MDS was a pioneer in risk management in Portugal, creating the first risk management consultancy team in 1997. In the early 2000s, MDS began internationalizing by acquiring stakes in brokers in France and Brazil. An idea in 2004 led to the creation of Brokerslink, one of the largest global insurance brokerage companies today. MDS has continued to grow and innovate over the past 30 years, expanding its operations and partnerships around the world.

1. MILEST
mds

2. TONES

3. 1997
At the cutting edge
of risk management
In 1997, MDS was pioneer in creating a
risk management consultancy team that
later became the driving force for the
creation of APOGERIS, the Portuguese
Association for Risk Management and
Insurance. APOGERIS is a member of
FERMA, the Federation of European Risk
Management Associations, where MDS
Group CEO José Manuel Fonseca was
Board member for several years. Two
years later, MDS implemented yet another
innovative project - the launch of one of
the first captives in Portugal: SONAE RE,
the captive reinsurer of the Sonae Group,
based in Luxembourg and presently in
run-off.
From Portugal to around the world,the
desire to support clients has always made
MDS go further. The internationalisation
process began in 2001, when MDS took an
equity in FIRSTASSUR, a leading French
broker in the areas of affinity and internet.
The following year MDS expanded into
Brazilwith45%purchase of Lazam,a
Brazilian broker, giving rise toLazam-MDS.
Today, MDS is one of the largest and most
respected players in this market.
2001
Internationalisation
Over the last 30
years MDS has
grown, innovated
and expanded
its activity and
portfolio.
Today, MDS is a
global company
and its pathway
has been filled
with moments of
strategy, vision
and audacity that
have become
important
milestones in its
history.
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4. 2004
Global Broking
Company
An idea conceived in Porto in 2004 gave
rise to a global broking company. Led by
MDS, in conjunction with a small group
of founding brokers, Brokerslink entered
the market with a clear mission: to create
an alternative type of global broker. A
visionary idea that led to the creation of
what, today, is one of the largest global
insurance brokerage companies.
With the acquisition of Unibroker –
a slightly smaller broker - MDS became
the sector leader in Portugal. Since then it
has consistently retained that leadership
position.
Since 2007, MDS has had a stake in Ed,
a respected wholesale and reinsurance
broker. This relationship brings shared
know-how, technical expertise and
collaboration on an international level.
MDS considers that is quite important
to have a growth strategy based on
partnerships with leading players across
a range of key sectors, such as the joint-
venture with Filhet-Allard in Spain and
ISEM in Africa.
2005
Leadership
2007
Partnerships
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5. 2008
Knowledge
2010
Multi-Specialisation
In 2008 we started working on the first
edition of FULLCOVER. A bold idea led
to the birth, in 2009, of an innovative
and ambitious publishing project with
the aim to promote knowledge sharing
in the areas of insurance and risk. Today,
FULLCOVER celebrates its 10th
edition,
having built a reputation for excellence
within this sector’s publications. As XL
Catlin’s Andrew Vigar says, “FULLCOVER
is the Vogue of insurance!”It is a project
that has only been made possible due
to the commitment, collaboration and
expertise of the entire MDS team.
In 2010 we started the process to create
HighDome, a Protected Cell Company that
has enabled the MDS Group to expand its
sphere of activity through the creation of
sophisticated risk retention solutions. This
insurer and reinsurer, along with Herco,
a risk consultant specialist, and MDS RE,
a reinsurance broker, demonstrates MDS
Group's capacity to innovate and to be
multi-line specialists.
2009
Investment
2009 was marked by the investment from
the Suzano Group, one of Brazil’s oldest
privately held business groups has a
strong presence in the paper and cellulose
industry, which took on a 49.99% stake in
MDS Holding, clearly demonstrating this
market leader’s confidence in MDS.
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6. 2011
Technological
Innovation
2013
Expansion
MDS invests in technology because
innovation is in its genes.
The constant challenge of exploring new
technologies to transform clients’ risk
management experience led to the launch
of Proximity, in 2011. This innovative
online portal was developed exclusively
for clients to enable them to manage
their insurance portfolios anytime and
anywhere. Proximity embodies MDS's
cutting-edge position in this sector.
After Brazil, MDS entered into the
Angolan market in late 2013. MDS Africa’s
operation is today a consolidated project
with a direct presence in Angola and
Mozambique.
MDS is currently present in eight
countries: Portugal, Brazil, Spain, Angola,
Mozambique, the United Kingdom,
Switzerland and Malta, but operates all
around the globe through Brokerslink.
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