Amlin swoops for £10m GWP underwriter

Amlin has agreed to acquire Crowe Livestock Underwriting, subject to FSA approval.

Crowe provides specialist insurance to the livestock industry and is based in Norfolk with 16 employees. Crowe operates through a network of brokers and managing general agents across 45 countries and underwrites a diverse book of livestock business including poultry, cattle and aquatics. In the current financial year Crowe expects to handle approximately £10m of gross written premium.

Amlin said it has a clear strategy of diversifying its underwriting portfolio further into a broader range of commercial insurance in order to balance its catastrophe book. "Entry into the livestock insurance market illustrates Amlin’s continuing focus on diversification and improving its distribution capabilities, while building long term profitability for the group," the company said.

Amlin chief executive Charles Philipps said: “The acquisition of Crowe will be a tremendous opportunity for Amlin to build on its well regarded bloodstock book by entering the livestock class. Crowe is an acknowledged leader in its field, with a proven management team and the specialist underwriting knowledge to enable Amlin to develop this business in the future”.

Emma Stamper, managing director of Crowe, said: “This will be an exciting milestone for our company and we look forward to taking the business to the next stage of its development as part of Amlin. We believe that this partnership will give Crowe an ideal opportunity to further enhance its current product offering and geographical reach, providing a strong platform for future growth”.