11. Munich Re

GWP less treaty: £727m

Great Lakes Reinsurance (UK)

Address:
No 1 Minster Court
Mincing Lane
London EC3R 7YH

Telephone: 020 7929 2893

Fax: 020 7623 5220

Email: correspondence@greatlakes.co.uk

Year established: 1987

Major shareholders: Wholly-owned subsidiary of Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft, a company incorporated in Germany.

Number of UK employees (2002): 25

Main lines of business: Principal activity is the transaction of reinsurance business. In addition, Great Lakes provides an insurance facility for members of the Munich Re group.

Subsidiaries: MARP London

Company history: Great Lakes was originally formed in Canada. In 1987, a UK subsidiary was established and today all operations are based in London. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Munich Re, Great Lakes is able to provide first class security and service. Great Lakes is authorised to transact all classes of insurance and reinsurance business, except life.

Chief officer: P J Ruperti

DAS company history:

1975 - DAS (UK) was formed as joint venture between Phoenix Assurance (now Royal & SunAlliance) and DAS Deutsche Automobile Schutz of Munich. The Statute of Westminster had prevented legal expenses insurance being sold in the UK. Family legal expenses policy introduced as a stand alone policy. DAS then had 20 employees and a premium income of £50,000.

1977 - Commercial legal protection policy introduced in response to increasing legislation in the workplace during the 1970s.

1978 - Uninsured loss recovery scheme was introduced in response to brokers' need for an easier method of recovering their clients' uninsured losses. This product turned what was for brokers an administrative burden into a commission-earning opportunity.

1985 - Twenty-four-hour legal advice helpline launched which broke away from the reliance on solicitors in private practice and gave consumers an alternative choice in the legal marketplace.

1989 - DAS Munich bought the 50% SunAlliance shareholding to obtain a 100% shareholding of DAS UK as part of DAS International. DAS Corporate Business Department established to forge close links with existing and potential major clients.

1990 - The motor claims centre, Bedwas, was opened in response to the growing success of the DAS ULR service. The centre originally had eight staff and handled ULR claims.

1990 - DAS purchased DAS House, Quayside, which became the new UK head office.

1992 - DAS Services Ltd was launched to provide stand alone advice and assistance services in response to the growing business.

1996 - Motor Apres, after-the-event ULR cover was launched. DAS Ireland opened an office in Dublin and began providing motor, household and commercial policies for the Irish market.

1997 - A custom designed call centre was opened in DAS House to accommodate the growing role of DAS Services Ltd within the DAS business portfolio.

Motorists Legal Protection was acquired and renamed MLP Legal Protection Ltd. DAS International was acquired by ERGO and DAS UK was restructured as DAS UK Holdings Ltd. The company was awarded Investors In People accreditation, reflecting the company's structured training programme and Modern Apprenticeship scheme.

1998 - Full ISO accreditation was awarded throughout the company. Work also began on a new building at Bedwas to accommodate expansion of the motor claims centre which now employs 130 people and handles over 100,000 claims per year. DAS UK Holdings employs over 400 people.

1999 - Millionth claim handled at Bedwas

2001 - After-the-event division opened.