Listings
GWP less treaty: £252.2m
Address:
Highway House, 171 Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex CM77 7ZJ
t: 0870 443 1111
f: 01277 263 651
w: www.highway-insurance.co.uk
Year established: 1995
Number of UK offices: 5
Number of UK employees (2003): 440
Major shareholders:
J O Hambro Capital Management (19.4%), Laxey Partners (8.44%), Fidelity Investments (7.35%), UBS (5.57%), Aberforth Partners' Clients (5.28%), Axa Rosenberg (5.15%), Legal & General (3.57%), David Coleridge (3.36%), Henderson Global Investors (3.20%)
Main lines of business: Private car, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, fleet truck, motor trade (road risks only), specialist
Subsidiaries: Highway Insurance Company, Quote Insurance Services, Elite Underwriting, Highway Premium Finance
Chief officer: Andrew Gibson
Company history:
In 1995 market research led management to the decision to build a specialist motor insurance business, based on relationships with insurance brokers and other intermediaries. In 2003, Highway exited Lloyd's and now underwrites exclusively through Highway Insurance Company.
Today, Highway Insurance Company is the insurer of choice for motor and is one of the UK's largest and most profitable motor insurers. Highway is one of the few insurers to offer products exclusively through intermediaries and specifically avoids the direct selling techniques favoured by most UK insurers.
In June 2004 Highway launched a retail division, Highway Retail, in order to acquire and develop a number of UK brokers, improve its earning stream and smooth the impact of the underwriting cycle.
The current management team remains focused on tight financial controls and the creation and realisation of significant shareholder value.
Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
