remuneration is included as part of administrative expenses in note 6.
8. Key management personnel compensation
The active underwriter received the following aggregate remuneration charged to the
Syndicate:
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’
000
Emoluments 607
578
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 Hampden Syndicate Services Limited. The average number of
persons employed by the service company, but working for the Syndicate during the year,
analysed by category, was as follows:
Number of employees
2024
2023
Administration and finance 1
1
Underwriting 3
2
Claims 1
1
Investments -
-
Total
5
4
34
Staff numbers and costs continued
The following amounts were recharged by the service company to the Syndicate in respect of
payroll costs:
Payroll costs
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’000
Wages and salaries (1,893)
(1,326)
Social security costs -
-
Other pension costs -
-
Total
(1,893)
(1,326)
10. Investment return
2024
2023
From - financial assets designated at fair value through profit or
loss
$’000
$’000
Interest and similar income
-
-
Dividend income
1,303
995
Interest on cash at bank
1,358
519
Gains on the realisation of investments
227
227
Losses on the realisation of investments
(20)
-
Unrealised gains on investments
604
684
Unrealised losses on investments
-
(182)
Investment management expenses
(31)
(36)
Total investment return
3,440
2,207
11. Financial Investments
31 December
2024
Carrying
value
Cost
$
’000
$
’000
Shares and other variable yield securities and units in unit trusts 1,796
1,796
Debt securities and other fixed income securities 40,210
39,911
Loans and deposits with credit institutions -
-
Syndicate loans to central fund 1,496
1,496
Other investments
-
-
Total financial investments 43,502
43,203
35
Financial investments continued
Carrying
value
Cost
$’000
$’000
Shares and other variable yield securities and units in unit trusts 8,137
8,137
Debt securities and other fixed income securities 40,384
39,740
Loans and deposits with credit institutions -
-
Syndicate loans to central fund
1,338
1,338
Other investments 2,800
2,800
Total financial investments 52,659
52,015
The table below presents an analysis of financial investments by their measurement
classification:
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’000
Financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss 52,659
52,015
Financial assets measured at fair value as available for sale -
-
Financial assets measured at amortised cost -
-
Total financial investments 52,659
52,015
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.
36
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 1,796
-
-
- 1,796
Debt securities and other fixed
income securities 7,181
33,029
-
- 40,210
Loans and deposits with credit
institutions -
-
-
- -
Syndicate loans to central fund -
-
1,496
- 1,496
Other investments -
-
-
- -
Total
8,977
33,029
1,496
-
4
3,502
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 -
8,137
-
- 8,137
Debt securities and other fixed
income securities 8,410
31,974
-
- 40,384
Loans and deposits with credit
institutions -
-
-
- -
Syndicate loans to central fund -
-
1,338
- 1,338
Other investments 200
2,600
-
- 2,800
Total 8,610
42,711
1,338
- 52,659
37
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 8,665
151
Due after one year -
-
Total 8,665
151
13. Debtors arising out of reinsurance operations
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’
000
Due within one year 48,101
51,819
Due after one year -
1,866
Total 48,101
53,685
38
14. Other debtors
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’
000
Due within one year 30
32
Due after one year -
-
Total 30
32
15. Creditors arising out of direct insurance operations
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’
000
Due within one year 109
221
Due after one year -
-
Total 109
221
16. Creditors arising out of reinsurance operations
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’
000
Due within one year 1,824
1,037
Due after one year -
-
Total 1,824
1,037
17. Cash and cash equivalents
2024
2023
$
’00
0
$
’
000
Cash at bank and in hand 70,193
29,502
Deposits with credit institutions -
-
Shares and other variable yield securities and units in unit trusts 1,796
8,137
Bank overdrafts -
-
Total cash and cash equivalents 71,989
37,639
39
Cash and cash equivalents continued
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.
Deposits with credit institutions with maturities of three months or less that are used by the
Syndicate in the management of its short-term commitments are included in cash and cash
equivalents.
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
1,682
6,568
18. Related parties
Asta provides services and support to the Syndicate in its capacity as Managing Agent. During
the year, Managing Agency fees of $1.3m were charged to the Syndicate (2023: $1.2m). Asta
also recharged $3.0m worth of service charges in the year (2023: $3.4m) and as at 31
December 2024 a cumulative amount of $0.4m is owed to Asta in respect of this service (2023:
$0.2m).
Hampden Syndicate Services Limited recharged $2.4m (2023: $1.7m) to the syndicate in the
year. There was $0.2m (2023: $0.1m) owed to Hampden Syndicate Services Limited as at 31
December 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.
40
19. 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
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).
20. 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.
21. Off-balance sheet items
The Syndicate has not been party to an arrangement, which is not reflected in its statement of
financial position, where material risks and benefits arise for the Syndicate.
41
22. 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.
42
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 16, 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 both its own and commercially available 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.
43
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 (6,573)
6,573
Claims outstanding – net of reinsurance (6,340)
6,340
Impact on members balance (6,340)
6,340
Impact on
(loss) /
profit
(
6,340
)
6,340
Sensitivity
General insurance business sensitivities as at 31
December 2023
+5.0%
$
’000
-5.0%
$
’000
Claims outstanding – gross of reinsurance (6,573)
6,573
Claims outstanding – net of reinsurance (6,139)
6,139
Impact on members balance (6,139)
6,139
Impact on (loss) / profit (6,139)
6,139
44
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.
All numbers presented in
$
’000
U
nderwriting year
202
0
2021
2022
2023
2024
$’000 $’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
Estimate of ultimate gross claims
At end of first underwriting year
42,664 50,266 33,141 21,288 28,924
One year later
92,739 95,732 63,284 25,078
Two years later
122,683 133,704 84,351
Three years later
125,588 133,736
Four years later
128,094
Less cumulative gross claims paid
109,513 106,356 46,421 4,693 1,745
Gross claims reserves
18,581 27,380 37,930 20,385 27,179
Total gross claims
reserves
131,455
All numbers presented in
$
’000
U
nderwriting year
2020 2021 2022
2023
2024
$’000 $’000 $’000
$’000
$’000
Estimate of ultimate net claims
At end of first underwriting year
41,328 38,809 31,567 18,246 28,161
One year later
88,997 92,595 62,065 23,709
Two years later
120,757 133,430 82,839
Three years later
125,004 132,343
Four years later
128,132
Less cumulative net claims paid
109,793 105,658 46,486 4,693 1,745
Net claims reserves
18,339 26,685 36,353 19,016 26,416
Total gross claims reserves
126,809
45
Risk management continued
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.
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
3,292 -
-
- 3,292
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities
40,210 -
-
- 40,210
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions
- -
-
- -
Syndicate loans to central
fund
- -
-
- -
Other investments
7 -
-
- 7
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding
4,646 -
-
- 4,646
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations
48,101 -
-
- 48,101
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations
8,665 -
-
- 8,665
Cash at bank and in hand
70,193 -
-
- 70,193
Overseas deposits
2,457 -
-
- 2,457
Other debtors and accrued
interest
13,385 -
-
- 13,385
Total
190,956 -
-
- 190,956
46
Risk management continued
2023
$
’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
9,475 -
-
- 9,475
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities
40,384 -
-
- 40,384
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions
- -
-
- -
Syndicate loans to central
fund
- -
-
- -
Other investments
25 -
-
- 25
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding
8,678 -
-
- 8,678
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations
53,685 -
-
- 53,685
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations
151 -
-
- 151
Cash at bank and in hand
29,502 -
-
- 29,502
Overseas deposits
2,800 -
-
- 2,800
Other debtors and accrued
interest
8,144 -
-
- 8,144
Total
152,844 -
-
- 152,844
47
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
- -
-
- -
Cash at bank and in hand - -
-
- -
Overseas deposits - -
-
- -
Other debtors and accrued
interest
- -
-
- -
Total - -
-
- -
48
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 - -
-
- -
49
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
-
-
3,292
-
-
-
3,292
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities
902
17,270
16,583
-
-
5,455
40,210
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Syndicate loans to central
fund
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Other investments
-
-
7
-
-
-
7
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding
-
596
4,050
-
-
-
4,646
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations
-
6,167
41,934
-
-
-
48,101
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations
-
-
-
-
-
8,665
8,665
Cash at bank and in hand
-
-
70,193
-
-
-
70,193
Overseas deposits
754
147
172
1,168
16
200
2,457
Other debtors and accrued
interest
-
-
-
-
-
13,385
13,385
Total
1,656
24,180
136,231
1,168
16
32,041
190,956
50
Risk management continued
2023
$
’000
AAA AA A BBB Other Not
Rated
Total
Shares and other variable
yield securities and units in
unit trusts
-
1,339
8,136
-
-
-
9,475
Debt securities and other
fixed income securities
2,850
14,488
18,422
-
-
4,624
40,384
Loans and deposits with
credit institutions
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Syndicate loans to central
fund
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Other investments
-
-
25
-
-
-
25
Reinsurers’ share of claims
outstanding
-
647
4,599
-
-
3,432
8,678
Debtors arising out of
reinsurance operations
-
4,000
28,447
-
-
21,238
53,685
Debtors arising out of direct
insurance operations
-
-
-
-
151
151
Cash at bank and in hand
-
-
29,502
-
-
-
29,502
Overseas deposits
608
96
105
1,761
3
227
2,800
Other debtors and accrued
interest
-
-
-
-
-
8,144
8,144
Total
3,458
20,570
89,236
1,761
3
37,816
152,844
Maximum 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.
51
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 -
55,479 47,441
14,381
14,154
131,455
Creditors -
1,933 -
-
-
1,933
Total -
57,412 47,441
14,381
14,154
133,388
2023
$
’000
No stated
maturity
0
-
1 Year
1
-
3 Years
3
-
5 Years
>
5 years
Total
Claims
outstanding -
54,450 50,513
14,799
11,690
131,452
Creditors -
1,258 -
-
-
1,258
Total -
55,708 50,513
14,799
11,690
132,710
52
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, Canadian Dollar and Australian 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
dollars:
53
Risk management continued
2024
$
’000
GBP
USD
EUR
CAD
AUD
JPY
Other
Total
Investments 1,497
33,807
-
8,198
-
-
-
43,502
Reinsurers’ share of
technical provisions 292
5,280
60
28
8
27
-
5,695
Debtors (1,268)
63,049
(2,981)
(742)
(939)
(128)
(225)
56,766
Other assets 1,634
73,656
6,412
921
1,162
668
248
84,701
Prepayments and
accrued income -
260
-
32
-
-
-
292
Total assets
2,155
176,052
3,491
8,437
231
567
23
190,956
Technical provisions (8,053)
(160,108)
(2,744)
(3,834)
(177)
(204)
(9)
(175,129)
Deposits received
from reinsurers -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Creditors (163)
(1,754)
(12)
(2)
-
-
-
(1,931)
Accruals and deferred
income (885)
(25)
-
-
-
-
-
(910)
Total liabilities
(9,101)
(161,887)
(2,756)
(3,836)
(177)
(204)
(9)
(177,970)
Total capital and
reserves
(6,946)
14,165
735
4,601
54
363
14
12,986
2023
$
’000
GBP
USD
EUR
CAD
AUD
JPY
Other
Total
Investments 1,338
43,930
-
4,591
-
-
-
49,859
Reinsurers’ share of
technical provisions 188
8,699
95
42
10
30
-
9,064
Debtors 1,375
55,618
(1,690)
(811)
(397)
(169)
(90)
53,836
Other assets
(overseas, cash in
bank, other) 2,799
30,336
4,546
449
468
1,031
105
39,734
Prepayments and
accrued income 95
256
-
-
-
-
-
351
Total assets
5,795
138,839
2,951
4,27
1
81
892
15
152,844
Technical provisions
(6,3
11
)
(151,65
7
)
(2,94
2
)
(1,005)
(83)
(229)
-
(162,227)
Deposits received
from reinsurers -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Creditors (insurance
and reinsurance
payables, creditors) (115)
(1,157)
4
-
-
-
-
(1,268)
Accruals and deferred
income (583)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(583)
Total liabilities
(7,00
9
)
(152,81
4
)
(2,93
8
)
(1,005)
(83)
(229)
-
(164,078)
Total capital and
reserves
(1,214)
(13,975)
13
3,266
(2)
663
15
(11,234)
54
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,
Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen. 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 GBP/USD exchange rate (631)
(110)
10 percent decrease in GBP/USD exchange rate 772
135
10 percent increase in EUR/USD exchange rate 67
1
10 percent decrease in EUR/USD exchange rate (82)
(1)
10 percent decrease in CAD/USD exchange rate 418
297
10 percent decrease in CAD/USD exchange rate (511)
(363)
10 percent decrease in AUD/USD exchange rate 5
-
10 percent decrease in AUD/USD exchange rate (6)
-
10 percent decrease in JPY/USD exchange rate 33
60
10 percent decrease in JPY/USD exchange rate (40)
(74)
b) Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the value or 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 analysis below is performed for reasonably possible movements in market interest rates
with all other variables held constant, showing the impact on the result before tax due to
changes in fair value of financial assets (whose fair values are recorded in the profit and loss
account) and members’ balances.
Interest rate risk
Impact on profit and member’s balance
2024
2023
$
’000
$
’000
50 basis points increase in yield curves (367)
(41)
50 basis points decrease in yield curves 367
41
Insurance liabilities are not discounted and therefore are not exposed to interest rate risk.
23. Post balance sheet events
The Syndicate will distribute the 2022 underwriting year profits to members during 2025.
On 1 January 2025, the 2022 and prior underwriting years were externally reinsured-to-close
to an external party, Syndicate 3500. As such, no liabilities on the 2022 and prior underwriting
years will be passed to Syndicate 2689’s open underwriting years.
