QBE at a glance
QBE Insurance Group is one of
the world’s leading insurers and
reinsurers, operating out of 45
countries around the world, and
has a presence in all of the key
insurance markets.
Financial strength
QBE Insurance Group performance 2008
Gross written premium £m 6,025
Net earned premium £m 5,083
Combined operating ratio % 88.5
Insurance profit £m 1,001
Shareholders’ funds £m 5,364
QBE in Europe Insurer financial strength and
counterparty credit rating QBE key facts
QBE operates in all the major insurance
• Gross written premium £6.0 billion
centres throughout Europe and has more You can judge the size and strength of a
to year end December 2008
than 120 years experience in the UK. We company by the ratings it keeps.
have a strong presence across the UK We are pleased to be rated as follows: • One of the largest managing agents
and Ireland, enabling us to provide an at Lloyd’s
Standard & Poor’s A+
outstanding service locally to brokers. • A+ rating by Standard & Poor’s
Fitch Ratings A+ and Fitch, A (Excellent) A.M. Best
In Europe we have an indepth
A.M. Best A (Excellent) • Operating in the UK for over
understanding of each of our chosen 120 years
markets. Our ability to combine our local
Standard & Poor’s insurer financial strength • Top three insurance company
expertise with the broad knowledge of our
and counterparty credit rating for QBE’s for service – Insurance Times
product specialists enables us to provide main insurance subsidiaries is A+ (Stable). survey 2008
innovative solutions in each territory. Fitch Ratings insurer financial strength rating
• Regional offices throughout the UK
for QBE’s main underwriting subsidiaries is
Our financial strength provides a level of and Ireland
A+ (Stable), and the agency has also
security and confidence with the added affirmed a long-term credit rating at A. Their • Choice of writing business with
flexibility of our dual-pen capability. This outlook for all ratings is Stable. A.M. Best Lloyd's security or company security
means you have the choice of whichever assigned the financial strength rating of the • Comprehensive product range
is best for your clients, either Lloyd’s, QBE Group of companies A (Excellent).
where we are one of the largest managing
agents, or company paper.
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Our approach Local knowledge
All our people are encouraged and UK and Ireland – Underwriting offices
empowered to think for themselves, and London, Dublin, Birmingham, Bristol,
to use their expertise to find a way around Chelmsford, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester
problems. We have a healthy appetite for and Stafford
risk, and a willingness to work flexibly in
partnership with brokers, enabling us to Europe – offices situated in Bulgaria,
find solutions where other insurers can’t Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
or won’t. France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Spain,
We don’t believe that one size fits all or Sweden, Switzerland and the Ukraine
that we should follow what other insurers
do, which means we are always willing to
take a view on specialist risks.
Leading product range
We are market leaders in the vast majority
of products we offer. Our comprehensive
product range is categorised below; with
literally hundreds of product lines on offer
we are confident we can provide you with
a competitive and effective solution.
• Aviation
• Casualty
• Marine and Energy
• Motor
• Property
• Reinsurance
• Specialty
• British Marine
We stand by our claims To find out more
History of QBE
At QBE we pride ourselves on our For more information about QBE and how
professional, efficient and sympathetic In 1886, the North Queensland
we can help your business, please visit our
approach to claims. So not only do we Insurance Company was formed by
website www.qbeeurope.com or e-mail
take great satisfaction from our claims two insurance agents in Sydney,
us at enquiries@uk.qbe.com
record, we also place a great emphasis Australia. The company was
on risk management, working with clients expanded by establishing agencies
to improve their systems and processes. throughout Asia and Australasia.
This attitude has helped us to become There was even an agency presence
one of the biggest and best insurers in the in London prior to the branch office
UK, as voted for by brokers. In the 2008 opening on Fenchurch Street in 1904.
Insurance Times’ Commercial Broker
research we were rated third overall for North Queensland Insurance
service out of all the major insurance Company continued to grow and
companies. acquired Equitable Probate and
General Insurance in 1959, before
merging with the Bankers and Traders
Insurance Company in 1971 to finally
arrive at the name – QBE.
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QBE European Operations is a trading name of QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited and QBE Underwriting Limited. QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited
and QBE Underwriting Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. QBE Management Services (UK) Limited and
QBE Underwriting Services (UK) Limited are both Appointed Representatives of QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited and QBE Underwriting Limited.