Lloyd's syndicate of the year

Winner

Equity Red Star

Equity Red Star are delighted to have won the 2003 Lloyd's Syndicate of the Year category of the Insurance Times Awards. This success is seen as recognition of the hard work and expertise shown by all the staff in the syndicate.

As an integral part of Cox Insurance Equity Red Star underwrites a wide range of insurance risks for brokers and intermediaries. With gross written premium income for 2003 estimated to be in excess of £550m, Equity Red Star is not only the largest motor syndicate at Lloyd's, but one of the largest motor insurers and the largest motorcycle insurer in the UK.

Its success is in part due to its ability to underwrite a diverse portfolio of risks, ranging from private car, motorcycle and classic car through to commercial motor business including fleet, haulage and taxi. Complementing this is a significant number of household and personal accident accounts and its own breakdown and recovery service.

Equity Red Star is proud of its underwriting and claims service and it is particularly pleasing that the very people who supply the Syndicate with its business - our broker and intermediary partners - selected this award.

Highly commended

R J Kiln & Co

Kiln manages four syndicates in Lloyd's: Kiln Combined 510 (which accounts for over three quarters of total premiums written), Catastrophe 557, Mathers 807 and Life 308.

Kiln is a recognised leader in each of the five main business areas in which it operates: reinsurance, accident and health, aviation, marine and special risks, and property. In these and other fields, we help our customers to manage their risk, and provide them with financial protection in the event of disasters and catastrophes.

Our focus is on excellent underwriting skills, experience and standards.

That focus, combined with a commitment to customer service, means we have a market-leading offering for our clients.

Specialisation is our watchword: we are specialist in the things we insure, in the types of cover we provide, in the ways we provide it and in our timing in providing it. We take pride in addressing difficult, complex and unusual risks, and we employ a combination of flair and sound judgement to do so.

From quotation to claim, and from new business to renewal, we maintain high standards of service and operate in a way that encourages customers and brokers to do business with us.

Markel

Markel Syndicate 3000 at Lloyd's is part of Markel International, the UK subsidiary of Markel Corporation. The syndicate underwrites a diverse portfolio of property, casualty, marine and aviation insurance and reinsurance business. By focusing on niche markets, where we have superior knowledge of the nature and incidence of the risks involved, we can offer specialist products which best meet the needs of our customers.

Markel International is committed to the Lloyd's market and our philosophy is to use our underwriting expertise to provide innovative ideas and solutions and a quality service to policyholders, agents and brokers.