Hiscox is looking to double the amount of events, conference and exhibitions insurance business it writes through specialist broker Insurex Expo-Sure next year.

Insurex currently has a premium income of £5m and is targeting £10m in 2006.

David Sweeney, managing director of Insurex and UK development director of Hiscox, said: "Insurex was always a profitable business but there was a lack of investment.

"Service and delivery times have had to improve considerably in keeping with the standard customers have come to expect from Hiscox.

"We are now looking to really grow the business. We firmly believe we can capture 25% of the UK market by 2011," he added.

Hiscox purchased Insurex from Alexander Forbes in February and has since invested thousands of pounds in product development, marketing and integrating the broker into the Hiscox processing system.

On purchasing the broker, Hiscox also replaced Insurex's managing director and four of its underwriters with members of its own team.

Prior to the acquisition Hiscox underwrote around 35% of the broker's total book of business. Sweeney said that figure would increase to almost 100% by the end of next year.

Insurex's event insurance portfolio includes cover for cancellation, property damage, public and employers liability.

The company launches a revamped website on 5 December, which will enable customers to purchase basic exhibition policies online.

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