Canopius Group was created via an MBO of a Lloyd's business in December 2003. It started with £25m of shareholders' equity and now has total capital resources of £400m.

 
 

Canopius Group Corporate Milestones

Key developments at a glance

2010
  • Acquisition of the business of KGM Underwriting Agencies and the management of Syndicate 260. Provision of capital to underwrite 59% of Syndicate 260's capacity from July 2010 onwards.
  • Promotion of Stephen Manning to Managing Director, Canopius Managing Agents Limited. Gaynore Moss, Chief Actuary joins CMA Board.
  • Promotion of Mike Duffy and Stephen Gargrave to Joint Active Underwriters of Syndicate 4444; Jim Giordano to resume oversight role of Canopius Managing Agents Limited's underwriting.
  • Launch of Construction and Engineering Account

2008
  • Canopius Underwriting Limited - a UK service company - established to support Syndicate 4444
  • Syndicate 4444 upgraded to Standard & Poor's Lloyd's Syndicate Assessment of 3-/stable
  • Raised additional £60m equity from Englefield Capital
  • Acquired economic interests in Syndicate 839
  • Recruited Crisis Management team in London
  • Established Canopius Ireland to source structured reinsurance solutions opportunities for Canopius Bermuda Limited
  • Established Canopius Asia to underwrite Asian treaty reinsurance for Syndicate 4444, operating under Lloyd's Asia platform.
  • Stephen Manning appointed Chief Operating Officer of Canopius Managing Agents Limited

2006
  • Commenced writing Global Property account to capitalise on post-Katrina rate environment
  • Acquired Creechurch Managing Agency and Syndicates 1607 and 3786.
  • Raised additional £15m equity from Englefield Capital
  • Issued $20m Senior Notes

2004
  • Established Syndicate 4444 with stamp capacity of £230m
  • Commenced writing North American Property and expanded Cargo capabilities with recruitment of new teams
  • Raised additional £10m equity capital from Englefield and issued €12m Senior Notes

 

 

2009
  • Retirement of Clive Watson, Chief Executive Officer of Canopius Managing Agents Limited. Michael Watson resumes role with effect from 1st October pending recruitment of permanent successor
  • Tim Carroll appointed as Underwriting Director for Canopius Managing Agents Limited and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 4444

2007
  • Management restructure: Michael Watson to focus on role as Chairman of Canopius Group and Jim Giordano on his role of Group Chief Underwriting Officer and Head of newly-created International division; Clive Watson appointed Chief Executive of Canopius Managing Agents Limited
  • Arista Insurance, an MGA writing UK SME package business and 55% owned by Canopius, commenced underwriting
  • Canopius Bermuda Limited, a Class 3A reinsurance company established
  • Canopius Underwriting Bermuda Limited, an underwriting agency for Syndicate 4444, established to write excess casualty and treaty property business

2005
  • Trebled size of North American Facilities account by acquiring underwriting team and renewal rights to Alea London portfolio
  • Issued $40m Senior Notes

2003
  • Raised £25m equity capital (net) for MBO of a Lloyd's business