41. Sterling Insurance Group

GWP less treaty: £94m

Address:
Whittaker House
2 Whittaker Avenue
Richmond Upon Thames
Surrey TW9 1EH

Telephone: 020 8334 1500

Fax: 020 8948 6979

Email: info@sterlinginsurance group.com

Website:

Year established: 1994

Major shareholders: N G Cooper

Number of UK offices: 4

Number of UK employees (2002): 350

Main lines of business: Creditor, GAP, personal and commercial lines, personal accident, group and individual term life.

Subsidiaries: Sterling Life Limited; Sterling Insurance Company Limited; Sterling Hamilton Wright; Sterling Administration Services

Company history: Sterling Insurance Group (SIG) was founded in 1994 by Nicholas Cooper, formerly chief executive officer of Consolidated Insurance Group. In that year Sterling Life was purchased from Consolidated Insurance and in 1995, SIG acquired 100% of the share capital of Albion Insurance Company.

In 1996, SIG purchased an 80% holding in the Edgar Hamilton Group (EH).

EH specialises in motor guarantee insurance and in placing specialist, niche products into the Lloyd's market. In 1997, the group re-entered the creditor market, which now forms a significant part of its operations. In 2000, the group purchased the London-based insurance broker F E Wright to complement its existing broking capabilities.

In 2001, the group re-branded itself so that EH and F E Wright became Sterling Hamilton Wright and Albion was renamed Sterling Insurance Company.

In November 2001, Sterling Insurance Group set up Sterling Administration Services to provide a claims administration service to current and prospective clients. In December 2001, SIG acquired the renewal rights for Lloyd's Syndicate 982 (also known as Crowe Life) the business being written into Sterling Life.

Chief officer: Nicholas George Cooper.