Know more about the transformation of Brokerslink into a global broking company.

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M D S m a g a z i n e
An idea.
The setting and time was Portugal, the land of explorers
sometime in 2004. Driven by the need to provide quality
service to clients on an international basis, with no
acceptable solution available, José Manuel Fonseca and
MDS set out beyond their borders to find like minded,
independentinsurancebrokersinordertoforgearegional
network. Brokerslink was born.
Much like fine wines evolve over time, good ideas,
accompanied by vision and a sense of direction, become
a continuum of ideas that evolve over time. Brokerslink,
a fine idea, started its evolution.
Thefirstphaseoftheevolutioncenteredongeographical
expansioninordertobeabletoserviceclientsaroundthe
globeandformalizationofthestructureasanassociation.
By2009,amere5yearsafterstartingasanidea,Brokerslink
wasaglobalinsurancealliancepresentinover50countries
with strong reinsurance brokerage support. 2009 also
marked a significant shift in strategy. Half way across
theglobefromPortugal,inHongKong,thesiteofthefirst
global conference, Brokerslink starts transforming into
an offensive organization in search of new business. The
second phase was under way.
The transformation of the nature of the organization
required further geographical expansion, creating a
complete risk solution offering and market visibility. The
Brokerslink:
From idea to reality
A transformation story
BY PAUL BITNER, MANAGING DIRECTOR BROKERSLINK AG
explorerssettheirsightsuponMiddleEastandAfrica,until
then, key unexplored regions. They also heightened their
efforts to forge new relationships in key countries around
the globe where Brokerslink lacked presence.
Alongtheway,relationshipswereforgedwithhighquality
specialtybrokerageandriskconsultingfirms.Brokerslink
alsofocusedeffortsonstrengtheningstrategicrelationships
with key global insurers launching a website with a
collaborationplatform.By2013,Brokerslinkhadpresence
in over 85 countries, 10 world-class specialty broking or
risk consulting offerings, strategic agreements with key
insurers and increased visibility.
During this time, another idea in the continuum started
forming. What about becoming a different kind of global
broking? You may ask: what was it that drove this idea?
The simple answer is to provide a long-term viable differ-
entiatedoptioninthemarket.Howeverthissimpleanswer
has subcomponents. The incorporation further differen-
tiatesBrokerslinkfromtheexistingindependentinsurance
brokernetworksandprovidesanalternativetothepublicly
traded global brokers.
Brokerslinkbecomesaglobalbrokingcompanyowned
by independent insurance brokers who retain their
operatingidentity.Thecapitalobtainedfromtheincorpo-
rationwillenableadditionalinvestmentinhumancapital,
software, branding and the individual operating brokers
gearedtowardsprovidingthemarketwithadifferentiated
service experience and set of risk solutions.

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This time the setting was Brokerslink’s 5th Global
Conference, October 2013 in Singapore. Brokerslink’s
members took the first step by voting to transform
the association into a corporation. The third phase of
Brokerslink’s existence was under way.
Thecomplexandtime-consumingincorporationprocess
gotunderway.Thefirststepintheprocesswascompleted
by2014,whenBrokerslinkMananagementAGwascreated,
registered and capitalized in Switzerland with five
shareholders, all key players in Brokerslink’s evolution,
are shown in the chart above.
In 2015, Brokerslink AG, the global broking company
was created, registered and capitalized by Brokerslink
Management AG. At that time, the share offering process
was launched to be completed in May of 2016.
A new type of global broking company has come into
existence. Now owned by 47 independent insurance
brokersandconsultingfirmsfromallregionsoftheworld,
BrokerslinkAGiscapitalizedandinapositiontodelivera
differentclientexperiencethrougharobustcentralteam
and a network of 90 affiliates with a global footprint and
a broad range of industry expertise.
A reality with more good ideas coming. •
20% 20% 20%
BROKERSLINK
MANAGEMENT AG
BROKERSLINK AG
20% 20%
fu l l c o v er
The incorporation further
differentiates Brokerslink
from the existing independent
insurance broker networks and
provides an alternative to the
publicly traded global brokers.
50 NEW INVESTORS,
REPRESENTING 41 COUNTRIES
FROM 5 CONTINENTS