SVB Syndicates said its underwriting capacity for the 2005 year of account would be £437m.

It said in 2004 rates held up well across SVB's portfolio of business and, despite the impact of windstorm losses, the performance of the account implied healthy and sustained profitability.

For 2005, it said, Syndicate 2147 would have a stamp capacity of £286m and Syndicate 1007 would have a stamp capacity of £151m.