49. Butcher Robinson & Staples Holdings

Fee and commission income (2002): £10.6m

Pre-tax profit (2002): £100,000

Address:
Collegiate House
9 St Thomas St
London SEI 9RY

Tel: 020 7407 0626

Fax: 020 7407 1076

Websites: www.brasil.co.uk, www.brsltd.co.uk, www.hmhltd.co.uk, www.aegispolicies.co.uk, www.aegisonline.co.uk

Year established: 1976

History: Butcher Robinson & Staples was formed in 1976 and developed into a group of companies under the name of Chapter Group plc. The group is an independent confederation of businesses and companies established in some cases in the 1940s. In 2002, the broking interest of Chapter Group was demerged as Butcher Robinson & Staples Holdings Ltd. BRSH trades in reinsurance and insurance markets in the UK and throughout the world under various trade names and banners through regulated and accredited intermediaries, including three Lloyd's and GISC brokers, Butcher Robinson & Staples Ltd (BRASIL), Butcher Robinson & Staples (BRS) and Butcher Robinson & Staples Marine Ltd (BRSM), broker Aegis Insurance Brokers, which operates under GISC rules through the agency of a fellow subsidiary and an FSA authorised pensions and investment IFA, Aegis Financial Services Ltd.

BRASIL embraces the leading financial institution force (Bankers Insurance Division), the international travel and personal accident and the special risk and jewellers divisions. Bankers Insurance Division is a market-leading broker and deals extensively with overseas agents and clients placing business into the London and international market.

BRS is a specialist in property and casualty business from the US and elsewhere and also has specialist expertise in excess of loss and treaty business. BRSM is a specialist in cargo, specie, hull and general marine business, with a wide network of agents and respected sources in Ireland, South Africa and the US.

AIB trades from locations in London, Letchworth and Belfast. Aegis Financial Services Ltd trades from offices in Reading and Belfast.

Major shareholders: Private individuals including employees

Main lines of business: Financial institutions, jewellers, travel and indemnity, North American property and casualty, international property, marine cargo, personal lines and financial services.

Number of UK branches: 4

Subsidiary companies: Butcher Robinson and Staples International Ltd; Butcher Robinson and Staples Ltd; Butcher Robinson and Staples Marine Ltd; Aegis Insurance Brokers Ltd; Aegis Financial Services Ltd.

Number of UK employees (average for 2002): 95

Chief officer: Peter Pennington Legh, executive chairman

Biography: Peter Pennington Legh is the executive chairman of Butcher Robinson & Staples Holdings and Chapter Group, property holding and management, insurance and insurance investigations.

He is a chartered accountant and qualified in 1973 with Peat Marwick Mitchell (now part of KPMG). He spent five years post qualification with Hill Samuel/Lowndes Lambert and three years at Guinness Peat/Fenchurch Group. He joined Butcher Robinson & Staples Holdings in 1980. He is a former director of underwriting agencies and broker/service companies in the London market, maintains non-executive directorships with financial advisers and other insurance brokers.