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Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc.

bre · LSE Financial Services
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Industry Insurance - Brokers
Employees 501-1000
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FY2022 Annual Report · Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc.
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Brit Limited
Annual Report 2022

writing the future
If the future was predictable, there would be no risk and if change was linear, there’d be no need for 
experts. There’d be no need for the insurance industry.

But the truth is, the world we live in is unpredictable. It’s volatile, uncertain, and subject to change.

At Brit, we believe that the uncertainty of the future should never stand in the way of progress.

That’s why we exist. To help people and businesses face the future and thrive.

Every day, we channel our entrepreneurial expertise to write the most opaque risk that the future holds, 
embracing the change faced by our clients by delivering a service that’s open, honest, and fair. One that 
invests in the new products and claims delivery they need in a world of complex risk.

We are dedicated to innovation, developing client solutions, efficient capital vehicles and a technology-led 
service that not only lead the market, but drive the future.

Investing in distribution so that we can deliver market-leading analytics to further deepen our 
relationships with key partners, and investing in our people, so we can amplify the integrity, agility and 
innovation that define our shared future.

So if you’re our partner, broker or an employee, we make you this promise: we won’t just react to change, 
we’ll create it for the better. 

We won’t just write risk, we’ll write the future.

Let’s do it together.

2022 – a strong and robust underwriting result

•  GWP for 2022 of $3,970.0m, an increase of 24.7% over 2021 ($3,238.3m) at constant rates of exchange. 

•  We achieved a combined ratio of 96.6% (2021: 95.7%1) and an underwriting profit of $95.4m (2021: $90.6m) despite 
exposure to a number of natural catastrophes, claims arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a marginal 
increase in ultimate claim estimates for prior year reserves, demonstrating the increased resilience of our business.

•  We delivered a strong full year attritional ratio of 51.0% (2021: 47.7%1). 

•  Major losses of $338.5m contributed 12.0pps to the combined ratio (2021: $324.4m/15.5pps), including $31.9m in 

respect of claims arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

•  Our investment return was a negative $132.1m or (2.3)%, including $131.5m of unrealised losses, reflecting the 

market conditions (2021: gains of $171.9m or 3.3%). 

•  Result on ordinary activities before tax and FX was a loss of $92.8m (2021: profit of $247.1m) and result after tax 

was a loss of $96.3m (2021: profit of $236.9m), reflecting the underwriting profit offset by the negative investment 
return, corporate expenses, finance costs and FX. RoNTA of -3.6% (2021: +19.4%).

•  Brit’s capital position remains strong, with our capital surplus over management entity capital requirements of 

$709.8m or 52.8% (2021: $617.9m or 39.1%). A significant proportion of our investment portfolio remains invested in 
cash and fixed income securities (2022: 85.1%; 2021: 85.9%).

•  A highly successful second year of trading for Ki, recording GWP of $834.1m (2021: $395.6m), an increase at constant 

FX rates of 115.4%, and CoR of 99.4%. 

•  Market conditions continue to harden and we achieved risk-adjusted rate increases of 12.4%, bringing the compound 

increase since 1 January 2018 to 54.1%. 

•  Key developments include:

•  Agreed the sale of our Ambridge MGA companies to Amynta Group;
•  Executed our catastrophe strategy;
•  Relaunched our Data and Digital strategy, supported by our new Chief Technology Officer and Chief Data Officer; and
•  Continued to focus on our customers through claims innovation, including deploying our algorithm to enable a faster 

claims response following Hurricane Ian, and by launching the Direct Pay claims payment solution in the US.

Note 1: The calculation of the combined ratio and other ratios is set out on page 179. The calculation of the 2021 underwriting ratios contains an adjustment 
whereby the premium paid for the loss portfolio reinsurance (LPR) ($344.1m) is added back to premium earned net of reinsurance, with an equal and 
opposite adjustment to net claims incurred. The benefit of a $35.0m reserve release resulting from the additional protection afforded by the contract is 
included in the calculation. This contract was endorsed in 2022, which is reflected in the 2022 ratio calculations, with a return premium ($37.2m) deducted 
from premium earned net of reinsurance, with an equal and opposite adjustment to net claims incurred, and with the resulting reserve strengthening 
of $0.7m included in the calculation. The Directors believe that the ratios when calculated after these adjustments present a more consistent and 
understandable view of the Group’s performance as they eliminate the distorting effect of the LPR. 

contents
Strategic Report
The Strategic Report contains information about 
the Group, how we make money and how we run 
the business. It gives an insight into our markets, 
approach to governance, sustainability and risk 
management. It provides context for our financial 
statements, sets out our key performance 
indicators (KPIs) and analyses our financial 
performance. It also sets out how we engage with 
our people and other stakeholders and includes our 
Section 172(1) Statement. 

Governance
This report sets out other information of interest 
to our stakeholders. It includes our Directors’ 
responsibility statement and our Directors’ 
statement on going concern. It also explains our 
governance framework and contains our Modern 
Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement. 

Financial statements
This section presents the financial position, 
performance and development in accordance with 
generally accepted accounting practice for both 
the Group and the Company. It also contains the 
Auditors’ Report. 

Officer statements
Brit at a glance
Our underwriting
Business review
Financial performance review
Financial position and capital strength 
Risk management, principal risks and uncertainties
Our people, culture, social, community 
and environmental matters
Stakeholder engagement
Section 172(1) statement

4
6
10
16
20
31
34

39
45
49

Directors’ Report
Corporate Governance Report
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

54
57
59

Independent Auditors’ Report
Consolidated Income Statement
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Parent Company Financial Statements

62
72
73
74
75
76
78
170

Additional information
This section explains how we calculate our KPIs 
with reference to data contained within the 
financial statements. We also summarise other 
information relating to the Company that is useful 
to stakeholders.

Reconciliation of Key Performance Indicators 
to the Financial Statements
Company information

Glossary
In this section, we include definitions of the terms 
used in this Annual Report, focusing on terms 
specific to the insurance industry and to Brit.

Glossary of terms

178
182

183

Disclaimer
This document does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer for sale or subscription of, or solicitation 
of any offer or invitation or advice or recommendation to subscribe for, underwrite or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities 
(including share options and debt instruments) of the Company nor any other body corporate nor should it or any part of it form the 
basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or commitment whatsoever which may at any time be entered into by the 
recipient or any other person, nor does it constitute an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity under Section 21 of 
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). This document does not constitute an invitation to effect any transaction with 
the Company or to make use of any services provided by the Company. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future 
performance. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

1

strategic report

This Strategic Report contains information about our business and provides an insight into 
how we operate and our approach to sustainability and risk management. It provides context 
for our Financial Statements, sets out our key performance indicators (KPIs) and analyses 
our financial performance. All monetary figures in this report are presented in US dollar ($), 
unless otherwise stated.

The calculations of the combined ratio and other underwriting ratios are set out on page 179. The calculations for 2021 contain 
an adjustment whereby the premium paid for the loss portfolio reinsurance (LPR) ($344.1m) is added back to premium earned 
net of reinsurance, with an equal and opposite adjustment to net claims incurred. The benefit of a $35.0m reserve release 
resulting from the additional protection afforded by the contract is included in the calculation. This contract was endorsed in 
2022, which is reflected in the 2022 ratio calculations, with a return premium ($37.2m) deducted from premium earned net 
of reinsurance and an equal and opposite adjustment to net claims incurred, and with the resulting reserve strengthening 
of $0.7m included in the calculation. The ratios for the year ended 31 December 2018, during which a similar loss portfolio 
reinsurance was entered into, were prepared on a consistent basis. The Directors believe that the ratios when calculated 
after these adjustments present a more consistent and understandable view of the Group’s performance as they eliminate the 
distorting effect of the LPR. 

4

10

Officer statements
Martin Thompson, our 
Group CEO, and Gavin 
Wilkinson, our Group 
CFO, comment on the 
Group’s performance and 
business developments 
during 2022 and look 
ahead to 2023.

Our underwriting 
We set out our broad 
range of underwriting 
products and services, 
and analyse how each 
of our portfolios 
contributed to our 
premium income in  
2021 and 2022.

20

Financial  
performance review
We set out our KPIs. 
We explain how we use 
them to monitor our 
performance and outline 
their performance from 
2018 to 2022. We then 
provide an analysis of 
the performance of our 
business during 2022.

6

16

31

Brit at a glance
We introduce the Brit 
Group, explain who we 
are and what we do. We 
discuss our underwriting 
philosophy and the Brit 
offering. We also set  
out our track record.

Business review
We review market 
conditions, our 
underwriting activities 
and other business 
developments  
during 2022.

Financial position and 
capital strength 
We review our financial 
position at 31 December 
2022. This section 
includes a discussion of 
our investment portfolio.

45

Stakeholder 
engagement
We set out our key 
stakeholders, as identified 
by the Board, together 
with why and how we 
engage with them and 
the outcomes of that 
engagement.

49

Section 172(1) 
statement
We set out how our 
Directors promote the 
success of the Company 
and discharge their 
responsibilities under 
Section 172(1) of the 
Companies Act.

34

Risk management, 
principal risks and 
uncertainties 
We set out our risk 
management framework 
and explain how we will 
manage the principal 
risks facing our business 
in 2022, to ensure we 
deliver our strategic 
priorities. We also 
consider emerging  
risks including climate 
related risk.

39

Our people, culture, 
social, community 
and environmental 
matters
We provide information 
on our people (including 
how we engage with 
them) and on social, 
community and 
environmental matters, 
to the extent that it is 
necessary to understand 
our business.

This Strategic Report was approved by the Board on 23 February 2023.

Martin Thompson
Group Chief Executive Officer*

Gavin Wilkinson
Group Chief Financial Officer 

* Mr Thompson was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer on 31 October 2022. His appointment is subject to regulatory approval.
2 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportBrit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

3

strategic report 
 
officer statements

In late October, Matthew Wilson 

took the decision to step down 
from his roles of Group CEO and 
Executive Chairman of Ki to focus 
on his health and his family. It is  
an honour to succeed Matthew, 
having spent a year as Interim 
Group CEO experiencing Brit’s 
culture and getting to know its 

talented people. Matthew leaves a business that is in good 
shape and I am excited about our potential and how much 
more we have to achieve.

I am pleased to report that our strategy has delivered a 
resilient underwriting performance for 2022 with a combined 
ratio of 96.6%. In a year that saw significant losses arising 
from natural catastrophes and the Ukraine crisis, this is a 
robust result and testament to our underwriting discipline, 
further evidenced by our healthy attritional ratio. 

Brit has been shocked and horrified by the unfolding events 
in Ukraine. Brit’s thoughts are with its people and our Fairfax 
colleagues based there. Brit and its staff have also supported 
The Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. 

I am also pleased that, alongside delivering a profitable 
underwriting result, we were able to grow our written premium 
to $3,970.0m (2021: $3,238.3m), an increase of 22.6%, or 
24.7% at constant rates of exchange. This growth reflects a 
combination of both new business and rate increases across 
our direct and reinsurance portfolios, as well as Ki’s continued 
expansion in its second year of trading.

The development of Ki continues apace, gaining significant 
traction in the market. In 2022, Ki wrote $834.1m of premium, 
an increase of 115.4% at constant FX rates over its first year 
of trading, and returned a very creditable combined ratio of 
99.4%. 

Market conditions have also contributed to Brit’s premium 
growth. We achieved risk adjusted rate increases of 12.4%, 
driven by the rising cost of reinsurance and market pressure 
on liability lines primarily reflecting social inflation. This gives 
a compound increase since 1 January 2018 of 54.1%. 

As with the wider insurance market, our overall result 
was impacted by the volatility of financial markets and its 
impact on our investment return. The majority of this impact 
is unrealised, and our strong capital position means Brit 
remains well placed to take advantage of the opportunities we 
are seeing in the market. 

During the year we also made a number of important senior 
appointments, including Bilge Mert as Chief Technology 
Officer and Kanika Chaganty as Chief Data Officer. These 
appointments form part of our broader technology and data 
strategy, which will help shape Brit as a lead underwriter of 
the future. This strategy will see us deliver an innovative, 
data-driven and technology enabled platform that empowers 

our underwriting and claims teams to thrive. We also made 
a number of key underwriting and business development 
appointments.

The major loss events of 2022 brought into sharp focus 
the crucial role insurance plays in times of crisis, and our 
ability to deliver a best-in-class claims service continues 
to be a core focus. We have supported our clients when 
they need it most, with innovation at the heart of our claims 
approach. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ian, using 
our proprietary machine learning algorithm in tandem with 
ultra-high-resolution aerial imagery, we were able to make 
our first claim payments one week after the event. We were 
also delighted that Brit Private Client, 18 months since launch, 
took overall first place in the Highpoint High Net Worth Insurer 
Survey, showing that our proposition of underwriting, claims 
and service excellence has been welcomed by the market. 

We are deeply proud of Brit’s unique culture and we have 
continued to make progress against our inclusion and 
diversity roadmap, focusing on our ongoing commitment 
to attract and retain diverse talent and support a culture 
of inclusion. We have continued with our wide-ranging 
educational and awareness programme.

On 9 January 2023, we announced the sale of our highly 
regarded and fast-growing international MGA, Ambridge, to 
Amynta Group. The sale is expected to close in the second 
quarter of 2023. We are proud of what we have helped 
to create, but believe now is the appropriate time for Brit 
to realise the value of its investment as we focus on our 
strategic priorities of core underwriting capabilities across 
our broad distribution networks, and investment in our 
market leading digital capabilities. Importantly, Ambridge and 
Amynta remain key partners for Brit, and we look forward 
to a long and successful partnership with them as an 
independent MGA.

Going into 2023, the industry faces a number of challenges 
and uncertainties, driven by the volatile geopolitical and 
economic landscapes, including ongoing inflationary 
pressures. Wider challenges also continue to exist such as 
the potential for increased frequency and magnitude of major 
loss events, excess capacity, the cost of doing business in 
the London Market, and increased competition. However, 
against this backdrop we believe Brit is uniquely placed. We 
have enviable scale and reputation as a lead market, a clear 
digital and data strategy that will make us more efficient 
and easier to do business with, and a proven commitment to 
investing in innovative solutions that improve outcomes for 
our customers. Underpinning this is a differentiated culture 
and some of the industry’s best talent, taken together we 
are excited about how Brit is positioned to respond to the 
opportunities and challenges ahead.

Martin Thompson 
Group Chief Executive Officer

4 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportIn 2022, Brit delivered a robust 

underwriting result, offset 
primarily by the impact of the 
global financial market volatility 
on our investment portfolio. Brit’s 
result for all operations before FX 
and tax was a loss of $92.8m and 
our return on net tangible assets 
was -3.6%. Brit’s result after tax 

for continuing operations was a loss of $118.0m.

Underwriting profit was $95.4m, with a combined ratio 
of 96.6%. The attritional ratio for the period was 51.0%, 
reflecting good underwriting discipline, rigorous risk 
selection, and healthy compound rate increases. 

Major losses of $338.5m contributed 12.0pps (2021: 
$324.4m/15.5pps) to the combined ratio, and related 
primarily to Hurricane Ian and provisions established as a 
result of the shocking events in Ukraine. Given the ongoing 
nature of events in Ukraine, neither the duration nor the 
ultimate outcome can be predicted with any certainty, and  
we continue to monitor the situation closely.

In 2022, as part of our standard reserving process, we 
marginally increased our ultimate claim estimates for prior 
years by $6.8m, the equivalent to a combined ratio increase 
of 0.2pps (2021: release of $100.1m, reduction of 4.8pps), as 
we considered the potential impact of the current economic 
conditions and the potential impact of inflation. The 2022 
figure includes releases across Property, Specialty, Property 
Treaty and Ambridge Transactional, offset by strengthening in 
Programmes and Facilities, Financial and Professional Liability 
and Casualty Treaty principally.

Our return on invested assets net of fees was a negative 
$132.1m or -2.3%, including $131.5m of unrealised losses. 
Losses in the first six months of 2022 totalled $233.4m, 
which were partly offset by a positive return of $101.3m in 
the second half of the year. The overall return is primarily as 
a result of the reaction of investment markets to the conflict 
in Ukraine, US government bond yields increasing significantly 
and US and European investment grade credit and high yield 
spreads widening during the year. 

Our balance sheet remains strong, with adjusted net tangible 
assets of $1,590.6m (2021: $1,740.6m). Our management 
capital surplus increased to $709.8m or 52.8% (2021: 
$617.9m or 39.1%) over our Group management capital 
requirement of $1,343.2m (2021: $1,581.6m), reflecting 
the impact of the movement in interest rates on our capital 
requirements, partly offset by the result for the period.

Our investment portfolio retains a large allocation to cash 
and cash equivalents ($1,084.2m or 18.0%) and fixed income 
securities ($4,033.1m or 67.1%) on a look through basis. 
Brit’s equity allocation stands at $872.7m, or 14.5%. At  
31 December 2022, 71.5% of our invested assets were rated 
A- or higher, and the duration of the portfolio had increased  
to 1.7 years. 

We remain cognisant of the potential impacts of inflation, 
with work being undertaken collaboratively across the Group 
to quantify and mitigate its impact on profitability. We also 
continue to focus on ensuring that our underwriting and 
pricing adequately addresses inflationary trends, and we 
continue to review the key drivers of claim settlement costs 
and frequency by each class of business. Our reserves 
continue to be set at a margin above the actuarial best 
estimate and incorporates our current view of social and 
economic inflation.

We continue to make good progress with our programme 
to implement IFRS 17, the new accounting standard for 
insurance contracts applicable from 1 January 2023. During 
2022 the Company’s efforts focused on the finalisation and 
documentation of key accounting policies and significant 
estimates, and the implementation and testing of information 
technology systems that support the production of figures 
on an IFRS 17 basis. The company is currently refining its 
opening consolidated IFRS 17 balance sheet as at 1 January 
2022 and preparing for reporting to our parent on an IFRS 17 
basis as at 31 March 2023.

We have continued to experience strong underwriting conditions 
in 2022. However, the world faces ongoing volatility, continuing 
challenges arising from inflation, and continued political 
uncertainty. The insurance market also continues to evolve. 
We believe that our strategy, discipline and financial strength 
position us well to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.

Gavin Wilkinson 
Group Chief Financial Officer 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

5

strategic report 
 
Brit at a glance 

Overview
We are a market-leading global specialty (re)insurer and one 
of the largest businesses that trades primarily on the Lloyd’s 
of London platform, the world’s leading specialist commercial 
insurance market. We provide highly specialised insurance 
products to support our clients across a broad range of 
complex risks, underpinned by our strong underwriting and 
claims expertise.

At 31 December 2022, we had capital resources equal to 
152.8% of the management capital requirement needed 
to support our business and Fairfax has supported our 
continued capital strength allowing us to take advantage of 
business opportunities as they arise. Our capital strength 
provides the flexibility to allow us to cope with major losses 
while not deviating from our commitment to fund profitable 
expansion and to provide attractive returns.

We care deeply about our clients’ needs, ensuring that we not 
only surround them with the best talent in the industry, but 
also combine the depth of our experience with technology to 
deliver innovation. Acting in open, honest partnership, our 
clients can be sure that with Brit by their side the future is 
not something to be feared, it is something to be seized.

A full history of Brit can be found at www.britinsurance.com.

The Fairfax group
Since June 2015, Brit has been a member of the Fairfax 
Financial Holdings Limited group (Fairfax), a Canadian 
company whose shares are listed on the Toronto Stock 
Exchange (www.fairfax.ca). 

At 31 December 2022, Fairfax owned 86.2% of Brit 
Limited while the remaining 13.8% was owned by OMERS 
Administration Corporation (OMERS), the defined benefit 
pension plan for municipal sector employees in the Province of 
Ontario, Canada. Fairfax has the option to purchase OMERS’ 
interest in Brit at certain dates commencing in October 2023.

We believe that Fairfax is an excellent parent for Brit, enabling 
us to enhance our global product offering. It provides us with 
a strong and stable base for long-term growth and affords us 
with opportunities to expand our underwriting and distribution 
channels, combined with the freedom to pursue our own 
identity, philosophy and ambitions.

Our financial strength
Our strong and efficient capital model results from our focus 
on Lloyd’s. As part of the Fairfax group we also benefit from 
the group’s financial strength. We believe that our efficient, 
flexible and scalable operating model provides a stable 
foundation that enables us to pursue our strategy of focusing 
on maximising profitability of the underwriting business and 
extending our global reach.

Our capabilities and ambition are underpinned by our strong 
financial position. Our business is underwritten primarily 
through our wholly-aligned Lloyd’s Syndicate 2987, our 
innovative Ki Syndicate 1618, and the partly-aligned Lloyd’s 
Syndicate 2988, which benefit from Lloyd’s ratings of A 
(Excellent) from A.M. Best, AA- (Very Strong) from Fitch and 
A+ (Strong) from Standard & Poor’s. 

During 2022, A.M. Best reaffirmed a Financial Strength Rating 
of A (Excellent), with a 'stable' outlook, to Brit Reinsurance 
(Bermuda) Limited (Brit Re). This rating reflects Brit Re's 
financial strength, which A.M. Best assesses as 'very strong', 
and the positive impact of having Fairfax as its ultimate parent. 

Providing a risk service
Choosing to work with Brit means clients are buying a service, 
not just buying a product. Every day, our multidisciplined 
teams bring diverse skills and experience to our clients’ 
businesses, and our deep underwriting expertise helps 
clients to effectively mitigate their risks. By working in close 
collaboration across Underwriting, Claims, Actuarial and 
Technology, our teams gain and share unparalleled insight into 
the risks that our clients face.

Extensive distribution network
We are proud of our extensive distribution network and are 
focused on tailoring our distribution strategy across four key 
areas: open market, coverholders, reinsurance and digital. We 
source our business through established trading relationships 
with Lloyd’s brokers, wholesale brokers, retail agents and 
global reinsurance intermediaries. We have strong links with 
local producers, which enable us to efficiently provide long-
term capacity for risks that would not otherwise reach the  
Lloyd’s market. This network allows us to understand and 
exceed our clients’ needs and serve them globally. In London,  
our specialist Delegated Underwriting Management team has 
a reputation for its commitment to providing an excellent 
broker and coverholder experience.

Underwriting and claims excellence
Underscored by comprehensive underwriting, claims and  
risk services, we operate as a market lead across our 
primary underwriting classes. At Brit we pride ourselves  
on Underwriting and Claims excellence, deploying the latest 
tools and a disciplined approach, and we have a long record  
of strong performance. 

Underwriting excellence
We predominantly underwrite complex, high value insurance 
and reinsurance risks. Our largest source of business is  
the US Excess and Surplus lines market and the majority  
of our premium income is denominated in US dollars,  
although the risks underwritten are distributed globally.  
We complement our core classes with highly specialised niche 
lines which provide both diversification and the potential for 
high returns. 

Through Ki Syndicate 1618, Syndicate 2988 and Sussex Re, 
we provide over $1.8bn of underwriting capacity. These 
underwriting platforms, backed by diversified sources of 
capital, reflect our desire to increase our flexibility, enhance 
our relevance to clients and brokers, and reinforce the long-
term relationships we have in the market.

6 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportWe have an influential and respected presence within the 
Lloyd’s of London insurance market. With one of the largest 
and most diverse portfolios, we underwrite primarily through 
our Syndicates 2987, 2988 and Ki 1618. We have a long and 
successful track record of leading an extensive range of 
insurance and reinsurance programmes, based on rigorous 
risk selection and a disciplined approach to underwriting.  
We hire the best people and develop their skills and expertise. 
Combining technical expertise with industry knowledge, we 
listen, we share and we collaborate, to create best-in-class 
insurance solutions for our clients. 

Claims excellence
Should the worst happen, our team of claims professionals 
are committed to helping those affected not only to move on 
from the incident, but to move forward. When a customer has 
a claim, their life or business has been disrupted, or even put 
in peril. They expect their insurance to deliver – and it is our 
responsibility to fulfil that commitment. 

Our team is highly experienced at both senior and adjuster 
levels, and has successfully managed claims arising from 
some of the market’s most challenging events. Our claims 
professionals collaborate closely with our underwriters, 
giving them real insight into the risks that our clients face, 
enabling us to tailor our responses appropriately.

Broker surveys consistently highlight Brit’s effective client 
engagement, proactive communications and case-by-case 
approach, all of which underpinned our response to the 
pandemic. 

Market leading innovation
By putting innovation at the heart of our business we are 
constantly looking for ways to provide the ongoing value that 
will help our customers thrive in a changing world. We have 
created a stimulating environment where talented original 
thinkers flourish, and we channel this creativity towards 
meeting real customer needs: turning smart ideas into 
cutting-edge insurance solutions. 

Investment management
At Brit we have a significant investment portfolio comprising 
financial investments, investments in associates, investment-
related derivatives and cash. The value of our invested 
assets at 31 December 2022 was $6,011.3m. The investment 
portfolio is managed for the most part by Hamblin Watsa 
Investment Counsel Limited, a Fairfax subsidiary with an 
excellent long-term track record, whose sole business is 
managing investment portfolios of Fairfax companies.

Our culture, values and people
We are passionate about our business, our people and our 
customers and we have focused on cultivating a franchise 
that is built on delivering exceptional service. 

Our culture is centred on achievement with four key tenets: 
delivering on commitments and ensuring the same from 
others; actively managing risk to optimise reward; focusing 

efforts to maximise results; living a distinct ethos. In addition, 
we encourage enthusiasm for improvement, be it changes 
to process, policy or working practices. We encourage new 
thinking, and we encourage collective working and open and 
honest communication. 

Our values are absolute precision, respect, innovation  
and pride.

We have a longstanding ethos of social responsibility and 
we have a strong culture of ‘doing the right thing’; from 
volunteering in our local communities to supporting good 
causes further afield. The projects we choose align with our 
strategic priorities and each year, ten charities are chosen  
by our employees for significant support.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

7

strategic report 
 
Brit at a glance

Our track record

Gross premium written ($m)

Combined ratio1 (%)

Attritional ratio1 (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

3,970.0
3,238.3
2,424.4
2,293.5
2,239.1
2,057.0
1,912.2
1,999.2
2,148.5
1,849.7

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

96.6
95.7
112.7
95.8
103.2
111.8
95.9
92.2
88.9
85.6

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0

20

40

60

Investment return1 (net of fees) (%)

RoNTA1 (%)

Capital ratio (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

(2.3)
3.3
1.0
3.6
(2.0)
4.9
2.6
0.1
2.9
2.1

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

(3.6)
19.4
(20.1)
18.9
(15.2)
1.3
13.1
8.5
22.4
25.9

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

0

20

40

60

80 100 120 140 160

Note 1: The calculations for 2022 and 2021 are set out on pages 178 to 180.

51.0
47.7
52.5
54.8
56.7
56.5
54.8
55.6
50.5
51.4

152.8
139.1
122.1
128.4
130.4
136.8
125.6
128.2
150.4
141.0

8 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportBrit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

9

strategic report 
 
our underwriting

writing the future
The breadth of classes we support, the depth of our experience and our commitment to our 
clients differentiates us. 

GWP by portfolio 2022 ($m)

GWP by portfolio 2021 ($m)

Total
$3,970.0m

Total
$3,238.3m

2022
■ Total Direct Portfolios, $2,952.9m  
  ■ Financial and Professional Liability, $767.1m

2021
■ Total Direct Portfolios, $2,310.3m  
  ■ Financial and Professional Liability, $603.9m

■ Total Reinsurance Portfolios, $1,000.9m  

■ Total Reinsurance Portfolios, $859.8m  
  ■ Casualty Treaty, $299.8m

■ Underwriting classes in run-off, $(10.1)m
■ Other underwriting, $26.3m  

■ Underwriting classes in run-off, $60.1m
■ Other underwriting, $8.1m  

10 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic report■ Programmes and Facilities, $881.0m■ Property, $636.6m■ Specialty, $481.8m■ Ambridge Specialty Casualty, $79.8m■ Ambridge Transactional, $106.6m■ Casualty Treaty, $416.9m■ Property Treaty, $399.9m■ Ambridge Re, $184.1m■ Programmes and Facilities, $658.2m■ Property, $478.8m■ Specialty, $398.1m■ Ambridge Specialty Casualty, $62.7m■ Ambridge Transactional, $108.6m■ Property Treaty, $384.5m■ Ambridge Re, $175.5m 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct Underwriting

Financial and Professional Liability

Property

Financial Lines

Property Open Market

Directors’ and Officers’ (D&O)
As recognised experts in the D&O 
market, specialising in tailoring  
products to precisely match individual 
clients’ needs.

Financial Institutions
As acknowledged leaders in the 
traditional insurance lines, we also  
offer exclusive, innovative solutions  
for organisations of all sizes across 
mature and emerging economies.

Global Cyber Privacy and Technology
Our knowledge of the cyber risk 
landscape gives us a deeper 
understanding of the different types 
of cyber risk. We provide cutting-edge 
products to clients ranging from agile 

Cyber

start-ups to multinational corporations.

Professional Lines 

Healthcare Liability
With a wealth of industry expertise, 
our healthcare team is committed to 
providing tailored insurance solutions, 
innovative products and related risk 
services. We focus on hospitals, allied 
health and medical liability coverage.

North American Professional Liability
An established leader in this sector,  
we provide cover on both an open 
market and binding authority basis. 
Clients range from small start-ups to 
the largest multinationals.

International Property
Our underwriting team offers significant 
breadth and depth of experience, and 
has access to our technical expertise in 
the areas such as catastrophe modelling 
and policy wordings. We offer a diverse 
range of market-leading property products throughout 
the world and insure a wide range of clients, diverse in 
size and occupancy. 

North American Open Market Property 
Our technical expertise in the areas of 
catastrophe modelling, pricing, policy 
wordings and claims has made our North 
American Open Market Property team a 
market of choice for both brokers and clients.

UK Property
We have a proven track record of 
writing and delivering flexible commercial 
solutions to address the precise nature 
of our customers’ requirements, covering 
both commercial and residential property.

Political Risk and Violence

Political and Credit Risk
We cover financial losses as a result 
of non-payment or performance of 
counterparties and confiscation, 
expropriation, nationalisation, deprivation, 
sequestration or forced abandonment of 

fixed and mobile assets in foreign countries.

Political Violence/Terrorism
We offer a range of covers including 
physical damage, denial of access and 
business interruption losses arising 
from perils including terrorism, strikes, 
riots, civil commotion, malicious damage, 

insurrection, revolution, rebellion, mutiny, war and civil war.

Private Client and Specie

Private Client
Our team has over 25 years of 
underwriting experience in the high net 
worth market, specialising in tailoring 
products to clients’ unique needs. 

Fine Art and Specie
We offer broad flexible coverage on all 
risks of physical loss or damage basis.  
We have the ability to design bespoke 
policies in niche market areas.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

11

strategic report 
 
our underwriting

Direct Underwriting

Programmes and Facilities
Accident and Health 

Personal Accident and Medical Expenses 
We are a leading Lloyd’s market offering 
a broad range of specialist products 
in the Accident and Health market, 
concentrating on adding value to our 
clients and commercial partners. Our 

dynamic underwriting team is renowned for its diligence 
and responsiveness. We can structure bespoke coverage 
to a client’s specific needs, and we have a proven track 
record of working with our clients to respond to complex 
claims in a timely and efficient manner.

Contingency
A recognised lead market in Lloyd’s, we 
are able to offer extensive knowledge 
and significant capacity. We offer three 
main products (event cancellation, non-
appearance, and film and prize indemnity) 

and also offer specialist cover for diverse and esoteric risks.

Property Facilities

Commercial Property
Our long-established portfolio insures  
a variety of commercial risks throughout 
North America, including the Gulf and 
Atlantic coast territories. 

Homeowners
We offer coverage for primary, 
secondary and vacant dwellings as well as 
condominium unit owners in the USA. We 
have the ability to include flood, earthquake 
and landslide, separately or as a package.

Flood
We offer primary and excess flood 
solutions for residential, condominium 
and commercial risks throughout the 
USA. Optional loss of rents and business 
interruption cover is also available.

12 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

Property Facilities

Financial Property
Where a financial institution forecloses 
on a property following loan default or 
an investor purchases a portfolio of 
properties, it can be covered under a 
real estate owned (REO) policy. We also 
offer mortgage impairment coverage, which protects a 
financial institution’s owned and serviced loan portfolio 
against physical loss or damage where no other 
insurance exists and the loan is in default.

Transportation
Commercial transportation is the lifeblood 
of industry and commerce across North 
America and we understand what it takes to 
help clients move their business forward. 
We insure commercial Automobile Physical 

Damage and Motor Truck Cargo across the USA and 
Canada. We support all sizes of fleet through our network 
of Lloyd’s brokers and coverholders.

Long Tail Facilities

Small North American Liability
We insure small and medium-sized (SMEs)  
enterprises in North America for errors 
and omissions liability through our 
dedicated team. Smaller enterprises are 
no less complex and we take the time to 
write risks that enable a small business to continue on 
growth path.

Specialty
Marine

Cargo
Our experienced and respected team 
provide Cargo insurance for goods on 
land, sea, air and in storage in warehouses 
worldwide as well as project cargo for 
construction and pre-launch for satellites.

Marine Hull and War
An expert team providing market-leading 
Hull insurance across the Lloyd’s platform. 
Brit insures a range of bluewater, in-land 
and war risks and specialist operations on 
a worldwide basis.

Marine Liability
We offer specialist Marine Liability cover not 
limited to P&I, Charterers’ Liability, Pollution, 
Terminal Operators’ Umbrella Liability and 
Marine and Energy Liability. We also offer 
Energy Liability with a focus on Upstream, 

Midstream and Onshore and Offshore Renewable.

strategic reportDirect Underwriting

Reinsurance

Specialty
Energy

Space

A highly technical class with an 
experienced and well-respected team 
offering coverage for all aspects of 
Upstream and Midstream Energy 
operations, including Renewables. 

For over twenty years we have led the 
Brit Space Consortium, offering bespoke 
wordings for both launch and in-orbit 
risks to carefully selected clients. Our 
product provides cover for damage to or 
failure of the satellite or launch vehicle.

Specialist Liability

Our experienced team works with their 
clients to provide liability coverage to 
their specific market needs. Products 
include Public and Products Liability, 
Employers’ Liability and Environmental 
Liability.

Ambridge Specialty Casualty

Ambridge’s recent growth and its 
merger with BGSU in 2021 has allowed  
it to expand its product offering. 
Through Ambridge we write the 
following: Financial and Professional 
Liability (Cyber and Technology; PI US; 

Small North American Liability), Property (Property 
Facilities; Terrorism) and Specialty (Excess Casualty; 
General Liability).

Ambridge Transactional

Ambridge is one of the world’s leading 
managing general underwriters of 
transactional insurance products and  
a key trading partner of Brit for the 
previous nine years. Through Ambridge 
we write the following Transactional 

classes: Representations and Warranties/Warranties 
and Indemnities.

Casualty

Casualty Treaty
We have dedicated teams for North 
America and International business 
based in London, offering our clients 
a considerable breadth of expertise. 
We underwrite on a Worldwide basis 
and are a recognised quoting market. We are a lead 
market on approximately half of our business, with 
capacity varying according to class and source of risk. 
Retrocessional risks are also actively considered. We 
also write Casualty Treaty through Ambridge (Ambridge Re).

Property

Property Treaty
Our teams of specialist underwriters 
in both London and Bermuda operate 
together to provide superior service and 
tailored solutions to brokers and clients 
utilising a blend of up-to-date technical 

expertise, embedded modelling capability and real-
world market experience. Our client base represents 
a significant and established cross-section of carriers 
writing simple policies to complex risks. Our London 
office is focused on catastrophe excess of loss and 
risk excess of loss where significant capacity can be 
offered. The portfolio has global scope, focusing on US, 
Europe, Japan, and Australia. Our Bermuda office writes 
US property catastrophe reinsurance and industry loss 
warranties. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

13

strategic report 
 
our underwriting

Underwriting profitability was achieved against the backdrop 
of significant catastrophe activity in 2022, with Ki exposed 
to gross losses from Hurricane Ian, the Australian floods, 
Ukraine, and winter storm Elliott. The net impact of these 
events was reduced by our catastrophe reinsurance 
programme and whole account quota share, resulting in a 
major loss ratio of 9.7% (2021: 16.0%).

Ki’s core proposition of expense efficiency delivered through 
a digital business model has been successfully demonstrated, 
with a total operating expense ratio of 34.6% (2021: 44.0%). 
This is despite the continued impact of earnings drag and 
start-up expenses.

The net attritional loss ratio is 54.3% (2021: 53.4%). This 
reflects the latest reserving position on the 2021 and 2022 
years of account, including provision for excess inflation and 
reserve risk. 

In November 2022, Ki increased its sustainability linked ‘Funds 
at Lloyd’s’ letter of credit agreement to $180.0m with new and 
existing banking partners. The facility, which is structured 
to support Syndicate 1618 as Ki grows, is linked to the ESG 
rating of Ki’s ‘Funds at Lloyd’s’ investment portfolios and 
Syndicate 1618’s assets, with its pricing depending on the 
compliance of Ki’s investment portfolios with ESG targets. 
This builds on the investment guidelines Ki has established for 
its third-party managers, which incorporate ESG principles 
and targets, and will help Ki build a sustainable footprint.

Ki has continued to invest in the wider global community, 
funding the planting of approximately 117,000 trees. It also 
sponsored four women to take nano-degrees in computer 
coding and data, and was pleased to hire three permanently. 

Ki has also continued to invest in its team, and the quality of 
talent attracted from both the tech and insurance industries 
is testament to Ki’s exciting vision. We have hired 49 people 
during 2022, including three interns who were converted 
to permanent hires and three apprentices. Separately, we 
supported six masters students during the year.

We enter 2023 hugely optimistic about the prospects for Ki 
and anticipate continued growth. We have proven our ability 
to return an underwriting profit as a technology-led insurer, 
are seeing growing demand for our capacity and are enjoying 
consistently high engagement with our digital business model. 
Our technology continues to develop at pace and our talented 
people are stronger than ever. 

Further information can be found at www.ki-insurance.com.

Ki, the first algorithmically driven  
Lloyd’s of London syndicate 
In its second year, Ki continued its strong growth trajectory, 
more than doubling its GWP to $834.1m, establishing itself at 
a sustainable scale and confirming the huge potential of the 
business model. We are extremely proud to report that Ki 
also delivered an underwriting profit in 2022, with a COR of 
99.4% despite the impact of Hurricane Ian and earnings drag 
as it continues to grow. This combination of stellar growth and 
profitability demonstrates the truly differentiated value of Ki’s 
digital, data driven business model. 

Ki embraces all that is represented by ‘The Future at Lloyd's’ 
by bringing data, technology, innovation, and artificial 
intelligence to the fore in the complex world of commercial and 
specialty underwriting. Ki is backed by its capital partners, 
Blackstone Tactical Opportunities (Blackstone) and Fairfax. 

Ki has built a platform that is unique in the Lloyd’s market, 
combining algorithmic underwriting with digital distribution to 
offer a compelling proposition to Lloyd’s brokers and clients. 
The speed and certainty with which Ki offers follow capacity 
has been embraced by our brokers and demand for our 
capacity continues to rapidly grow.

Built on strong foundations developed in partnership with 
Google Cloud and University College London’s Computer Science 
Department, we have continued to develop differentiated 
technology in our broker platform and proprietary underwriting 
and risk models. Our in-house team of leading data scientists 
and engineers has developed new capabilities at pace, bringing 
new products to our platform and driving even greater service 
to brokers and control of our underwriting portfolio. It is this 
spirit of continuous improvement that defines the business.

Our technology is partnered with a strong underwriting 
culture, with a focus on sustainable profitability and discipline 
embedded in the business. The Portfolio Underwriting function 
at Ki is focused on managing our portfolio as well as servicing 
our brokers and clients to ensure we remain focused on the 
fundamentals of specialty insurance.

Against the backdrop of a challenging year with multiple 
catastrophic events around the globe, Ki’s full year 2022 
performance is especially pleasing and demonstrates strong 
control over catastrophe risk. The business has delivered a 
full year combined ratio of 99.4% (2021: 113.6%) in just its 
second year of operation.

Ki has scaled ahead of plan with growth of 115.4% in GWP at 
constant FX rates, rising to $834.1m (2021: $395.6m). This 
reflects continued, growing support from the Lloyd’s broking 
community for our unique offering and the favourable trading 
conditions. 

14 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic report 
strategic report

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

15

 
 
business review

2022 underwriting review

Overview
For the twelve months to 31 December 2022, Brit returned 
a CoR of 96.6% (2021: 95.7%) and an underwriting profit of 
$95.4m (2021: $90.6m). 

The underlying quality of our result has increased significantly 
compared to 2021. The 2022 CoR of 96.6% was achieved 
despite a marginal strengthening of 0.2pps to prior year 
reserves (2021: 4.8pps benefit), and in the absence of a loss 
portfolio reinsurance benefit (2021: 1.7pps). The impact of 
major loss in 2022 was reduced, despite another year of 
significant catastrophe activity and significant market losses, 
reflecting our focus on managing our exposures and the 
benefit of our reinsurance programme. 

Our premium growth in 2022 was also significant, with GWP 
increasing by 24.7% at constant FX rates to $3,970.0m 
(2021: $3,238.3m). Our retention rate, the proportion of 
our premium that renews, remained stable at 83.7%, (2021: 
83.7%). Across all lines, we have retained our underwriting 
discipline and remain prepared to discontinue accounts that 
we believe are inadequately priced or outside of our appetite.

Ki has continued to outperform its growth plans and has 
had a successful second year of trading. Further details are 
included on page 14.

Market conditions
The market has continued to benefit from strengthening 
premium rates during 2022. Brit achieved an overall risk 
adjusted rate increase of 12.4% (2021: 12.9%). All Divisions 
achieved rate increases, with the largest increases achieved 
in Financial and Professional, Programmes and Facilities, 
Property Treaty, Ambridge Re and Ambridge Specialty.

The compound risk adjusted rate increase since 1 January 
2018 now totals a very strong +54.1%. Rating increases since 
2020 by portfolio are as follows:

Financial and Professional Liability
Programmes and Facilities
Property
Specialty
Ambridge Speciality
Ambridge Transactional

Direct portfolios

Casualty Treaty
Property Treaty
Ambridge Re

Reinsurance portfolios

Total

2020
%
11.9
7.4
13.7
13.0
15.1
–

11.7

5.1
8.8
9.0

8.5

2021
%
39.8
7.7
8.4
8.6
16.1
18.4

15.4

6.3
7.9 
6.6

7.8

2022
%
30.8
10.9
7.6
6.7
8.0
0.7

14.4

3.5
9.9
9.4

7.1

10.6

12.9

12.4

The economic environment and the impact of inflation
Brit has carefully considered the impact of the higher levels 
of inflation. Increased focus has been placed on ensuring 
Brit’s pricing models adequately address current inflationary 
trends. Feeding into these models is an enhanced framework 
assessing the key drivers of claim settlement costs for each 
class of business. 

Our reserves continue to be set at a margin above the 
actuarial estimate which is set on a best estimate basis. 
As part of the year-end reserving exercise, the impact of 
inflation has been considered in detail by the Actuarial team 
to ensure that assumptions are consistent with our forward 
looking expectations for claims inflation. Various techniques 
have been considered in line with guidance from Lloyd’s and 
regulators. 

Major loss activity
•  Natural catastrophes

2022 again witnessed a high level of natural catastrophe 
activity, with insured losses estimated at over $140bn, 
marginally below 2021 levels (source: Gallagher Re). Activity 
was dominated by Hurricane Ian, accounting for 39% of the 
loss figure, while it was another year where climate change, 
exposure growth and inflation had a significant influence.  
Of the last six years, only 2019 has recorded insured natural 
catastrophe losses of under $100bn.

Major natural catastrophe losses amounted to $306.6m 
and added 10.9pps to the Brit CoR in 2022 (2021: 
$296.2m/15.5pps), driven by Hurricane Ian ($280.2m net), 
Australian floods ($16.9m net) and winter storm Elliott 
($9.5m net).

•  Russian invasion of Ukraine 

Brit has been shocked and horrified by the unfolding events 
in Ukraine. Brit’s thoughts are with the Ukrainian people 
and especially with our Fairfax colleagues based there. 
Following the invasion, Brit took the decision to cancel or 
non-renew all (re)insurances of entities domiciled in Russia, 
entities with risk locations solely in Russia, and Russian 
owned assets and entities. 

Losses arising from the Russian Invasion of Ukraine 
totalled $31.9m net, or 1.1 CoR percentage points. This 
follows an assessment of direct exposures within the 
Terrorism, Casualty Treaty, Marine War, Contingency 
and Political and Credit Risk classes, along with potential 
secondary impacts. Brit does not write Aviation business. 
Given the ongoing nature of the event, neither the duration 
nor the ultimate outcome can be predicted with any 
certainty, and we continue to monitor the situation closely.

COVID-19
In 2022 there has been no material movement in overall 
reserves held for COVID-19 related claims. We have 
experienced an increase in incurred claims and a 
corresponding reduction in the provision for incurred but  
not reported claims.

16 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportSupporting our customers
Our customers are our priority. When a customer has a 
claim, we understand they are facing difficult and unexpected 
challenges. They expect the insurance they have purchased to 
respond and deliver when they need it most. We see each and 
every claim as an opportunity to deliver the claims service our 
customers need to move forward with their lives. 

The Brit claims team have maintained a focus on responding 
to our customers and pursuing opportunities to reduce claims 
lifecycle and bring claims to resolution at every opportunity 
through innovation and technology:

•  Senior underwriting appointments

In 2022, we have continued to strengthen our underwriting 
teams with some experienced new hires. This has included 
Cyber, Accident and Health, North American Open Market 
Property and Property Facilities (Flood and Transportation).

•  Continued portfolio management 

Where classes remain challenging, we have continued to 
take action to improve our performance and maintained our 
rigorous risk selection criteria. During 2022, we ceased 
writing Ambridge Property Facultative and Property 
Liability US SCGL.

•  Claims response to Hurricane Ian 

Brit continues to lead the London Market in its use of 
geospatial technology to advance property claims adjusting 
capabilities post catastrophe and in normal course claims 
response. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ian, 
using our proprietary machine learning algorithm in tandem 
with ultra-high-resolution aerial imagery to accelerate 
the accurate identification of US property damage, we 
were able to virtually adjust and approve claims payments 
directly from our offices in London. This enabled us to make 
our earliest claim payment on 8 October 2022, helping 
the impacted families and businesses. This represents 
a lifecycle of natural catastrophe impact to payment of 
approximately one week.

•  Direct Pay solution 

In March 2022, we launched the Direct Pay payment 
solution in the US, with very favourable feedback from 
customers, coverholders and brokers. In partnership 
with Visa, Mastercard and Vitesse, Direct Pay offers 
our customers the ability to receive claims payments 
securely and instantly to their bank cards. This follows the 
successful 2021 adoption of Direct Pay solution in the UK.

Other underwriting developments
•  Execution of catastrophe strategy

In recent years the market has experienced a level of 
catastrophe activity significantly in excess of historical 
levels. We have reviewed the catastrophe strategy of 
our US Property portfolio, focusing on Property Treaty, 
Property Facilities and Property Open Market. As a result, 
we have focused on achieving minimum rate requirements, 
have successfully increased inflationary guards and 
minimum valuations, and have redistributed capacity away 
from catastrophe intensive regions. The changes are 
also expected to reduce reliance on reinsurance which is 
increasingly expensive given the scarcity of capacity in the 
hardening market. 

The actions are expected to result in a gross exposure 
reduction for Property Catastrophe across the portfolios 
of Syndicate 2987 and Syndicate 2988. Syndicate 2988 
has exited direct Property business and is focused on 
writing Property Binders and Property Open Market only 
via inwards Syndicate 2987 quota shares to benefit from 
Syndicate 2987’s actions and more diversified portfolio. 

•  2023 business planning

In 2023, Lloyd’s market stamp capacity is projected to grow 
to £48bn ($57.7bn), an increase of c.20% over 2022 levels. 

For 2023, Brit (Syndicates 2987, 2988 and 1618 collectively) 
has a stamp capacity of £3,410.2m ($4,102.2m), a 33.3% 
increase over 2022. This makes Brit one of the fastest 
growing large managing agents in the market, demonstrating 
the value and strength of Brit to the Lloyd’s Market.

Syndicate 2987’s capacity is planned to grow by 27.6% 
over the 2022 year of account with a commensurate top 
line increase. As in previous years, we continue to actively 
manage the portfolios by segmenting classes into ‘high 
performing’, ‘core’, ‘managed growth’, ‘overseas distribution’ 
and ‘portfolio management’. Growth (excluding RARC) is 
driven primarily by the ‘high performing’ and ‘core’ segments, 
while the largest increases in RARC are targeted on the 
weakest performing segments of the portfolio.

Syndicate 2988’s capacity is planned to grow by 21.0% over 
the 2022 year of account. The 2023 plan promotes continued 
diversification of the Syndicate’s portfolio, focusing on growth 
in the ‘high performing’ segment together with managed shifts 
in income across the portfolio in such a way as to generate 
a better balance between Property, Specialty, and Casualty 
lines. Growth in Syndicate 2988 premium is largely a function 
of greater penetration into Syndicate 2987’s business plus 
selective growth of existing business. 

Syndicate 1618’s GWP is planned to continue to grow in 
its third year of trading. The first two years of trading 
have been a great success and its plan for 2023 reflects 
its rapid progress to date and the significant opportunity 
that the Ki model presents. Growth is planned to come 
from a combination of renewals in its existing portfolio and 
greater penetration into the follow market. 

Brit’s non-catastrophe reinsurance renewals at 1 January 
have been successfully completed, with the erosion of 
coverage minimised despite challenging market conditions. 
The cost has increased in several lines, but within our 
business planning assumptions. 

Brit’s main catastrophe protections renew at 1 April and 
discussions are currently underway with our reinsurance 
partners. Currently, we do not foresee any material 
challenges in placing the required protections.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

17

strategic report 
 
business review

•  Brit Private Client 

•  Data and digital strategy

We have continued to evolve our technology and digital 
strategies. Following the appointment in early 2022 of our 
new CTO and CDO, a review of our digital and data strategy 
was undertaken. Our ambition is to deliver a digital and data 
driven technology platform that improves our underwriting 
performance over the long term, and future proofs Brit’s 
position as an innovative leader in the market. This will 
be achieved through a modern and flexible technology 
architecture, strong partnership with the business 
functions and key talent with digital and data skills. Our 
strategy focuses on four pillars: Data Modernisation, 
Digital Foundations, Digital Underwriting, and Finance 
Modernisation. The roadmap will be phased and prioritised 
in line with the Brit strategy starting with building the 
foundations and implementation of the Digital Underwriting 
capabilities. 

•  Brit Group Services Limited Defined Benefits Pension 

Scheme – bulk annuity contract
In December 2022, the Trustee of the Scheme purchased  
a bulk annuity (‘buy-in’) policy with a specialist insurer for a 
premium of £105.2m ($126.5m). This policy, which replaces 
the majority of the Schemes investments, matches the 
benefits due to all scheme members and provides the 
income to the Scheme to fund payments as they fall due. 
Following this transaction, the Scheme retains a surplus 
of $24.8m ($16.1m net of deferred tax). This contract 
provides added security to members, while reducing the 
risk of Brit being required to provide further funding to 
support member benefits. No decision has been made as  
to whether the scheme will proceed to a full buy-out at 
some point in the future.

Brit Private Client took overall first place in the Highpoint 
High Net Worth Insurer Survey. This survey has been 
running for eight years and canvassed feedback from 100+ 
brokers in the UK, covering new business, underwriters, 
documentation, quality of cover, claims handling, renewals, 
and market position. Out of the ten insurers covered by 
the survey, Brit came first or second in all the categories. 
This significant achievement in just 18 months since launch 
shows that our proposition of underwriting, claims and 
service excellence has been welcomed by the market. 

Review of other key business developments during 2022
Other key strategic developments during 2022 have included:

•  Ambridge sale agreement and our US strategy 

On 7 January 2023, Brit entered into an agreement to sell 
Ambridge Group to Amynta Group. The Company will receive 
approximately $400m on closing, comprising of cash of 
$275m and a promissory note of approximately $125m. An 
additional $100m may be receivable, subject to a clawback 
based on 2023 performance targets of Ambridge. Closing of 
the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, 
including regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in 
the second quarter of 2023. 

Ambridge is a leading global Managing General Underwriter, 
offering a broad range of transactional, specialty casualty, 
cyber, professional liability, and reinsurance coverages. 
Ambridge places over $600m of gross premium written on 
behalf of Brit and a number of highly rated global insurers. 
Jess Pryor, Executive Chairman of Ambridge, and Jeff 
Cowhey, Chief Executive Officer of Ambridge, will continue 
to lead the Company. We look forward to continuing our 
underwriting relationship with Ambridge after the sale.

•  Senior Corporate appointments

•  Group CEO and Executive Chairman of Ki: On  

12 September, Matthew Wilson resumed his role as  
Group CEO and Executive Chairman of Ki Group, following 
a leave of absence in September 2021 to undergo 
treatment for health reasons. On 31 October, Matthew took 
the decision to step down from his roles at Brit to focus on 
his health and his family. He will continue to work within the 
Fairfax Group as an Executive Advisory Director. 

•  Matthew has been succeeded by Martin Thompson, who 
acted as Interim CEO during Matthew’s leave of absence.

•  Bilge Mert, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), began 
her role in January 2022. Bilge is responsible for 
leading Brit’s technology and data strategy to further 
advance the business’ focus on delivering an innovative, 
data-driven and technology empowered platform for 
underwriting, claims and operations. Bilge is supported 
by Kanika Chaganty, Chief Data Officer (CDO), who also 
joined in January 2022 and is responsible for leading 
Brit’s data strategy and leveraging its data and analytics 
capabilities to support Brit’s digital vision. 

18 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportBrit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

19

strategic report 
 
financial performance review

Key Performance Indicators 
At Brit we monitor and measure our performance by 
reference to certain key performance indicators (KPIs). 
These KPIs are used by us to manage our business and allow 
us to see, at a glance, how we are performing.

Our four KPIs show the returns that we are generating, the 
performance of our underwriting activities, our investment 
portfolio, and our financial strength. The development of our 
KPIs over the five years (set out below) reflects our focus 
on underwriting performance and improving underwriting 
market conditions, together with the challenges presented by 
the increased frequency and severity of catastrophe events, 
COVID-19, and the increase in investment market volatility. 

A reconciliation of each KPI to the amounts presented in the 
financial statements, where relevant, is included in the Annual 
Report and Accounts starting on page 178 and definitions  
of each of our KPIs are included in the Glossary starting on  
page 183. 

20 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportOverall performance
Return on net tangible assets (RoNTA)
(3.6)%

Investment management
Investment return
(2.3)%

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

(3.6)%
19.4%
(20.1)%
18.9%
(15.2)%

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

(2.3)%
3.3%
1.0%
3.6%
(2.0)%

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

RoNTA shows the return generated by our operations 
for the owners of Brit Limited before foreign exchange 
movements, compared to the adjusted net tangible 
assets deployed in our business attributable to them. 
The impact of the Group’s defined benefit pension 
schemes are excluded from both the return and the 
assets in the calculation. 

In 2022, our RoNTA in respect of continuing and 
discontinued operations combined was (3.6)%, 
reflecting a positive underwriting result, offset by 
negative investment return.

This return resulted in a five-year average RoNTA 
of (0.1)%. RoNTA for 2022 after foreign exchange 
movements was (4.5)% (2021: 18.2%).

We assess the performance of our investment portfolio 
by comparing the return generated by our invested 
assets, net of external investment related expenses, 
against the average value of those invested assets. 
Our investment strategy takes a long-term view of 
markets, which can lead to significant variations in our 
year-on-year return figures. Over the past five years, 
we have delivered an average investment return of 0.7%.

Underwriting
Combined ratio
96.6% 

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

Capital management
Capital ratio
152.8%

96.6%
95.7%
112.7 %
95.8%
103.2%

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

152.8%
139.1%
122.1%
128.4%
130.4%

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

The combined ratio is our key underwriting metric and 
measures the profitability of our underwriting. It shows 
how much of every $1 of premium is spent in the total 
costs of sourcing and underwriting the business and 
settling claims. A combined ratio under 100% indicates 
underwriting profitability.

Our combined ratio in 2022 was 96.6%, 12.0pps of 
which was in respect of major losses (including 1.1pps 
arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine). It also 
included a 0.2pps increase in ultimate claim estimates 
for prior years. Over the past five years, we have 
delivered an average combined ratio of 100.8% despite 
the impact of COVID-19 and extreme catastrophe years 
of 2017 and 2018. Excluding COVID-19 related claims, 
our five-year average combined ratio was 97.4%. Our 
2022 combined ratio in respect of continuing business 
was 96.9% (2021: 97.0%).

The capital ratio measures our financial strength 
position by comparing our available capital resources 
to the capital we need to hold to meet our management 
entity capital requirements.

Our financial position remains strong. At 31 December 
2022, Group capital resources totalled $2,053.0m 
giving surplus management capital of $709.8m (2021: 
$617.9m), or 52.8% (2021: 39.1%) over our Group 
management capital requirement. During the period, 
our capital requirements reduced from $1,581.6m to 
$1,343.2m, primarily reflecting increased requirements 
resulting from growth in our 2023 underwriting plans, 
offset by reduction in capital requirements due to 
increases in interest rates.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

21

strategic report 
 
financial performance review

Overview of Results
The Group’s income statement, re-presented to show the key components of our result, is set out below:

Gross written premium 
Net written premium 
Net earned premium

Underwriting result 
Return on invested assets, net of fees 
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries
Gain on business combination
Corporate expenses 
Finance costs 
Other items 

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax and FX 
FX movements 

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax 
Tax 

(Loss)/profit after tax 

(Loss)/profit after tax – continuing operations
(Loss)/profit after tax – discontinued operations

(Loss)/profit after tax – total

2022
$m

2021
$m

2020
$m

2019
$m

2018
$m

3,970.0 
3,146.4 
2,866.9 

3,238.3 
1,998.3 
1,754.3 

2,424.4 
1,775.6 
1,710.7 

2,293.5 
1,656.2 
1,641.9 

2,239.1 
1,482.4 
1,468.0 

(217.3)
44.6 
–
–
(23.6)
(23.6)
(15.6)

(235.5)
5.0 

(230.5)
(1.5)

(232.0)

69.7 
148.1 
–
10.2
(20.3)
(23.7)
0.3 

184.3 
2.0 

186.3 
(6.4)

179.9 

(52.4)
(83.3)
–
–
(20.0)
(18.8)
(3.4)

(177.9)
(12.4)

(190.3)
23.8 

(166.5)

95.4 
(132.1)
–
–
(56.9)
(20.1)
20.9 

(92.8)
(15.1)

(107.9)
11.6 

(96.3)

(118.0)
21.7

(96.3)

90.6
171.9
19.8
6.1
(44.7)
(18.3)
21.7 

247.1
(19.8)

227.3
9.6

236.9

212.3
24.6

236.9

Group performance 
Our 2022 result reflected premium growth, a positive and resilient underwriting result (a strong attritional performance, partly 
offset by major loss activity including losses arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine), and a negative investment return. 

Our 2021 result reflected solid a strong attritional performance, prior year reserve releases (partly resulting from a loss 
portfolio reinsurance), good investment return and a gain on the deconsolidation of subsidiaries, partly offset by major loss 
activity and the continued impact of COVID-19. 

The result on ordinary activities for 2022 before tax and FX was a loss of $92.8m (2021: profit of $247.1m), after FX but before 
tax was a loss of $107.9m (2021: $227.3m) and after tax was a loss of $96.3m (2021: profit of $236.9m). 

The result after tax attributable to continuing operations was a loss of $118.0m (2021: profit of $212.3m) and the result attributable 
to discontinued operations was a profit of $21.7m (2021: profit of $24.6m). The entities generating the profit attributable to 
discontinued operations are classified as held for sale and are expected to be deconsolidated in the second quarter of 2023.

Return on adjusted net tangible assets (RoNTA), excluding the effects of FX, was negative 3.6% (2021: positive 19.4%). RoNTA 
for 2022 after including foreign exchange movements was negative 4.5% (2021: positive 18.2%). 

Performance measures
In addition to our KPIs, we have other measures that offer further insight into the detail of our performance. These  
measures include:

•  Premium related: Risk adjusted rate change (RARC); Retention rate;

•  Claims related: Claims ratio; Attritional claims ratio; Major claims ratio; Reserve release ratio; and

•  Underwriting expense related: Expense ratio; Commission expense ratio; Operating expense ratio.

A reconciliation of each performance measure to the amounts presented in the financial statements is included in the  
Annual Report and Accounts starting on page 178 and a definition of each measure is included in the Glossary starting on  
page 183. The calculations of the claims and underwriting expense related measures include the adjustment for the loss 
portfolio reinsurance contract as referenced on page 2.

The performance measures set out below are for continuing and discontinued business combined. Ratios for continuing 
business are included where they differ from those for the combined business. 

22 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportUnderwriting 

Overview
Our underwriting result for the year was a profit of $95.4m (2021: $90.6m) and our combined ratio was 96.6% (2021: 95.7%). 
The premiums, claims and expenses components of this result are examined below.

Premiums written
Our gross premium written (GWP) across our key reporting segments is as follows:

Core underwriting
Other underwriting

Ki

Group total

2022
$m

2021
$m

3,116.8
19.1

 3,135.9 
834.1

2,834.1
8.6

2,842.7
395.6

3,970.0

3,238.3

Growth
%

10.0
122.1

10.3
110.8

22.6

Growth at 
constant 
FX rates
%

11.7
164.9

12.2
115.4

24.7

Note 1: The 2021 figures have been re-presented to reflect the changes to the underwriting class monitoring structure introduced in 2022.

GWP, analysed by portfolio, is as follows: 

Portfolio

Direct underwriting portfolios:
Financial and Professional Liability
Programmes and Facilities
Property
Specialty
Ambridge Specialty 
Ambridge Transactional

Reinsurance underwriting portfolios:
Casualty Treaty
Property Treaty
Ambridge Re

Underwriting classes in run-off
Other underwriting

Total

2022 
 $m

2021 
 $m

Growth 
 $m

Growth at 
constant FX 
rates %

767.1
881.0
636.6
481.8
79.8
106.6

603.9
658.2
478.8
398.1
62.7
108.6

2,952.9

2,310.3

416.9
399.9
184.1

1,000.9

(10.1)
26.3

299.8
384.5
175.5

859.8

60.1
8.1

3,970.0

3,238.3

27.0
33.8
33.0
21.0
27.3
(1.8)

27.8

39.1
4.0
4.9

16.4

30.1
34.7
37.7
24.6
27.3
2.2

30.7

40.6
5.1
4.9

17.4

(116.8)
224.7

22.6

(117.1)
164.9

24.7

Note 1: To aid comparability, the 2021 figures have been re-presented to reflect the changes to the underwriting class monitoring structure introduced for 2022.
Note 2: ‘Other Underwriting’ is defined in Note 5 to the financial statements. 
Note 3: An analysis of GWP by reporting segment by portfolio is included in Note 4 to the financial statements. 

Gross written premium (GWP) increased by 22.6% to $3,970.0 m (2021: $3,238.3m). At constant exchange rates, the increase 
was 24.7%. Our core underwriting segment increased by 10.0% to $3,116.8m (2021: $2,834.1m), while Ki, in its second year 
of underwriting, continued to gain significant traction, writing $834.1m (2021: $395.6m), an increase of 110.8%. Our other 
underwriting segment increased by 122.1% to $19.1m (2021: $8.6m). 

The drivers of the increase in Group GWP, which was in line with expectations, were as follows:

•  Current year premiums: Increases in our core segment were driven by Programmes and Facilities, Casualty Treaty, 
Financial and Professional Liability, Property and Specialty. These increases reflected the strong rating environment 
and targeted growth as we capitalise on market opportunities, partially offset by our withdrawal from a number of 
underperforming classes, and the non-renewal of certain accounts due to poor performance or pricing inadequacy.  

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

23

strategic report 
 
financial performance review

Within Ki, premium growth was seen across all portfolios, especially Property, Financial and Professional, Programmes and 
Facilities, Casualty Treaty and Specialty, reflecting rate increases and new business opportunities.

•  Prior year premium development: The book again experienced favourable development on prior year premiums, at a similar 

rate to that experienced in 2021. This resulted in a year-on-year increase of $17.6m (2021: $6.5m). 

•  Foreign exchange: The impact of foreign exchange resulted in a $58.9m year-on-year reduction in premium, which reflects 

the movement during 2022 of the US dollar against a number of currencies in which the Group writes business.

Premium rate change

Measure

Commentary

Track record

Risk adjusted rate change

The risk adjusted rate change (RARC) shows whether 
premium rates are increasing, reflecting a hardening 
market, or decreasing, reflecting a softening market. 
A hardening market is one indicator of increasing 
profitability. The data reflects internal estimates by 
Brit’s underwriters, based on available year-on-year 
underlying renewal data after allowing for changes 
to terms and conditions. Generally, no adjustment 
is made to the figures to reflect the impact of 
inflation beyond the level of inflation in the underlying 
exposure measure used in pricing.

In 2022, we achieved an overall RARC of 12.4%, 
bringing the compound RARC since 1 January 2018 
to 54.1%.

Risk adjusted rate change (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

12.4%
12.9%
10.6%
5.9%
3.7%

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

2022 saw a continued positive rate environment, with an overall risk adjusted premium rate increase of 12.4% across the 
portfolio (2021: 12.9%). The compound increase since 1 January 2018 now totals 54.1%.

In 2022, direct business premium rates increased by 14.4% (2021: 15.4%), while reinsurance business increased by 
7.1% (2021: 7.8%). All portfolios achieved rate increases, with the largest achieved in Financial and Professional Liability, 
Programmes and Facilities, Property Treaty and Ambridge Re.

Retention rate

Measure

Retention rate

Commentary

The retention rate shows the proportion of our 
business that renews, on a premium weighted basis, 
compared to the previous year.

Track record

Retention rate (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

83.7%
83.7%
76.1%
78.0%
80.2%

0

20

40

60

80

100

Our retention rate for the period was unchanged 83.7% (2021: 83.7%). We continue to improve our performance by exiting 
underperforming business and increasing lines on high performing accounts.

Outwards reinsurance
Our reinsurance expenditure in 2022 was $823.6m or 20.7% of GWP (2021: $1,240.0m/38.3%), a decrease of $416.4m.

The 2021 reinsurance expenditure included:

•  A loss portfolio reinsurance contract with RiverStone Managing Agency Limited (for and on behalf of Lloyd’s syndicate 3500). 

Excluding this transaction, reinsurance expenditure was $895.9m or 27.7% of GWP. 

•  $93.0m in respect of a new multi-year XL contract supported by the Brit-sponsored Cat Bond issued in late 2020 by  

a segregated cell of Sussex UK, additional Cyber protections, and the reinsurance programme for Ki.

The 2022 figure included a return premium of $37.2m following an endorsement to the 2021 loss portfolio reinsurance contract. 

In 2022, there was a measured reduction in proportional reinsurance purchased following a decision to retain a greater 
amount of our most profitable lines while maintaining comprehensive cover. This was partially offset by inwards premium 

24 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportgrowth in portfolios covered by adjustable excess of loss contracts and proportional reinsurance treaties. Ki’s reinsurance 
expenditure also increased reflecting its premium growth.

Net earned premium
Net earned premium (NEP) in 2022 increased by 63.4% to $2,866.9m (2021: $1,754.3m). At constant exchange rates, the 
increase was 67.0%. Excluding the impact of the 2021 loss portfolio reinsurance contract and subsequent endorsement, which 
impacted core underwriting, NEP increased by 34.9%.

Brit’s core underwriting increased by 46.6% to $2,283.4m (2021: $1,557.7m) and Ki increased by 205.7% to $506.3m (2021: 
$165.6m). Other underwriting increased by 149.0% to $77.2m (2021: $31.0m). These movements reflected premium growth 
and lower reinsurance spend.

Claims

Measure

Claims ratio

Commentary

The claims ratio measures the performance of 
the whole underwriting book, encompassing risks 
written in the current year and in prior years. 

Track record

Claims ratio (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

0

25

50

75

The claims ratio can be further analysed into its underlying components, as follows:

Measure

Commentary

Track record

Attritional claims ratio

The attritional claims ratio measures the 
performance of the underlying underwriting book  
by measuring the effect of attritional claims. 

Attritional claims ratio (%)

Major claims ratio

The major claims ratio measures the effect 
of claims arising from major losses on our 
performance. 

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

0

20

40

60

Major claims ratio (%)

Reserve release ratio

The 2022 ratio reflects the impact of catastrophe 
events of 10.9pps and claims of 1.1pps arising from 
the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2021: 14.2pps  
from catastrophe events and 1.3pps from 
COVID-19 related claims). 

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

0

5

10

15

20

25

The reserve release ratio measures the 
performance of reserves held on the statement of 
financial position at the start of the year. A negative 
ratio indicates an overall net release, which means 
that prior year claims are performing better than 
estimated at the start of the year. A positive ratio 
indicates that over the course of the year, the 
amount required to meet those prior year claims 
has increased. 

Reserve release ratio (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

-6

-4

-2

0

63.2%
58.4%
72.4%
55.7%
63.7%

51.0%
47.7%
52.5%
54.8%
56.7%

12.0%
15.5%
23.7%
3.8%
13.0%

0.2%
(4.8)%
(3.7)%
(2.8)%
(6.0)%

Our underlying claims performance in 2022 remained strong, with an attritional claims ratio of 51.0% (2021: 47.7%). 

We continue to see strong underlying performance across our portfolios, with strong pricing and targeted growth in our high-
performing segments. The 2022 ratio reflects the impact of increased economic uncertainty, including the impact of inflation. 
The 2021 attritional ratio benefited from the effects of COVID-19 related restrictions, such as reduced volumes of commercial 
activity and the suspension of court hearings.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

25

strategic report 
 
financial performance review

Major losses

Australian Floods 
Hurricane Ian 
Winter Storm Elliott 
Texas winter storms 
Hurricane Ida
European floods (Bernd) 

Total before Russia/Ukraine and COVID-19 related losses
Claims arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine
COVID-19 related losses

Total 

CoR impact

2022
$m

16.9
280.2
9.5
–
–
–

306.6
31.9
–

338.5

2021
$m

–
–
–
77.7
200.5
18.0

296.2
–
28.2

324.4

12.0pps

15.5pps

As part of our standard reserving process, we marginally strengthened our overall net reserves established for prior year 
claims by $6.8m, the equivalent of a combined ratio increase of 0.2pps (2021: release of $100.1m, reduction of 4.8pps), 
$0.7m of which resulted from the 2022 endorsement of the 2021 loss portfolio reinsurance. The remaining $6.1m reflected 
the current economic conditions and the potential impact of inflation. The 2022 figure includes releases across Property, 
Specialty (principally Marine), Property Treaty and Ambridge Transactional, offset by strengthening in Programs and Facilities 
(principally Property Liability US), Financial and Professional Liability (principally PI US and Healthcare) and Casualty Treaty 
(principally LT Risk), and Ki.

The 2021 release reflected favourable claims experience across more recent underwriting years (principally Property, 
Specialty and Ambridge Transactional, Casualty Treaty and Property Treaty), a release of $12.3m in respect of 2020 COVID-19 
related claim estimates, the continued overall net favourable development of other prior year catastrophe events, and a 
release of $35.0m reflecting the additional reinsurance protection afforded by the loss portfolio reinsurance with RiverStone. 

Our financial position remains strong and we continue to operate a robust reserving process. 

Underwriting expenses
Our expense ratio was 33.4% (2021: 37.3%). 

Measure

Expense ratio

Commentary

The expense ratio measures the cost we incur  
to acquire every $1 of premium. There are two  
key components to this – commission expenses  
and operating expenses. Our 2022 expense ratio  
in respect of continuing business was 33.7%  
(2021: 38.6%).

Track record
Expense ratio (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

The expense ratio can be further analysed into its underlying components, as follows:

Measure

Commentary

Commission expense ratio

The commission expense ratio measures our 
distribution costs and shows how much of every  
$1 of premium is paid to acquire our business. 
Our 2022 commission expense ratio in respect of 
continuing business was 25.1% (2021: 27.4%).

0

10

20

30

40

Track record
Commission expense ratio (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

33.4%
37.3%
40.3%
40.1%
39.5%

23.5%
25.2%
26.5%
27.1%
27.6%

26 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportOperating expense ratio

The operating expense ratio helps us understand 
how much it costs us to support the underwriting 
activities. This ratio shows how much of every  
$1 of premium we spend supporting our underwriting 
activities. Our 2022 operating expense ratio  
in respect of continuing business was 8.6%  
(2021: 11.2%).

Operating expense ratio (%)

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

9.9%
12.1%
13.8%
13.0%
11.9%

0

5

10

15

Commission costs were $664.4m and the commission expense ratio was 23.5% (2021: $528.4m/25.2%). This $136.0m 
increase was driven by the increase in NEP, while the decrease in the ratio principally reflects a continued drive to reduce 
overall acquisition costs in the current strong market. Commission costs for continuing business were $710.0m (2021: 
$574.6m) and for discontinued business were a credit of $45.6m (2021: credit of $46.2m).

Our expenses are analysed below.

Operating expense ratio
Our operating expense ratio decreased to 9.9% (2021: 12.1%). The ratio consists of the following components, each of these is 
discussed in the sections below.

•  Underwriting related operating expenses for 2022 were $323.7m and contributed 11.4pps to the operating expense ratio 

(2021: $312.8m/14.9pps). 

•  Underwriting related fee and commission income totalled $42.9m, reducing the operating expense ratio by 1.5pps (2021: 
$56.6m/2.7pps). These amounts are included in the operating expense ratio as the expenses incurred in generating these 
fees are included within underwriting expenses.

•  Losses on other financial liabilities were $1.3m, with no impact on the ratio (2021: gains of $2.5m, decreasing the ratio 

by 0.1pps). These amounts are included in the operating expense ratio as they represent the underwriting result in Brit’s 
consolidated income statement attributable to third party capital providers.

Expenses
Total expenses during 2022 increased by 6.5% to $380.6m (2021: $357.5m). At constant rates of exchange, the increase was 14.7%, 
reflecting that the majority of our expense base is in Sterling. The main contributors to this increase were staff costs, reflecting headcount 
growth, bonus accrual, and regulatory charges and levies. These increases also include the costs resulting from the growth of Ki.

At 31 December 2022, Group headcount was 969 (2021: 854). The increase was primarily due to the growth of Ki, targeted 
underwriting expansion in favourable market conditions and the related growth of support functions. These were partly offset 
by reductions resulting from the withdrawal from certain classes of business.

The allocation of expenses within the Consolidated Income Statement and the Segmental Information is as follows:

Disclosure of expenses

Acquisition costs and other insurance related expenses – continuing business
Other expenses – continuing business

Total expenses – continuing business
Acquisition costs and other insurance related expenses – continuing business

Total expenses

Other income 
Other income totalled $63.8m (2021: $78.3m), as set out below: 
Other income

Fee and commission income (Note 1) – continuing operations
Change in value of ultimate parent company shares (Note 2)

Total other income – continuing operations
Fee and commission income (Note 1) – discontinued operations
Total other income

2022
$m

255.4
56.9

312.3
68.3

380.6

2022
$m

12.3
20.9

33.2
30.6
63.8

2021
$m

251.6
44.7

296.3
61.2

357.5

2021
$m

14.7
21.7

36.4
41.9
78.3

Note 1: Total fee and commission income is included within our underwriting result and our combined and expense ratios.
Note 2: Change in value of ultimate parent company shares is included within our corporate result.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

27

strategic report 
 
financial performance review

Fees and commissions generated by the Group’s underwriting management activities decreased in 2022 by 24.2% to $42.9m 
(2021: $56.6m). The decrease primarily reflects reduced third party commission received by Ambridge, partly offset by 
increased fees generated by Camargue.

Included in other income was a gain of $20.9m (2021: $21.7m) in respect of the change in value of shares held by Brit in its 
ultimate parent.

Gains on other financial liabilities
The statement of financial position of the Group includes liabilities representing third party investors’ share in structured 
undertakings consolidated by the Group, namely Sussex Capital. Changes in the value of these liabilities during the year are 
recorded in the Group’s consolidated income statement as ‘(losses)/gains on other financial liabilities’.

In 2022, the income statement impact was a loss of $1.3m (2021: gain of $2.5m). Brit allocates these gains/losses to its 
underwriting result.

Return on invested assets
The investment portfolio is managed, for the most part, by Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Limited, a Fairfax subsidiary  
with an excellent long-term track record, whose sole business is managing investment portfolios of Fairfax group companies. 
They are supported by a number of external managers covering core fixed income and specialised credit mandates.

The return on our invested assets was a negative $132.1m or (2.3)% (2021: positive $171.9m /3.3%). This result is analysed below:

Investment return

Income
Realised (losses)/gains 
Unrealised (losses)/gains

Investment return before fees
Investment management fees

Investment return, net of fees
Investment related derivative return
Return on associated undertakings

Total return

Total return 

2022
$m

86.1
(75.2)
(131.5)

(120.6)
(13.8)

(134.4)
0.8
1.5

(132.1)

(2.3)%

2021
$m

58.4
59.4
63.6

181.4
(14.2)

167.2
3.0
1.7

171.9

3.3%

Of the investment return, $0.1m (2021: nil) related to discontinued operations.

Equity markets had a tumultuous year as concerns around the persistence of inflation and the impact on growth of central bank 
measures were compounded by the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and continued Chinese lockdowns. Despite the general 
negative sentiment, our equity portfolio outperformed the market and generated a positive return of $12.7m (2021: $125.9m), 
benefiting from a value focused approach. Our return on fund investments was a negative $11.3m (2021: gain of $59.8m).

The fixed income portfolio generated a loss of $132.3m (2021: loss of $4.8m), which included unrealised losses of $150.0m, 
as income was offset by capital losses. These unrealised losses are expected to unwind as the portfolio matures. The US 
government bond yield curve rose across all tenors, with the two-year yield increasing from 0.73% to 4.43%, the five-year 
yield increasing from 1.26% to 4.00% and the ten-year yield increasing from 1.51% to 3.88%. Investment grade credit and 
high yield spreads widened over the twelve months as inflation remained elevated and the US Federal Reserve Bank entered 
an aggressive rate rising cycle, raising rates 425bps over the year, including four consecutive 75bps hikes. Investment grade 
spreads in the US widened from 0.49% to 0.90% and in Europe from 0.78% to 1.56%, while high yield spreads in the US 
widened from 2.83% to 4.68% and in Europe widened from 3.12% to 4.90%. 

Cash and cash equivalents generated interest of $10.3m (2021: $0.5m). Our approach to cash management during the year 
has, and continues to be, to limit the amount of operational cash and to maximise amounts held within short-term government 
bills, stepping into the higher yields.

At 31 December 2022, the running yield (expressed as yield as a percentage of invested assets) of our total portfolio was 4.0% 
(2021: 0.9%). This has increased over 2022 in line with the increase in the yield curve in the US resulting in better forward 
looking income to the portfolio, providing a balance to mark to market movements.

28 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportIn 2022, our share of the net profit of our associated undertaking, Sutton Special Risk Inc., was $1.5m (2021: $1.2m). Sutton 
Special Risk Inc. is a leading Canada-based managing general underwriter specialising in Accident & Health business in which 
Brit acquired a 49% share on 2 January 2019. In 2021, a further $0.5m return was recognised from Camargue Underwriting 
Managers (Proprietary) Limited, a leading South African managing general underwriter, which became a 100% subsidiary of the 
Group and ceased to be an associated undertaking on 4 October 2021. 

Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries 
No subsidiaries were deconsolidated in 2022. In 2021, a gain of $19.8m arose from:

•  The sale of the Commonwealth Insurance Company of America (gain of $3.7m);

•  The sale of Scion Underwriting Services Inc. (gain of $18.3m); and

•  The deconsolidated of North America Property Insurance Series 2017 Account A-3 (a segregated account within Versutus 

Limited) (loss of $2.2m).

Gain on a business combination 
No business combinations were effected in 2022. In 2021, a gain of $6.1m arose on the acquisition of the remaining 50% of the 
share capital of Camargue.

Foreign exchange
As explained on page 33, we manage our currency exposures to mitigate the impact on solvency rather than to achieve a short-
term impact on earnings. We experienced a foreign exchange loss of $15.1m in 2022 (2021: loss of $19.8m), reflecting the 
movement of the US dollar against other currencies in which we trade and hold assets, and the impact of FX related derivatives 
purchased by the Group. 

The allocation of the FX result within the Consolidated Income Statement is as follows:

Foreign exchange gains and (losses)

Net foreign exchange (losses)/gains – continuing operations
Net foreign exchange (losses)/gains – discontinued operations
Gains/(losses) on derivative contracts – FX related instruments 

2022
$m

(30.4)
1.8
13.5

(15.1)

2021
$m

(1.4)
0.3
(18.7)

(19.8)

Tax
Our tax on ordinary activities for 2022 resulted in a tax credit of $11.6m (2021: tax credit of $9.6m), based on a Group loss 
before tax of $107.9m (2021: profit before tax of $227.3m), of which $0.1m related to continuing operations (2021: $12.0m) 
and $11.5m related to discontinued operations (2021: $(2.4)m). This credit comprised a current tax credit of $3.4m and a 
deferred tax credit of $8.2m. The deferred tax credit reflects the change in the UK tax rate from 19% to 25% from 1 April 
2023 in accordance with the Finance Act 2021 which was substantially enacted on 24 May 2021.

The Group is liable to taxes on its corporate income in a number of jurisdictions where its companies carry on business, 
most notably the UK, Germany, and the US. Corporate profits and losses in Bermuda are exempt from tax. The tax charge is 
calculated in each legal entity across the Group and then consolidated. Therefore, the Group effective rate is sensitive to the 
location of taxable profits and is a composite tax rate reflecting the mix of tax rates in those jurisdictions.

The 2022 Group rate varies from the weighted average rate in those jurisdictions due to a number of factors. The principal 
factors are an increase of $19.9m in the unrecognised deferred tax asset in respect of undeclared Lloyd’s syndicate years of 
account and current tax losses, and the impact of the change in the UK tax rate used for the calculation of deferred taxes, from 
19% for brought forward balances to 25% for carried forward balances due to the increase in the UK corporation tax rate to 
25% from 1 April 2023 which was substantively enacted on 24 May 2021. The rate is further influenced by the impact of prior 
year adjustments, US state taxes, US losses not recognised, exempt income such as dividend income, disallowable expenses 
and by non-UK taxes arising in our Lloyd’s syndicates.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

29

strategic report 
 
30 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportfinancial position and capital strength 

Financial position
At 31 December 2022, our adjusted net tangible assets 
totalled $1,590.6m (2021: $1,740.6m). 

Summary consolidated statement of financial position

Assets
Intangible assets
Reinsurance contracts
Insurance and other receivables
Financial investments, investments in 
associated undertakings and cash
Assets classified as held for sale
Investment related derivatives
FX related derivatives
Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities
Deferred tax on intangible assets
Insurance contracts
Borrowings
Investment related derivatives
FX related derivatives
Insurance and other payables
Liabilities directly associated with 
assets classified as held for sale
Other liabilities

Total liabilities

2022
$m

2021
$m

 120.0 
 2,487.0 
 1,803.3 

205.3
2,291.2
1,615.3

 5,868.9 
 331.6 
 4.3 
 6.5 
 546.6 

5,540.3
–
6.2
8.9
551.7

 11,168.2  10,218.9

 20.8 
 7,779.0 
 172.4 
 – 
 10.1 
 917.1 

33.5
6,532.9
227.9
0.3
12.2
1,184.1

49.6 
 76.4 

–
81.4

9,025.4 

8,072.3

Net assets
Adjusted net tangible assets (Note 1)

 2,142.8 
 1,590.6 

2,146.6
1,740.6

Note 1: A reconciliation of adjusted net tangible assets to the amounts 
presented in the financial statements is included in the Annual Report and 
Accounts on page 178.

Of our net assets of $2,142.8m at 31 December 2022, 
$1,768.3m (2021: $1,912.4m) were attributable to the 
owners of Brit Limited, while $374.5m (2021: $234.2m) were 
attributable to non-controlling interests. 

On 7 January 2023, the sale of Ambridge to Amynta Group 
was agreed, subject to regulatory approval. The transaction 
is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023. At  
31 December 2022, Ambridge was classified as an asset held 
for sale.

In addition to the result recognised through the consolidated 
income statement, the other movements in our net assets as 
recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income and the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 
included defined benefit pension scheme related gains and 
charges (2022: $26.6m net loss; 2021: $12.2m net gain); 
changes in unrealised foreign currency translation gains on 

foreign operations (2022: $17.4m net loss; 2021: $1.1m net 
loss); contribution from parent in relation to the acquisition 
of the RiverStone pension plan (2022: $3.7m; 2021: nil); 
dividends paid (2022: $18.7m; 2021: $375.0m); transactions 
with non-controlling interests (2022: $151.5m 2021: 
$124.1m). In 2021, we also recognised issuance of share 
capital of ($406.1m) and a surplus net of deferred tax on the 
acquisition of a defined benefit pension scheme ($28.5m).

At 31 December 2022, we had $331.6m of assets classified 
as held for sale and $49.6m of liabilities directly associated 
with assets classified as held for sale (net $282.0m). These 
related to Ambridge and are further explained in Note 38 to 
the financial statements. 

Capital strength 
Our financial position remains strong, with our capital surplus 
increasing by $91.9m in the year. At 31 December 2022, Group 
capital resources totalled $2,053.0m (2021: $2,199.5m), giving 
surplus management capital of $709.8m (2021: $617.9m), 
or 52.8% (2021: 39.1%) over our Group management capital 
requirement of $1,343.2m (2021: $1,581.6m). 

Dividends
A dividend of $18.7m (2021: nil) was paid to the class A 
shareholders on 27 April 2022 in accordance with the 
Brit Limited shareholders’ agreement. No dividend (2021: 
$375.0m) was paid to the class B shareholders in 2022. 

Reserving policy
Preserving a strong financial position is critical to the long-
term success of an insurance business. The Group maintains 
appropriate loss reserves to cover its estimated future 
liabilities. Reserves are estimates that involve actuarial and 
statistical projections of the expected cost of the ultimate 
settlement and administration of claims. The reserving 
process is robust and managed by the Chief Risk Officer 
and Chief Actuary and under the oversight of the Reserving 
Committee. Reserving estimates are prepared quarterly 
and are based on facts and circumstances then known, 
predictions of future developments, estimates of future 
trends in claims frequency and severity and other variable 
factors such as inflation. Movement in these reserves forms 
an integral element of our operating result. 

Our reserving policy is to reserve to a best estimate and 
carry an explicit risk margin above that best estimate. 
Maintaining reserves is critical to safeguard future 
obligations to policyholders and our approach provides a 
secure foundation. It also provides a secure foundation for 
the pricing of new business which is particularly critical in  
a soft rating environment.

Asset allocation
Brit’s invested assets (financial investments, investments 
in associates, cash and cash equivalents and derivative 
contracts) at 31 December 2022 were $6,011.3m  
(31 December 2021: $5,546.2m). 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

31

strategic report 
 
financial position and capital strength

Our asset allocation, on both a look-through basis and statutory disclosure basis, is set out in the tables below:

Statutory basis

Cash and cash 
equivalents
$m

Associated
undertakings
$m

Investment 
Derivatives
(net)
$m

Assets held 
for sale
$m

Total
invested 
assets
(look-through)
 $m

31 December 2022

i

s
s
a
b
h
g
u
o
r
h
t
-
k
o
o
L

Government debt securities
Corporate debt securities
Structured products
Loan instruments
Equity securities
Alternative investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Investment related derivatives

Total invested assets (statutory)

31 December 2021

i

s
s
a
b
h
g
u
o
r
h
t
-
k
o
o
L

Government debt securities
Corporate debt securities
Structured products
Loan instruments
Equity securities
Alternative investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Investment related derivatives

Total invested assets (statutory)

Equity 
securities
$m

Debt 
securities
$m

Loan 
instruments
$m

– 2,644.5
– 1,301.0
–
–
–
–
–
544.1
–
–
–
–
–
–

544.1 3,945.5

– 2,232.6
907.2
–
–
–
–
–
–
480.1
–
–
–
–
–
–

480.1

3,139.8

–
–
–
34.6
–
–
–
–

34.6

–
–
–
38.3
–
–
–
–

38.3

Specialised 
investment 
funds
$m

29.8
14.4
18.7
8.8
313.4
–
4.8
(1.7)

388.2

–
–
–
–
–
–
941.3
–

941.3

21.8
10.9
21.3
3.0
261.6
–
39.0
(0.8)

–
–
–
–
–
–
1,510.3
–

356.8

1,510.3

–
–
–
–
15.2
–
–
–

15.2

–
–
–
–
15.0
–
–
–

15.0

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
4.3

4.3

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
5.9

5.9

– 2,674.3
– 1,315.4
18.7
–
43.4
–
872.7
–
– 
–
138.1 1,084.2
2.6

–

138.1 6,011.3

– 2,254.4
918.1
–
21.3
–
41.3
–
756.7
–
–
– 
– 1,549.3
5.1
–

– 5,546.2

Brit held a short duration position over 2022 which limited mark to market losses on the fixed income portfolio. 

We increased our duration and credit allocation in the second half of the year as spreads widened and interest rates have 
risen, creating more attractive opportunities. The allocation to credit risk, is primarily defensive, focused on high quality, 
investment grade non-cyclical companies. Equity allocations are invested in a portfolio of both listed and private (non-listed) 
equities and funds.

The assets remain primarily invested in cash and fixed income securities (2022: $5,117.3m or 85.1% of the portfolio; 2021: 
$4,763.1m or 85.9% of the portfolio). The fixed income portfolio is short dated, with a majority allocation to government bills. 
Corporate bonds and other loan instruments represent 22.6% (2021: 17.3%) of the total portfolio with 2.6pps (2021: 2.1pps)  
of this figure being below investment grade. 

The exposure to equities, funds and structured products has increased (2022: $891.4m or 14.8% of the portfolio; 2021: 
$778.0m or 14.0% of the portfolio), due to additional purchases in Q4. 

The duration of our portfolio at 31 December 2022 was 1.7 years (2021: 1.5 years), which is shorter than the duration of our 
liabilities. US rates rose across the curve over 2022, as the Fed rose rates in response to persistent inflation. 

32 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic report 
 
Foreign exchange management
At 31 December 2022, our US-dollar denominated net assets 
were 84.0% of our total net assets (2021: 83.3%), reflecting 
the currency denomination of the majority of the business we 
write. Our net assets, analysed by currency, are as follows:

Net assets/(liabilities) by currency

US dollar
Sterling
Canadian dollar
Euro
Australian dollar

Total 

2022
%

84.0
8.4
3.9
3.5
0.2

2021
%

83.3
8.0
4.7
2.8
1.2

100.0

100.0

The reporting currency for the Group’s consolidated Financial 
Statements is US dollars, as are the functional and reporting 
currencies of a number of our subsidiaries, including all of 
our underwriting subsidiaries. A portion of our revenues 
and expenses, and assets and liabilities, are denominated 
in currencies other than US dollars, hence we are exposed 
to fluctuations in the values of those currencies against the 
US dollar. These fluctuations impact our reported operating 
results and our assets and liabilities.

Our strategic approach to managing FX risk is to match the 
currencies of our liabilities and capital requirements with the 
assets we hold. As a consequence of this, because we report 
our results in US dollars, we import some exchange rate 
volatility into the income statement through the revaluation 
of our net tangible assets. The Group’s NTA is, however, 
largely matched against our capital requirement, protecting 
our shareholders against the risk of additional capital being 
required as a result of FX volatility. Any excess is held in  
US dollars.

At 31 December 2022, 71.5% of our invested assets were 
rated of A- or higher (2021: 75.4%). An analysis of the credit 
quality of our invested assets is set out below:

Invested assets by rating

AAA
AA
A
BBB and below
P-1 and P-2
Other

Total 

2022
%

48.5
7.4
10.0
10.7
5.6
17.8

2021
%

51.8
10.2
11.1
7.8
2.3
16.8

100.0

100.0

Other includes equities, funds and investment related 
derivatives

Gearing
At 31 December 2022, our gearing ratio was 17.6% (2021: 20.0%). 

Brit has in place a $550m (2021: $450m) revolving credit facility 
(RCF), the expiration date of which is 31 December 2025.  
Under our capital policy we have identified a maximum of 
$300.0m (2021: $250.0m) of this facility to form part of our 
capital resources, with the balance available for liquidity funding. 

At 31 December 2022, the cash drawings on the facility were 
$10.0m (2021: $45.0m) and a $100.0m uncollateralised letter 
of credit (LoC) was in place (2021: $130.0m/uncollateralised) 
to support our underwriting activities. At the date of this 
report, cash drawings had reduced to nil and the $100.0m 
uncollateralised LoC remained in place. 

At 31 December 2022, Ki Financial Ltd, together with Sussex 
Re and Ki Member Ltd, has a $180.0m LoC facility (2021: 
$130.0m) to provide a proportion of the Funds at Lloyd’s for 
Syndicate 1618 through a segregated account of Sussex Re. 
The facility was fully utilised at 31 December 2022 (2021: 
$130.0m fully utilised).

In addition, we have in issue £135.0m of 3.6757% 
subordinated debt with a carrying value of £135.0m/$162.4m 
(31 December 2021: £135.0m/$182.9m). This instrument, 
which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, was issued in 
December 2005, matures on 9 December 2030. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

33

strategic report 
 
risk management, principal risks and uncertainties

The Risk Management function, led by the Chief Risk Officer 
(CRO), monitors whether Brit is operating within the risk 
tolerance levels approved by the Board. This includes 
assessments of any new strategic initiatives and the principal 
risks and uncertainties faced by the business as detailed below. 

All Brit staff are involved in ensuring there is an appropriate 
risk culture which promotes the identification and 
management of risk. Brit’s risk culture aims to ensure the risk 
and capital implications of decisions are understood and there 
is open communication about risks and issues in all areas of 
the business. 

Brit’s approach to risk management is designed to encourage 
clear decision-making as to which risks Brit takes and 
how these are managed based on the potential strategic, 
commercial, financial, compliance and legal implications of 
these risks.

The sections below set out the approach to risk governance, 
and the key risks identified, measured and managed under  
the RMF.

Risk Governance
The Board is responsible for overseeing our risk management 
and internal control systems, which management is 
responsible for implementing. 

Brit maintains a strong risk governance framework using 
Risk Oversight Committees and Audit Committees whose 
membership consists of independent non-executive Directors. 
The Board, Risk and Audit Committee agendas are designed 
to ensure all significant areas of risk are reported on and 
discussed. The Risk Oversight Committees monitor and review 
the risk profile and the effectiveness of all risk management 
activities and, in particular, monitor adherence to agreed  
risk limits. 

Brit operates a three lines of defence model for governing 
risk. Within the first line of defence individual risk committees 
monitor day-to-day risk control activities. The risk 
management function, as a second line of defence, provides 
oversight over business processes and sets out policies and 
procedures. Internal Audit, as a third line of defence, provides 
independent assurance and monitors the effectiveness of the 
risk management processes.

Our Internal Audit function provides assurance to the Risk 
Oversight Committees, Audit Committees and Boards, 
while external experts are regularly used for independent 
assessments.

Risk Management Framework
Brit delivers shareholder value by actively seeking and 
accepting risk within agreed limits. Risk management at Brit is 
a continuous process that links directly to the organisation’s 
business and risk management strategies and the associated 
Board risk tolerances. 

Brit’s Risk Management Framework (RMF) applies a consistent 
methodology and structure to how risks are identified, 
measured, managed and monitored. This process enables us 
to protect policyholders and maximise shareholder value by 
ensuring the risk and capital implications of business strategy 
are well understood. 

The RMF has the following key elements:

• 

Identification: Risk events, risks and relevant controls 
are identified and classified. This is a continuous process 
which considers any emerging and existing risks. The 
risk register sets out the significant risks faced by the 
business and identifies the potential impact and likelihood 
of each risk.

•  Measurement: Risks are assessed and quantified 
and controls are evaluated. This is done through a 
combination of stochastic modelling techniques, stress and 
scenario analysis, reverse stress testing and qualitative 
assessment using relevant internal and external data.

•  Management: The information resulting from risk 

identification and measurement is used to improve how the 
business is managed.

A key part of the RMF is the setting of risk tolerances and risk 
appetite. Risk tolerances are set by the Board and represent 
the maximum amount of risk Brit is willing to accept to meet 
its strategic objectives. Risk appetite is set by management 
and reflects the maximum amount of risk that Brit wishes to 
take in the current market environment. The actual amount of 
risk taken is monitored against the tolerances and appetites 
on an ongoing basis.

The RMF, including the risk tolerances and appetite, reflects 
Brit’s strategy and seeks to ensure that risk is accepted in 
the areas which are expected to maximise shareholder value 
whilst continuing to protect policyholders against extreme 
events. The process applies to both the Brit Group and to the 
individual underwriting entities (such as Lloyd’s syndicates).

Strategy

Business strategy

Risk tolerances and appetites

Risk management framework

Planning and capital processes

Identification

Business plan

Measurement

Economic capital requirements

Management

Capital allocation

34 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportKey risks
The RMF categorises the risks to Brit as follows:

•  Overarching risk: strategic, earnings and solvency; and

• 

Individual risk categories: insurance, market, liquidity, 
credit and operational, and group.

Insurance risk is the key driver of our Group capital 
requirements. 

The key risks and uncertainties are set out in the following 
table and the principal risks in the current environment are 
further described below.

Risk category

Risk 

Description

Overarching

Strategic

Risk that Brit’s strategy is not appropriate or is not implemented effectively.

Earnings

Solvency

Unexpected earnings volatility leads to unexpected losses.

Capital ratio falls below the level targeted by management.

Insurance

Underwriting – pricing

Emerging experience is inconsistent with the assumptions (e.g. inflation) and 
pricing models used.

Underwriting – natural 
catastrophe

Natural catastrophe events, including the impact of climate risk, impacting 
Brit’s (re)insureds, leading to large volumes of claims.

Underwriting – man 
made catastrophe

Extreme man-made events, such as terrorist attacks, impacting Brit’s (re)
insureds, leading to large volumes of claims.

Underwriting – 
reinsurance

Reserving

Failure to obtain reinsurance on attractive terms, or failure to recover under 
reinsurance arrangements.

Prior year reserves are insufficient to cover claims (net of reinsurance)  
e.g. due to higher than anticipated inflation. 

Market

Investment market risk Invested assets adversely affected by changes in economic variables, such as 
interest rates, inflation, bond yields, equity returns, credit spreads and credit 
ratings.

Currency

Exchange rate fluctuations materially impact our financial performance.

Liquidity

Liquidity

Insufficient financial resources available to meet liabilities as they fall due.

Credit

Counterparty risk

Operational 
and group

People

Deterioration in the creditworthiness of, defaults by, or reputational issues 
related to, premium debtors, reinsurers or other third parties with whom we 
transact business.

Failure to attract, motivate and retain key Directors, senior underwriters, 
senior management, and other key personnel, on whom our future success is 
substantially dependent.

Principal 
risks

✓
✓

✓
✓

✓

Systems and processes Failure of our systems or processes, impacting our ability to conduct business 

and our ability to provide continuity of service to our clients.

Information security

Outsourcing 
arrangements

Reputational

Failure to properly protect information could compromise the confidentiality, 
integrity or availability of our information and data, potentially resulting in 
financial loss and legal, regulatory, and reputational consequences.

Failure on the part of any third-party to perform agreed outsourced services, 
on which we are heavily reliant.

Damage to reputation due to actions taken by Brit or related parties and the 
impact this has on Brit’s business and operations.

Regulatory & legal

Legislation or regulation adversely affects Brit’s operations.

Conduct

Failure to ensure Group’s products and services deliver the right outcomes  
for consumers.

Change management

Major projects or other key changes are not implemented effectively.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

35

strategic report 
 
risk management, principal risks and uncertainties

Principal risks 
The table below provides additional information on the principal risks in the current environment and how we manage them. 

Principal risk 

Mitigation tools

Metrics

Status

Underwriting – pricing
Inadequate pricing 
could have a material 
adverse effect 
on our results 
for underwriting 
operations and 
financial condition. 

•  Strategic focus on underwriting 
performance rather than on top 
line growth.

Risk adjusted rate change  
(2022: increase of 12.4%; 2021: 
increase of 12.9%).

•  Strong governance processes 
around strategy and planning.

•  Pricing discipline is maintained 
through strict underwriting 
guidelines, monitoring of the 
delegated authorities and 
enforcement of the technical 
pricing framework. 

•  Efficient use of the outwards 
reinsurance programme.

•  Monitoring of risk adjusted rate 

change.

Largest realistic disaster scenarios  
(1 October 2022 estimated loss in $m):

Event
Gulf of Mexico 
windstorm

Florida Miami 
windstorm

US North East 
windstorm

San Francisco 
earthquake

Japan earthquake

Japan windstorm

European windstorm

Gross

Net

1,144

300

1,027

217

1,124

281

1,714

347

108

94

528

213

68

66

Underwriting – natural catastrophe
A catastrophic event 
or catastrophic 
events could 
result in large 
insured losses that 
adversely impact our 
financial results and 
potentially our capital 
position. 

•  Diverse portfolio of risks 
written between lines of 
business and geographic 
location.

•  Regular modelling and 

monitoring against the Board 
catastrophe risk appetite by 
our exposure management 
team.

•  Effective outwards reinsurance 

programme in place, with 
particular emphasis on 
managing accumulation of risks.

•  Clear limits set for key 

accumulations and conservative 
use of line size by our 
underwriters.

•  Identification and monitoring  
of emerging risks such as 
climate change.

36 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

We have seen positive 
rate rises since 2018, 
following four years of 
rate reductions.

Active rebalancing of the 
portfolio remains a key 
focus for management.

Follow business only 
follows lead syndicates 
with a proven profitable 
track record.

Hurricane Ian continued 
the recent trend of 
heightened catastrophe 
activity seen globally 
since 2017. 

Management continues 
to focus on actively 
rebalancing the portfolio 
to ensure gross 
exposure is in line with 
appetite, reinsurance 
protection is adequate, 
and that catastrophe 
exposed business is 
appropriately priced to 
ensure that the Group 
is more resilient to the 
heightened activity.

Climate risk is a key 
consideration and Brit 
continues to develop its 
assessment, mitigation, 
and management of this 
risk.

strategic reportReserving
Estimating insurance 
reserves is 
inherently uncertain 
and, if insufficient, 
may have a material 
adverse effect on 
our results and 
financial condition.

Investment risk
Invested assets 
are susceptible 
to changes in 
economic conditions. 
A decrease in the 
value of our invested 
assets may have a 
material adverse 
effect on our results, 
financial condition 
and liquidity.

People
We could be 
adversely affected 
by the loss  
of key employees 
or by an inability to 
attract and retain 
qualified personnel. 

Reserve release ratio (2022: 
strengthening of 0.2%; 2021: releases 
of 4.8%).

Reserves are held at a 
best estimate and we 
also carry an explicit risk 
margin for uncertainty.

No change in approach 
from prior years.

•  Best estimate reserving 

philosophy with a risk margin 
giving a track record of 
releases.

•  Actuarial team recommend 
reserves independently 
from underwriting division 
using established actuarial 
techniques.

•  Independent external review 
of reserving is performed 
annually.

•  Strong governance processes 
around investment strategy.

Return on invested assets, net  
of fees (2022: -2.3%; 2021: 3.3%).

Running yield (2022: 4.0%;  
2021: 0.9%).

Staff turnover (2022: 14.0%;  
2021: 14.3%).

•  Regular monitoring against 

investment risk appetite which 
includes defined limits for 
solvency, earnings risk and 
liquidity risk.

•  Investment guidelines in place 

for individual asset classes and 
monitored regularly.

•  Our remuneration strategy 
(including share-based 
remuneration) is designed to 
reward talent and success.  
We have a proven track record 
in being able to retain high-
performing staff.

•  Succession and contingency 

plans are in place in the event  
of the loss of a key employee.

•  Regular monitoring of employee 

turnover and morale.

•  Our culture of openness, 

inclusiveness and collaboration. 

Financial markets 
remain volatile following 
the Russian invasion 
of Ukraine and general 
economic uncertainty, 
with inflation at a ten-
year high. Our portfolio 
remains highly liquid, and 
was primarily invested 
in cash and investment 
grade fixed income 
securities as at  
31 December 2022.

The Group’s key 
functions continued to 
operate effectively.

The current environment 
remains competitive 
with a number of our 
peers actively seeking 
talented staff. We 
actively manage our 
remuneration and HR 
policies to ensure we 
continue to retain and 
attract the best staff. 
Current turnover rates 
remain well within our 
appetite.

Emerging risks
Emerging risks, including climate change related financial risks, geopolitical risks and global economic risks (including inflation 
risk) are discussed in Note 4.7 to the financial statements, starting on page 111.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

37

strategic report 
 
38 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportour people, culture, social, community and 
environmental matters

Introduction
To generate value, we recognise that our people, culture, 
social and community strategies must be both sustainable and 
aligned to the long-term interests of all our stakeholders. We 
seek to make both a positive contribution to society and to be 
aware of the long-term consequences of our actions. We also 
seek to generate new commercial opportunities by developing 
strong stakeholder relationships and by recruiting and 
retaining a highly skilled, engaged and motivated workforce. 

Our people and culture
Our people are our greatest asset and managing our talent 
appropriately contributes significantly to our success. 

During 2022 we continued to strengthen our highly committed 
team. Through the attraction and recruitment of new talent 
and the ongoing development of existing expertise, we 
continued to live our culture and increase performance. 
Senior hires included our new Group CEO Martin Thompson, 
Bilge Mert (Chief Technology Officer) and Kanika Chaganty 
(Chief Data Officer), as well as significant strengthening 
across the Ki team.

We are committed to developing the technical, behavioural, 
management and leadership skills required for our teams to 
outperform, both individually and collectively. We continue to 
invest in the future of Brit through our leadership, graduate 
and intern programmes and succession and talent mapping 
exercises, all of which aim to grow expertise from within and 
ensure robust succession plans. 

In 2022 we invested in updating our behavioural and 
management courses to strengthen our focus on driving 
performance whilst ensuring a strong cultural environment 
to work in. 

The Brit Underwriting Academy has had another successful 
year with over 15 different courses, the majority of which 
have been run by internal subject matter experts.

Health and wellbeing has continued to be a focus throughout 
2022. We are committed to embedding a long-term positive 
culture across the organisation, where employees recognise 
that their mental health and physical health are equally 
supported. This focus reduces stigma, builds confidence and 
encourages open conversations. It also raises awareness of 
mental health matters, including the ability for employees and 
managers to recognise the signs of common mental health 
issues, while empowering people with long-term mental health 
issues to thrive in the workplace.

Brit Syndicates Limited has Chartered Insurer status 
through the Chartered Insurance Institute. This prestigious 
designation signifies to our customers – and the market – that 
we are committed to the pursuit of the highest standards and 
demonstrates our adherence to ethical good practice.

Brit’s cross-functional Social Committee has continued to 
organise a range of social, community and charitable events 
for employees during the year. 

The 2022 staff turnover rate excluding retirements and 
redundancies was 14.0% (2021: 14.3%).

At 31 December 2022, 29.8% (2021: 33.7%) of staff had 
completed at least five years of service and 12.0% (2021: 
12.3%) had served at least ten years.

Details of Brit’s employment policies are given in the 
‘Employment’ section of the Directors’ Report on page 55.

Inclusion and Diversity (I&D)
In 2022 Brit has continued to focus on I&D and have run a 
number of successful initiatives.

We have five employee resource groups, covering ‘Race and 
Belonging’, ‘LGBT+’, ‘Gender’, ‘Disabilities and Neurodiversity’ 
and ‘Multigeneration’. We also have a ‘Mental Health and 
Wellbeing’ group. These groups have held a 'LGBT+ back to 
basics session’, produced a faith guidance booklet, installed 
a wishing tree for Lunar New Year and held a ‘sip and paint’ 
event. Through an internal focus group, we created gender 
neutral and non-visible disabilities toilet signage. We also 
shared guidance for colleagues who wish to add their 
pronouns and name pronunciation to their email signatures. 

We sponsored external activities such as LINK's Pride 
competition, Howden Group’s initiative for Dive In Festival 
2022 and Fifty Over 50. Brit also received a nomination for 
an Inclusion and Diversity award at the National Insurance 
Awards 2023. We partnered with Code First Girls and four of 
its five placements at Brit are being converted to permanent 
hires. We have extended the partnership to nine placements 
for 2023. We have made several hires through recruitment 
partners ACIN and VERCIDA. We created the Brit Outreach 
Programme to attract young females and those from a black 
and ethnic minority background into insurance. 

We completed an I&D maturity index, resulting in 
improvements in two areas and maintenance of progress in 
the remaining areas over the previous assessment held in 
2020. In late 2022, we launched our holistic I&D data capture, 
giving colleagues the opportunity to self-report via our new 
HR system. We achieved a 99% completion rate.

We have introduced several policies including ‘Menopause’, 
‘Fertility Treatment’, ‘Pregnancy Loss’, ‘Carers’ and ‘Domestic 
Abuse’. We have also significantly enhanced our ‘Shared 
Parental Leave’, ‘Maternity’ and ‘Adoption’ policies. In 2022,  
we increased our number of mental health first aiders to 12. 

We are proud that 2022 saw the largest uptake by women 
of the Brit Leadership Programme. 

Staff engagement 
Engagement with our staff allows us to assess the extent to 
which they are motivated and helps us identify where we need 
to focus. High engagement results have a positive impact on 
our team performance and employee retention, our service 
quality and our overall business performance, ultimately 
benefitting all stakeholders.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

39

strategic reportour people, culture, social, community and environmental matters

Our biennial Employee Engagement Survey was undertaken 
in the fourth quarter of 2022. The participation rate was 
89% (2020: 89%). 75% (2020: 76%) of employees answered 
positively to questions designed to assess the extent to which 
they are motivated to contribute to organisational success, 
and are willing to apply discretionary effort to accomplish tasks 
important to the achievement of organisational goals. Our overall 
engagement result is 75% and the results were presented to the 
Group by the Group CEO in November 2022 and team results and 
action plans are being cascaded and developed. 

At Brit we believe that good communication enables our teams 
to perform at their best. The Board engages with employees 
via the executive Directors. To help the executive Directors 
foster a two-way conversation with colleagues, there are 
several internal communication methods to help cascade 
information and to receive feedback including: 

•  Our Intranet (The Hub) provides colleagues with the latest 
news and evergreen information from around the Group. 

•  Email Communications using an email marketing platform, 
key messages are shared with colleagues in an engaging 
format. Spotlight articles are shared on a monthly basis 
and offer a closer look into aspects of the business. 

•  Our Stream video channel allows us to share content, 
ranging from our regular town hall meetings with the 
Executive Committee to teams sharing meetings and 
process walkthroughs as reference material. 

•  Town halls: In 2022 we hosted regular Executive committee 

updates, allowing all colleagues to hear directly from 
leadership. Our hybrid town hall events had on average 
64% of employees joining the live event, with others 
choosing to watch later via The Hub.

Social and community
We are committed to supporting the communities in which we 
operate and charities that are meaningful to employees. Our 
objective is to select charitable giving and community projects 
based on three criteria: projects should be for a good cause 
and operate in an area relevant to us, financial involvement 
should be for the benefit of the good cause, and projects 
should offer alignment with our strategic priorities.

During 2022, Brit:

•  Donated $1.75m (2021: $1.1m) under its charitable 

initiatives. In addition to this, Brit employees completed  
66 volunteering days (2021: 19.5 days).

•  Supported ten charities chosen by employees. We donated 
a sum of money to each charity at the start of the year and 
continued with fundraising activities through the year. 

•  Further promote staff involvement in the community by 

granting every employee two additional days of paid leave  
a year to volunteer their time to a registered local charity. 

•  Continued our support for a school that educates boys and 
girls from the age of five to 18 in Kibera, the largest slum 
in Africa. 

40 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

•  Donated $203k to the Disaster Emergency Committee 
supporting the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal to help 
those displaced by the conflict both inside Ukraine and 
neighbouring countries.

•  Supported Team BRIT, a team of disabled motor racing 
drivers, since 2017. In 2022, we continued our contract 
with Team BRIT, as title sponsor, to support their racing 
academy and success on the race course. 

•  Continued to run a payroll giving scheme and match any 
money raised by employees participating in charitable 
events.

Environmental responsibility 
Introduction
Climate change will have a major impact on our business and 
on all our stakeholders. Brit actively considers the potential 
implications of climate change and sustainability on its 
investment and underwriting strategies, how it should engage 
more widely on environmental and ethical issues, and its own 
sustainability initiatives. 

We remain committed to responsible business practices 
and aim to act in unison with our regulator and the rest 
of our industry. We are active members of ClimateWise 
and take part in ESG initiatives within the Lloyd’s market 
and the wider Fairfax group. Brit also notes the guidance 
issued by the Taskforce of Climate Change-Related Financial 
Disclosures (TCFD). In late 2022, an external consultancy was 
commissioned to spearhead the faster implementation of a 
granular and specific set of ESG metrics. 

Governance
Board oversight
Since 2014, climate change has been on our Board’s agenda. 
From this point, the Board has focused on developing its 
understanding of the uncertainty associated with climate 
change and climate-related risks and opportunities. 

While retaining direct oversight of climate change and ESG 
related matters, the Board has delegated responsibility to the 
following Committees:

•  Audit Committee: The Audit Committee is responsible 

for overseeing internal controls, adherence to reporting 
requirements, and approval of climate-related disclosures. 

•  Risk Oversight Committee (ROC): The ROC has oversight 
of the identification and management of risks relating to 
climate change. Climate change is a standing item at every 
ROC meeting. The Committee also oversees climate-related 
stress and scenario testing, such as the PRA Climate 
Biennial Exploratory Scenario (CBES) testing, and reporting 
of climate-related risk disclosures. 

•  Brit Syndicates Limited (BSL) Investment Committee: 
We report climate risk metrics to the BSL Investment 
Committee each month and include ESG reports from external 
managers. The Committee considers ESG and climate related 
risks in its investment decision making process. 

strategic reportManagement oversight
•  ESG Committee: Brit’s ESG Committee includes senior 

representation from Underwriting, Investments, Finance, 
Risk, Operations, Facilities and Communications. The 
Committee is chaired by Brit’s Chief Engagement Officer 
and is focused on five themes: investments, underwriting, 
financial risk, Brit as a business, and strategy and external 
engagement. The Committee reports formally to the 
Executive Committee, which is responsible for ensuring 
that climate-related issues are embedded into the relevant 
operating committees. 

•  Climate Change Risk Working Party (CCRWP): The multi-
discipline CCRWP is focused on collaboratively managing 
the financial risks arising from climate change through our 
risk management framework. It reports to the ROC and is 
chaired by Brit’s Chief Risk Officer and Chief Actuary.

Strategy
Overview
We have an important role in fighting climate change, and we 
believe firmly that insurance is a social good. In 2021 we published 
our ESG strategy. The five components to that strategy are:

1.  Working with our clients and business partners to 

understand and mitigate the impact of climate change;

2.  Putting the environment at the centre of our investments 

and underwriting strategy;

3.  Transitioning to be a net-zero business; 

4.  Ensuring we manage the risks to Brit; and

5.  Placing inclusion and diversity at the heart of everything 

we do. 

Further details on these five components can be found at 
www.britinsurance.com/culture/esg.

Underwriting strategy
Across all classes, we recognise the growing importance of 
ESG and have undertaken various initiatives to align ourselves 
to the broader Lloyd’s market, as well as implementing specific 
measures and products that will support our clients’ transitions. 

ESG appetite and underwriting considerations are 
documented within Brit’s underwriting guidelines, ensuring 
that a suitable level of due diligence is undertaken during the 
underwriting process, allowing us to reduce exposure to 
businesses which have poor sustainability practices. 

We continue to review and evolve our products to ensure that 
they promote improvements in ESG standards across our 
client base, as we continue to support our clients on their ESG 
journeys and satisfy their changing needs.

We have engaged an external data provider to provide ESG 
scoring metrics. These scores will assist underwriters’ in 
their assessment of risk. Once a suitable quantum of historic 
ESG data has been accumulated, we will be able to undertake 
detailed analysis of our underwriting portfolio to optimise risk 
selection and business mix.

Additionally, a consultancy firm has been appointed to assist 
us during 2023 to develop our ESG strategy and framework, 
and in the setting of measurable targets.

Brit has been working with Lloyd’s on its ‘Net Zero Emissions’ 
scoring framework, taking part in the pilot scheme in 2022. 
The pilot involved gathering emissions data on sample 
accounts to calculate an overall transition score. This is 
a key component of Lloyd’s plans to monitor and oversee 
Syndicates’ transition journeys. 

We recognise the risk of increasing frequency and severity 
of natural catastrophes due to climate change. This risk and 
how we manage it is discussed in Note 4.7.1 to the financial 
statements on page 111.

Investment strategy
In line with the Prudent Person Principle, Brit has a well-
diversified investment portfolio, with the majority of assets 
being cash, government bonds and investment grade 
corporate bonds. 

ESG considerations are integrated into our investment 
decisions. Our approach is to engage with our investment 
managers to ensure that appropriate consideration is given 
to ESG and climate risk in investment decisions. This allows 
us to understand both risks and opportunities, and allows 
us to invest in businesses which are actively improving from 
an ESG perspective, thereby supporting their transition. We 
also prohibit new investments in the more environmentally 
damaging sectors (such as thermal coal and oil sands) in our 
portfolios, and will divest from existing holdings by the end of 
2025. In 2021, we performed analysis of our equity positions, 
which showed the overall ESG risk rating to be low-medium. 
Our overall portfolio is relatively low risk, reflecting its large 
allocation to US government bonds and cash holdings.

We have continued to provide Board-member training on 
investments and capital, including a session on responsible 
investment. Brit’s monthly investment reports also include details 
on its exposure to climate sensitive sectors. We expect these 
metrics to evolve over time as ESG data availability improves. 

ESG matters are regularly discussed with all our investment 
managers, both on an ongoing basis and as part of our formal 
annual due diligence reviews. For our primary investment 
manager, climate risk is a category of business risk applied to 
all investments. We continue to engage with our managers to 
enhance our ESG investment strategy as best practice in this 
area continues to evolve. 

Risk management
We manage the risks associated with climate change in line 
with our Risk Management Framework (RMF). The Group’s 
approach to managing climate change related financial risks is 
discussed in Note 4.7 to the financial statements, starting on 
page 111.

Metrics and targets
The setting of risk tolerances and risk appetite is a key part 
of risk management. We are focused on developing a metrics 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

41

strategic report 
 
our people, culture, social, community and environmental matters

and targets framework to manage climate-related risks and 
opportunities. We are in the process of identifying a suitable 
‘ESG scorecard’ for our underwriting portfolio and have set 
climate risk metrics for our investment portfolio. At the end  
of 2022, we appointed a consultancy to support us in defining 
our measurement framework during 2023. 

Greenhouse Gas reduction, carbon management and  
staff engagement
As part of our dedication to our environmental responsibilities 
we continually seek to improve the sustainability of our business. 
In 2022 we have continued to focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) 
reduction, carbon management and staff engagement. 

Our key activities are below:

•  Carbon management

We have continued with our initiative to offset our carbon 
emissions through ClimateCare (www.climatecare.org). For 
every tonne of carbon generated we fund the equivalent 
reduction through ClimateCare’s carbon reduction 
projects. At 31 December 2022 we remained fully Energy 
Saving Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) compliant.

We measure and monitor our carbon footprint. In 2022 our 
carbon emissions per employee before offset were 2.1 tonnes 
(2021: 0.7 tonnes; 2020: 2.4 tonnes), all of which has been 
offset (2021: negative 0.7 tonnes after offset, reflecting 
our purchase of further tonnage to offset additional 
emissions generated by our employees while working  
from home during periods of government restrictions).  
The sources of these emissions were as follows:

Emission source

Gas (note 1)
Electricity (note 1)
Business travel – air (note 2)
Business travel – hotels (note 2)
Business travel – other (note 2)

2022
CO2 (tonnes)

2021
CO2 (tonnes)

203
254
1,498
39
2

111
222
218
10
–

Total carbon footprint before offset
Offset 
Total carbon footprint after offset

561
1,996
(1,996) (1,122)
(561)

–

Number of employees at 31 December, 
excluding NEDs 

Carbon footprint per employee before offset

947

2.1

804

0.7

Carbon footprint per employee after offset

–

(0.7)

Note 1: Where Brit operates from offices which form part of a larger 
commercial development, usage and emission data has been supplied by the 
building manager. Where data was unavailable, estimates have been used. 
Where Brit operates out of serviced office suites, it has no control over the 
management of utilities, with that responsibility falling to the landlord. Such 
serviced accommodation is considered out of scope for this purpose. 
Note 2: For all travel including air, hotels and rail, data has been provided 
from our travel agent partner, through whom travel is arranged. 

In 2022 there was a significant increase in gas and electricity 
consumption and related carbon emissions, as more normal 
working patterns were resumed. The data for 2021 reflects 
active measures to reduce energy consumption during office 
closure periods. 

The increase in travel related emissions for 2022, reflects 
a return to normal travel pattern following COVID-19 and 
a strong desire for employees to resume face to face 
interactions with key internal and external stakeholders.

Brit’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) 
disclosures are as follows:

2022

GHG
(CO2 tonnes)

kWh

2021

GHG
(CO2 tonnes)

kWh

Scope 1 (note 3)
1,113,902
Scope 2 (note 4)
965,285
Scope 3 (note 5)
–
Total before offset 2,079,187

203
197
–

601,996
690,711
–
400 1,292,707

111
177
–
288

Per UK employee 
before offset

2,714

0.52

2,001

0.45

Note 1: The scope of table differs from the carbon emissions reported 
above, in that it only covers UK based operations, in accordance with SECR 
requirements for unlisted companies.
Note 2: In the UK Brit operates out of an office which forms part of a larger 
commercial development. Usage and emission data has been supplied by the 
building manager. 
Note 3: Includes gas purchased for consumption in Brit’s UK office, for which 
data has been supplied by the building manager.
Note 4: Includes electricity purchased for consumption in Brit’s UK office, for 
which data has been supplied by the building manager.
Note 5: In 2021 and 2022, Brit had de-minimis emissions from business 
travel in rental or employee-owned vehicles.
Note 6: Details of efficiency actions are set out above and below.

•  Net-zero: We are on our own journey to net-zero. We 
are reviewing our operations to actively reduce our 
emissions, waste and water consumption. As noted 
above, we currently offset our carbon emissions through 
ClimateCare. 

•  Supply chain: Work continues to streamline our supply 

chain, as we seek to minimise our carbon footprint, through 
analysis of our business activities, waste management and 
energy consumption.

•  Travel: Brit’s travel policy encourages the booking of lower 
carbon-intensive flights. Brit has also heavily invested 
in transforming the way it works by introducing flexible 
working and by upgrading its digital and video conferencing 
systems throughout Brit’s offices. 

•  Recycling: We continue to strive to reduce the levels of 

recyclable and non-recyclable waste we generate. During 
2022, Brit recycled 2.0 tonnes of paper and card waste 
(2021: 6.8 tonnes) and we sent 7.1 tonnes of general waste 
to energy recycling (2021: 4.2 tonnes). In 2022, we also 
recycled 1.3 tonnes of glass (2021: 0.4 tonnes) and  
4.0 tonnes of food waste (2021: 0.5 tonnes). During 2022,  
we have continued to:

42 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic report•  work with our building managers to reduce waste sent 

to landfill;

•  use a business dining and internal hospitality provider 
that is committed to the principles of sustainable food 
procurement. It recognises that it is important to the 
future wellbeing of the UK that farming communities are 
supported and able to contribute to their supply chains; 
and

•  encourage our employees to be more environmentally 

aware and climate conscious.

•  Staff engagement: Brit provides ESG e-learning to all 

employees. We also encourage our staff to participate in 
environmental volunteering days.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

43

strategic report 
 
44 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportstakeholder engagement

The Board recognises the importance of engaging with its broader stakeholder base. The Company’s key stakeholders, 
as identified by the Board, are set out below, together with why and how we engage with them and the outcomes of that 
engagement. 

Clients and Intermediaries
Why we engage

Form of engagement

Impact of engagement 

We work with brokers and partners to 
share expertise and deliver a seamless 
service for our clients.

As a specialty insurer, almost 100% 
of Brit’s business is distributed via 
intermediaries. Engagement and building 
strong relationships with them is crucial 
for us to source business and to deliver 
the best service and products for our 
insureds. 
Intermediaries also provide a range 
of services to Brit, for which we 
remunerate them via brokerage and 
commissions. 

Any new intermediary is subject to  
a robust on-boarding process. 

Brit underwriters engage with 
intermediaries in a number of ways, 
including in person and by electronic 
means.

To maximise our intermediary 
relationships, Brit has entered into 
Board-approved strategic partnership 
agreements with seven of our largest 
brokers, covering over 65% of our  
GWP. Under these agreements Brit pays 
an annual fee, which gives access to a 
range of services. 

Broker surveys consistently highlight 
Brit’s efficient client engagement, and 
proactive communications. 

By engaging with clients and 
intermediaries we provide a risk 
service that helps clients not 
only prepare for but manage and 
mitigatethe risks they face.

By building stronger and deeper 
relationships with our intermediaries, 
we believe we put ourselves in a 
stronger position to quickly take 
advantage of new opportunities and 
understand and satisfy changing 
customer needs.

When a client has a claim, their life or 
business has been disrupted, or even 
put in peril, they expect their insurance 
to deliver. It is our responsibility to fulfil 
that commitment. At Brit, we see every 
claim as an opportunity to help our 
clients move forward.

When a client has a claim we engage 
directly with them or their intermediary 
to ensure their needs are met. Following 
a major loss event, we instigate additional 
measures including 24/7 contact with 
claims administrators, and swiftly 
establishing dedicated loss funds.

Engagement with our clients, 
intermediaries and other service 
providers after an event reinforces 
our provision of a risk service that 
helps people not only move on from 
an event but helps them to move 
forward rapidly with confidence.

Reinsurers
Why we engage

Form of engagement

Impact of engagement 

Brit purchases reinsurance to help 
manage risk, reduce volatility, enhance 
earnings, control aggregations and 
create capital efficiency. 

Brit uses its appointed brokers for 
the majority of reinsurer interactions, 
allowing us to benefit from their 
expertise.

We also engage when we make recoveries.

Brit also engages directly with 
reinsurers. These tend to be with our 
largest reinsurance counterparties.

This engagement allows Brit to 
access up to date market information 
and a broad range of reinsurance 
counterparties and products, thereby 
effectively managing its risk appetite. 

When we make recoveries, such 
engagement helps to expedite the 
process.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

45

strategic report 
 
stakeholder engagement

Investment managers
Why we engage

Form of engagement

Impact of engagement 

We manage the assets which support 
our underwriting and ensure that clients’ 
claims can be paid. We manage those 
assets with a long-term view and aim to 
maximise return while controlling the 
level of market risk. 

We implement our investment strategy 
using the expertise of investment 
managers and we engage with them to 
monitor their performance, to ensure 
terms of the investment management 
agreements are met and to gain 
additional insights. 

We have regular discussions with our 
managers to monitor performance 
and assess the outlook for investment 
markets. We also receive regular written 
investment reports. 

We have regular and ad-hoc discussions 
to review new investment opportunities. 
We also perform annual due diligence on 
their operational processes.

Investment managers regularly present 
to the Board and Investment Committee 
Board.

Engaging with our investment 
managers allows us to ensure that 
assets are managed within our risk 
tolerances and guidelines and that any 
changes are implemented in a timely 
fashion. Insights from our investment 
managers enhance our strategy and 
performance.

Engagement allows us to discuss new 
opportunities, helps us understand 
their approach to ESG issues, 
validates the sustainability of our 
portfolio and helps us confirm  
assets are managed robustly and with 
effective controls in place. 

Capital providers
Why we engage

Working with third-party capital 
providers on Ki, Syndicate 2988 and 
Sussex creates the opportunity to 
increase Brit’s footprint and proposition 
to clients. 

Engagement with third-party capital 
providers also supports our growth 
strategy for those vehicles. 

Members
Why we engage

Our aim is to provide long term 
sustainable value for our shareholders, 
Fairfax (86.2%) and OMERS (13.8%). 
Engagement ensures that our objectives 
are aligned and that our strategy, 
operating environment and performance 
are clearly understood.

Form of engagement

Impact of engagement 

Brit regularly engages with the third-
party capital providers on Ki. It also 
engages with current and prospective 
providers ahead of an underwriting year, 
to market Syndicate 2988 and Sussex, 
and to understand investor appetite. 
After an underwriting year incepts, Brit 
formally meets each provider regularly 
to discuss performance, outlook and any 
other relevant matter. 

The successful implementation of 
the Ki, Syndicate 2988 and Sussex 
strategies is dependent on developing 
strong relationships with third-party 
investors. Such engagement helps 
facilitate this.

The insight we gain from interactions 
and feedback helps us ensure that our 
propositions can continuously evolve 
in line with investor appetite. 

Form of engagement

Impact of engagement 

Both of Brit’s ultimate shareholders are 
represented on the Brit Limited Board 
and there is regular contact between 
Brit executives and senior management 
and those of our majority shareholder.

This engagement helps ensure that 
Brit’s strategy is aligned to and 
supported by our shareholders. 

It also presents us with underwriting 
and investment opportunities, 
including collaboration with other 
members of the Fairfax group. 

46 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportRegulators
Why we engage

Regulators are key stakeholders and 
Brit’s Board is pro-active in ensuring 
that Brit meets regulators’ expectations 
around compliance, transparency and 
aligning the business with regulators’ 
objectives.

Brit engages with regulators to ensure 
that:

•  We understand their regulatory 

objectives and how they apply to Brit;

•  Regulators have a proper 

understanding of Brit’s business 
model, strategy and risk appetite,  
and how they align to regulatory 
objectives.

Form of engagement

Impact of engagement 

Brit engages with its principal regulators 
through:

Engagement with regulators impacts 
Brit through:

•  Regular meetings between supervisory 

•  The Periodic Summary and Close 

teams, key decision-makers and 
authorised persons at Brit, including 
Directors;

•  Sharing of key business updates 

and internal documents to ensure 
regulators have a thorough 
understanding of Brit’s business 

•  Responding to thematic reviews and 

information requests;

•  Engaging with Lloyd’s across the 

business including around business 
planning and compliance;

•  Ensuring the Board is kept up-to-
date on regulatory matters as 
communicated by regulators.

and Continuous supervision 
approach by the PRA enables Brit to 
respond promptly on any concerns 
or focus areas ;

•  Engagement on thematic reviews 
and information requests enables 
Brit to contribute to regulators’ 
understanding of the market ;

•  Brit’s regular engagement enables  
it to pro-actively plan its response 
to areas of regulatory focus,  
e.g. operational resilience;

•  Engagement assists Brit to meet the 
prudential and conduct standards 
required by regulators;

•  Directors and employees 

understand their regulatory 
responsibilities. 

Key suppliers
Why we engage

Form of engagement

Impact of engagement 

Supply chain integrity is critical as we 
rely on a number of key suppliers of 
goods and services to help us meet 
the needs of our customers and other 
stakeholders.

Brit determines the risk of the potential 
engagement by investigating the potential 
spend value, criticality of the services 
to be provided. Brit has a rigorous on-
boarding process for new suppliers.

On-going engagement helps us ensure 
that those needs are met and ensures 
that the standards set by those suppliers 
meet Brit’s criteria. 

Such suppliers include providers 
of IT systems, claims management, 
professional services, facilities and 
travel providers.

Brit has strong partnerships with a 
number of critical suppliers, fostered 
by a range of activities including ongoing 
dialogue and meetings. We also engage 
with key suppliers in areas such as 
technical and product roadmaps, 
integration planning and disaster 
recovery. 

Such supplier engagement enables  
us to:

•  Provide a better service to, 
and satisfy the needs of, our 
stakeholders;

•  Enhance current operational 
processes, leading to better 
efficiencies and increased 
competitive advantage;

•  Comply with appropriate laws and 

regulations; 

•  Improve the Company’s 

technological resilience; and

•  Ensure the robustness and integrity 

of our suppliers, such as their 
compliance with the Modern Slavery 
Act 2015. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

47

strategic report 
 
48 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic reportsection 172(1) statement

Introduction
The Brit Limited Directors’ key responsibility is to promote 
the success of the Company. This principle is embodied in the 
Board’s terms of reference and is the cornerstone of their 
discussions and decision making. Each Director is cognisant 
that in discharging this key responsibility, they must have 
regard to: 

•  The likely consequences of any decisions in the long-term;

•  The interests of the Company’s employees;

•  The need to foster the Company’s business relationships 

with suppliers, customers and others;

•  The impact of the Company’s operations on the community 

and environment;

•  The desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation 

for high standards of business conduct; and

•  The need to act fairly between shareholders of the Company.

The Directors of Brit Limited consider, both individually and 
collectively, that they have acted in the way they consider, in 
good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the 
Company for the benefit of its members as a whole (having 
regard to the stakeholders and matters set out in s172(1)
(a-f) of the Act).

The Board’s approach to section 172(1) and decision making
The Board’s terms of reference, which are reviewed annually, 
clearly articulate the Board’s responsibilities, the role of 
the Chair and matters reserved for the Board. They also 
set out which of the Board’s powers and responsibilities 
may be delegated to other committees and the governance 
mechanisms by which the Board monitors those committees’ 
activities and performance. The Chair ensures that these 
terms of reference are adhered to and, by doing so, ensures 
that Directors have due regard for all appropriate factors 
during the decision-making process.

Our strategy
The Board is responsible for a number of key strategic 
decisions, including approving the business plans, objectives 
and strategy of the Company. It is also responsible for 
conduct risk strategy and appetite, for recommending 
dividends and for setting dividend policy.

The Company’s strategy and business plans are approved 
annually by the Board. The Board also assesses how the 
strategy underpins long-term value creation, and on-going 
performance is discussed and monitored at Board meetings. 

The Directors’ assessment of long-term value creation also 
considers the Company’s resilience. The Directors determine 
and monitor underwriting, reserving, business, operational, 
credit, market and liquidity risk appetites and tolerances. 
They ensure the Company has an effective risk management 
framework in place, approve its conduct risk strategy and 
appetite.

Board information
The Board receives regular information on a range of relevant 
topics, and receives information on other areas as requested 
by the Directors from time to time.

The Board receives regular formal reports on the operations 
and performance of the Company from the Group Chief 
Executive Officer and the Group Chief Financial Officer. The 
Board also receives regular reports from the chairs of 
the committees of the Board such as the Audit Committee, 
Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee, and 
from the chairs of its principal subsidiaries’ boards including 
those of Brit Syndicates Limited and Brit Reinsurance 
(Bermuda) Limited. It also receives the minutes of meetings 
of these bodies. Each of these reports provides an update on 
areas necessary to help the Directors promote the success 
of Brit Limited.

In addition, the Board receives and considers a number of 
annual reports, such as the ‘Whistleblowing Annual Report’. 

From time to time the Board receives detailed reports on specific 
areas for it to consider. During 2022, such reports included a 
‘Group Capital Update’ and a ‘Group Investment Update’.

Our policies and practices
All relevant factors are appropriately addressed by the Board 
when considering matters reserved for it, as set out in its 
terms of reference.

The Board also ensures that appropriate consideration is given 
to relevant factors by the committees to which it delegates 
responsibilities. The Board reviews the terms of reference 
of such committees on an annual basis, and receives regular 
updates and reports from those committees’ chairs.

The Board also reviews the Company’s key policies on an 
annual basis, ensuring that all relevant considerations to 
assist it discharge its responsibilities are embedded in the key 
operations of the business. These policies help to promote the 
long-term success of the Company by focusing on areas such 
as the key operations of the Company.

The Board reviews its key stakeholder map on an annual 
basis. New key stakeholder relationships are identified 
through information received and considered by the Board 
on a regular basis, or through the Board’s consideration and 
approval of substantial contracts and commitments. 

Training
To assist the Directors discharge their responsibilities, 
they are provided with on-going training and development 
opportunities. They have received a number of in-depth 
briefings on specific relevant issues.

For the wider workforce, there is a comprehensive staff 
development programme tailored to meet individual needs. 
Elements of this training are mandatory, with all staff 
required to successfully complete e-learning modules on key 
areas such as money laundering, bribery and corruption, data 
protection, fraud and cyber risk. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

49

strategic report 
 
section 172(1) statement

Our culture
Building and maintaining the Company’s reputation and its high 
standards of business conduct are essential to the future 
success of the Company. This is embedded in our culture.

Our brand purpose informs everything we do, from how we 
communicate, to how we develop and deliver our services,  
to how we work together. 

The Company also maintains a ‘Code of Conduct’ setting out 
the standard we expect from all of our staff. This is regularly 
reviewed and updated, and compliance is attested to by each 
employee on an annual basis. 

Our people
Our people are key to our success. How we engage with them 
and how we invest in them is set out on page 39.

Our stakeholders
The Board recognises the importance of engaging with its 
broader stakeholder base. The Company’s key stakeholders, 
as identified by the Board, are set out on page 45, together 
with why and how we engage with them and the outcomes  
of that engagement. 

Community and environment
The Board recognises the importance of not only generating 
value for shareholders but also to contribute to wider society. 
We do this through a number of initiatives, as set out on  
page 40. We also monitor and manage our environmental 
impact, as set out on page 40. 

Key decisions made by the Directors during the year

Sale of Ambridge 
The Board approved the sale of Brit USA Holdings Inc and 
Ambridge Europe Limited (together ‘Ambridge’) to the 
Amynta group. 

In approving the sales and realising the Group’s investment 
in Ambridge, the Board considered the Group’s strategic 
priorities of focusing on its core underwriting capabilities 
across a broad distribution network, and its strategy of 
investing in building out market leading digital capabilities 
to support this. The Board also considered the wishes of 
its shareholders and the interests of other stakeholders 
including employees. 

Dividends 
During 2022, the Board considered and approved a  
$18.7m dividend in respect of its class A shares, held by its 
minority shareholder, OMERS.

In considering this decision, the Directors assessed Brit’s 
ongoing underwriting strategy and capital requirements, 
its capital policy, the Shareholder Agreement, and its 
obligation to act fairly between members. It was mindful of 
its agreed obligations to both its minority shareholder and 
to its majority shareholder. Brit also liaised closely with its 
principal shareholder with regard to this dividend payment.

Ki Financial Limited
In 2022, the Board approved further investment in  
Ki Financial Limited.

The Board considered Brit’s immediate and longer-
term strategic priorities, as well as the interests of its 
shareholders, and other stakeholders, including Lloyd’s 
and the wider market. It concluded that opportunities 
presented by this ongoing initiative would position the 
Group and other stakeholders well for the longer term.  
Brit also liaised closely with its principal shareholder and 
with Ki management over this further investment. This 
two-way dialogue helped determine the quantum and form 
of the investment.

50 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

strategic report2021 financial statements and reserving position
The Directors approved the financial statements for the 
year ended 31 December 2021, on 22 February 2022.  
As part of this process, the Directors considered and 
approved the claims reserves held by the Group’s 
underwriting entities. 

In considering these key factors and in approving the 
final reserving position, the Directors were mindful of the 
importance of maintaining the Group’s policy of reserving on 
a best estimate basis with a specific risk margin. This policy 
provides robust security to our policyholders, while ensuring 
the long-term financial strength of the Group, thereby 
protecting the interests of our key stakeholders including 
our clients, members and employees.

2023 business plan and capital requirements
The Directors reviewed and approved the 2023 business 
plan. The plan included the Group’s underwriting and 
investment strategy, together with the capital needed to 
support the plan. 

The Directors considered the Company’s immediate and 
longer-term strategic priorities, together with the risks 
facing the business. They also considered the needs and 
expectations of the Company’s shareholders, the interest of 
its clients and employees, and those of the wider stakeholder 
group. After due discussion, the Directors concluded that 
the plans and attaching capital positioned the Company well 
for 2023 and the longer term.

Revolving credit facility
During 2022, the Board considered and approved an 
increase to the limit of the Group’s revolving credit facility, 
from $450.0m to $550.0m. 

The Board discussed the terms of the revised facility. 
They concluded that it the facility appropriately supported 
the Group’s future plans and was in the interests of its 
members, employees and wider stakeholder base.

Ki letter of credit facility
The Board considered and approved amendments to the Ki 
letter of credit facility, increasing the limit of the facility and 
extending the banking partners supporting it. 

The Board discussed the terms of the revised facility. They 
concluded that it appropriately supported the Ki’s future 
plans and was in the interests of its members, employees 
and wider stakeholder base. It also concluded that the 
structure of the facility was aligned to its ESG objectives, 
those of Ki and its capital providers, and Lloyd’s. Brit liaised 
closely with Ki management and other Ki investors.

Approval of policies
During 2022, the Directors reviewed and approved 
the Company’s key policies, including the Capital Policy, 
Whistleblowing Policy, Financial Crime Policy, Fit and Proper 
Policy, and Internal Control Framework Policy. The Board 
also approve the Tax Strategy and the Code of Conduct.

In approving these policies, the Directors considered 
whether they support the strategic aims of the Company, 
and whether all relevant considerations were satisfactorily 
embedded in the key operations of the business. Such 
integration helps ensure the Group’s approved operational 
practices are clearly articulated and understood by all 
relevant employees, ensuring our reputation for high 
standards of business conduct is maintained. Such practices 
in turn will help ensure our longer-term strategic aims are 
delivered, in the interests of all our stakeholders.

Appointment of Martin Thompson
In November 2022, the Board appointed Martin Thompson as 
a Director.

In appointing Mr. Thompson, the Board considered his 
background as a highly experienced leader in the insurance 
sector, being a former President and CEO of RSA Canada 
and a current Fairfax executive. The Board also considered 
his contribution while acting as Brit’s Interim Group CEO in 
2021-2022, and the views of Brit’s shareholders.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

51

strategic report 
 
52 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

governancegovernance 

Directors’ Report
This report sets out other information of interest 
to shareholders. It includes information on our 
shareholders, the Directors’ responsibility 
statement and the Directors’ statement on going 
concern.

Corporate Governance Report
This report explains our governance framework. 

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 
This statement sets out the steps taken by us to 
ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not 
taking place in our supply chains or in any part of 
our business. 

Directors’ Report
Corporate Governance Report
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

54
57
59

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

53

governance 
 
directors’ report

The Directors present their report together with the  
audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2022.

Principal activities, review of business and other disclosures
Details of the Company’s principal activities and a review 
of the business, including how the business environment is 
likely to affect its future development and performance, are 
included in the Strategic Report. 

Directors
On 31 October, Matthew Wilson stepped down as Group Chief 
Executive Officer. Matthew returned as Brit Group Chief 
Executive Officer in September 2022 following a leave of 
absence for health reasons. Matthew has been succeeded by 
Martin Thompson, who acted as Interim Group Chief Executive 
Officer during Matthew’s leave of absence. Mr Thompson 
assumed the role of Group Chief Executive Officer on  
31 October 2022, subject to regulatory approval.

The following Directors held office at the date of this report:

Gordon Campbell

Martin Thompson (resigned 8 September 2022, re-appointed 
10 November 2022)

Gavin Wilkinson

Mark Allan 

Andrew Barnard 

Ken Miner

Andrea Welsch

Matthew Wilson (resigned 15 November 2022)

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Directors’ 
Report and the financial statements in accordance with 
applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires that the Directors prepare financial 
statements for each financial year. Under company law the 
Directors must not approve the financial statements unless 
they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the 
state of affairs of the Company and of the profit and loss 
of the Company for that period. In preparing these financial 
statements, the Directors are required to:

•  Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•  Make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

reasonable and prudent; and

•  Prepare the financial statements on the going concern 
basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the 
Company will continue in business.

54 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:

•  The consolidated financial statements, which have been 
prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international 
accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the 
assets, liabilities, financial position, and profit or loss  
of the Group; and 

•  The Strategic Report includes a fair review of the 

development and performance of the business and the 
position of the Group, together with a description of the 
principal risks and uncertainties that it faces. 

Dividends
On 27 April 2022, in accordance with the Company’s articles 
of association, the Company paid a dividend of $18.7m to the 
holder of its class A ordinary shares. The Directors do not 
recommend a final dividend.

Share capital
The Company’s ordinary issued share capital at 31 December 
2022 comprised two classes of ordinary shares, class A 
ordinary and class B ordinary, which are fully paid.

Voting rights
The Company’s articles of association provide that a 
resolution put to the vote of a general meeting must be 
decided on a show of hands unless a poll is duly demanded  
in accordance with the articles.

The Company’s articles of association may only be amended by 
the unanimous approval of the Company’s shareholders.

Shareholders
The Company’s shareholder at the time of this report is as 
follows:

Shareholder

Units

Class

% of total 
ordinary 
shares

FFHL Group Limited
OMERS Administration 
Corporation

577,137,562

B Ordinary

86.2

92,364,532

A Ordinary

13.8

Significant agreements
The following agreement, which was in force at 31 December 
2022, may be terminated on a change of control of the Company.

Revolving Credit Facility
The Group has a syndicated revolving credit facility (RCF) 
which provides for $550.0m of committed multi-currency 
financing. Amounts under the RCF can be drawn until 30 
November 2025, and the RCF terminates on 31 December 
2025, on which date all outstanding facilities must be repaid.

The RCF also contains a change of control provision under 
which, upon the occurrence of a change of control, the 
lenders may refuse to fund utilisation requests under the RCF, 
cancel their commitments and demand immediate repayment 
of all outstanding amounts.

governanceAt 31 December 2022, the cash drawings on the facility were 
$10.0m (2021: $45.0m) and a $100.0m uncollateralised letter 
of credit (LoC) was in place (2021: $130.0m/uncollateralised) 
to support our underwriting activities. At the date of this 
report, cash drawings had reduced to nil and the $100.0m 
uncollateralised LoC remained in place.

Employment
Brit is an equal opportunities employer. This means we will 
not unlawfully discriminate against any person on grounds 
of colour, religion or belief, race or ethnic origin, nationality 
or national origin, sex or sexual orientation, marital status, 
disability, age, pregnancy or maternity, paternity, or gender 
reassignment. We have established policies to ensure that 
there is no discrimination against applicants for a job or whilst 
in employment. 

The Company is committed to ensuring equal opportunities 
in relation to job advertisements, recruitment and selection, 
assessment of work performance or conduct, disciplinary and 
grievance procedures, conditions of service, promotion and 
training, pay and benefits and termination of employment.

In the event of employees becoming disabled, every effort is 
made to ensure their employment with the Group continues 
and appropriate training arranged. So far as possible, the 
Company ensures that the training, career development and 
promotion of any disabled person are identical to that of a 
colleague who does not suffer from such a disability.

The Company maintains procedures by which all employees 
are systematically encouraged to express matters that may 
affect them and are provided with information on matters  
of concern. 

The employee share scheme, as well as other means provide an 
opportunity for staff involvement in the Company’s performance. 

Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
Brit’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and 
its related strategy, are discussed on page 42.

Political donations
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries made any 
political donations during the year.

Disclosure of information to the Company’s auditor
In accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the 
Companies Act 2006, each of the persons who are  
Directors of the Company at the date of approval of this 
report confirms that:

•  So far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit 
information (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) of 
which the Company’s auditor is unaware; and

•  The Director has taken all the steps that he/she ought to 

have taken as a Director to make himself/herself aware of 
any relevant audit information (as defined) and to establish 
that the Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP remain in office as the 
Company’s auditor.

Events occurring after the reporting date
On 7 January 2023 Brit entered into an agreement to 
sell Ambridge Group, its Managing General Underwriter 
operations, to Amynta Group. The Company will receive 
approximately $400m on closing, comprised principally of 
cash of $275m and a promissory note of approximately 
$125m. An additional $100m may be receivable, subject to a 
claw back based on 2023 performance targets of Ambridge. 
Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing 
conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to 
occur in the second quarter of 2023. 

Going concern 
As part of its going concern assessment, the Board considered:

•  Brit’s baseline 2023 financial plan and 2023 outlook: For 

Brit’s main underwriting platform, Syndicate 2987, capacity 
is planned to grow by 27.6% in 2023. The Board noted that 
as in previous years, Brit continues to actively manage the 
portfolios by segmenting Classes into ‘High Performing’, 
‘Core Growth’, ‘Core New Initiatives’, ‘Core Opportunistic’ 
and ‘Portfolio Management’. Growth (excluding RARC) 
is driven primarily by the ‘High Performing’ and ‘Core 
Growth’ segments, while the largest increases in RARC 
are targeted on the weakest performing segments of the 
portfolio. In assessing the plan, the Board considered, 
amongst other factors:

•  Brit’s recent underwriting performance: During 

2022, Brit demonstrated the strength of its underlying 
business with an attritional ratio of 51.0%. This 
strong ratio is partly driven by market conditions 
which continue to improve. Brit’s overall combined 
ratio of 96.6% also reflected a robust underwriting 
performance, achieved in a year with significant natural 
catastrophe activity and no prior year reserve releases. 
In considering this, the Directors were able to assess 
the underlying quality of the underwriting portfolio and 
its reflection in the 2023 plan.

•  Execution of catastrophe strategy: The Director’s 
considered the changes to the Goup’s catastrophe 
strategy implemented in 2022 and how this, together 
with further changes, was reflected in the 2023 
plan. The Board noted the Group’s focus on achieving 
minimum rate requirements, increasing inflationary 
guards and minimum valuations, and redistributing 
capacity away from catastrophe intensive regions.

• 

Improving market conditions: In 2022, Brit achieved  
an overall risk adjusted rate increase of 12.4%, giving  
a compound increase since 1 January 2018 of 54.1%. 
Brit’s 2023 plan envisages these strong market 
conditions continuing in 2023.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

55

governance 
 
directors’ report

•  Brit’s reserving policy and track record: Brit has 
a policy of reserving on a best estimate basis and 
carrying an explicit risk margin above that estimate. 
This policy has led to a track record of modest annual 
reserve releases. In 2022, we marginally increased 
our ultimate claim estimates for prior years, as we 
considered the potential impact of the current economic 
conditions and the potential impact of inflation. This 
reserving approach, which has been adopted unchanged 
for the 2023 plan, has demonstrated the robustness of 
Brit’s approach.

• 

Investment market conditions and outlook: 
The Directors considered the current economic 
environment, and concluded it was appropriately 
reflected in the 2023 plan.

•  Liquidity: The Directors considered the liquidity position 
of the Group. The Group ended 2022 in a strong position, 
with cash and cash equivalents of $1,084.2m on a 
look through basis. The Directors also considered the 
duration of the investment portfolio and the forecast 
yields for 2023. The Directors also noted the increase 
in size in late 2022 of the Revolving Credit Facility 
from $450m to $550m. Brit’s 2023 plan envisages the 
Group’s liquidity position of the Group continuing in 2023.

•  Risk and risk management: The Board considered the risks 
faced by Brit, and the management of those risks, including 
emerging risks such as those arising from climate change, 
geopolitical events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 
and the global economic environment including the current 
inflationary environment. These risks are discussed 
in more detail on page 34 and in Note 4 to the financial 
statements.

A review of the financial performance of the Group is set out 
on pages 20 to 29. The financial position of the Group, its cash 
flows and borrowing facilities are set out on pages 31 to 33. 

After assessing the evidence from the reviews performed, 
the Directors concluded they have a reasonable expectation 
that the Group has adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this 
reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the financial statements.

Information included in the Strategic Report
The information below is not shown in the Directors' report 
because it is shown in the Strategic Report instead under 
s414C(11).

•  Future developments of the business 

Disclosures regarding future developments of the business 
can be found on pages 17 to 18.

•  Employee engagement

Disclosures regarding employee engagement can be found 
on pages 39 to 40.

•  Stakeholder engagement

Disclosures regarding stakeholder engagement can be 
found on pages 45 to 47.

•  Charitable donations

Disclosures regarding charitable donations can be found 
on page 40.

•  Financial instruments

Details of the Group’s risk management framework 
supporting our investment in financial instruments is set 
out on pages 34 to 37.

•  Environmental related disclosures

Disclosures environmental matters can be found on  
pages 40 to 43.

By order of the Board

Tim Harmer
Company Secretary
23 February 2023

Brit Limited – 08821629

56 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

governancecorporate governance report

Introduction
The Company has in place a corporate governance framework 
that is reviewed regularly and tailored to its needs. The 
governance structure of the Company and the wider Group is 
depicted below. 

Board of Directors
The Board currently has seven Directors and the full board 
meets on a regular basis. 

Independence of Directors 
The Board considers Gordon Campbell to be an independent 
non–executive Director of the Company. Gordon Campbell was 
appointed Chair of the Board with effect from 1 January 2019, 
chair of the Company’s Audit Committee with effect from  
1 January 2019, chair of the Company’s Nomination Committee 
with effect from 1 January 2019 and chair of the Company’s 
Remuneration Committee with effect from 1 January 2019.

Chair
The Chair is responsible for leadership of the Board ensuring 
its effectiveness on all aspects of its role and setting its 
agenda. The Chair is responsible for setting the agenda for 
Board deliberations, with the help of the executive Directors 
and the Company Secretary, The agendas are primarily 
focused on strategy, performance, value creation and 
accountability. Issues relevant to these areas are reserved 
for Board decision. The Chair, in conjunction with the Company 
Secretary, ensures that the Board members receive accurate 
and timely information. 

Group Chief Executive Officer
The Group Chief Executive Officer is responsible for 
implementing and executing the strategy of the Group and 
for running the Group’s business. In October 2022, Matthew 
Wilson, stepped down as Group Chief Executive Officer for 
health reasons. Martin Thompson, who was interim Group 
Chief Executive Officer during Matthew’s prior leave of 
absence, was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer.

Conflicts of Interest
Under the Companies Act 2006, all Directors must seek 
authorisation before taking up any position with another 
company that conflicts or may possibly conflict with the 
Company’s interests. The Directors are required to notify 
the Company of any conflicts so that they can be considered 
and if appropriate authorised by the Board. The Board 
carries out an annual review of conflicts of interest and each 
authorisation is set out in the conflicts register. 

Committees of the Board
The Board has delegated specific responsibilities to Board 
committees, notably the Company’s Audit, Nomination and 
Remuneration Committees. 

Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the 
Group’s financial reporting processes, internal control and 
risk management framework and the work undertaken by the 
internal and external auditors. Regular updates are provided 
to the Board by the committee chair. 

Ki

Ki Financial
Limited

Board

Audit  
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Sussex

Sussex Capital 
Management Limited

Board

Brit Limited 

Board

Remuneration
Committee

Audit Committee

Nomination 
Committee

Brit Insurance 
Holdings Limited

Board

Brit Reinsurance 
(Bermuda) Limited

Board

Executive 
Committee

Underwriting
Committee

Brit Syndicates 
Limited 

Board

Management  
Committee

Investment 
Committee

Valuation 
Committee

Risk 
Oversight  
Committee

Audit 
Committee

Management 
Committee

Audit  
Committee

UK 
Investment 
Committee

Risk 
Oversight 
Committee

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

57

governance 
 
corporate governance report

Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for setting the 
Group’s remuneration policy. The Company aims to reward 
employees fairly. The Committee is also responsible for 
setting the remuneration of all executive Directors.

Nomination Committee
The composition of the Board is reviewed regularly by 
the Nomination Committee. In considering the Board’s 
composition, the Committee is mindful of the need to 
maintain a well–balanced Board in terms of skills, knowledge, 
experience, and background. The appointment of all new 
Directors is led by the Nomination Committee.

By order of the Board

Tim Harmer
Company Secretary
23 February 2023

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Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

governancemodern slavery and human trafficking statement 

This statement sets out the steps taken by Brit Limited to 
ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place 
in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Slavery 
and human trafficking can occur in many forms, such as 
forced labour, child labour, domestic servitude, sex trafficking 
and workplace abuse. Given the nature of the work that we 
do, we believe that there is a low risk of slavery or human 
trafficking having any connection with our business. We must, 
however, not be complacent, and all staff have a responsibility 
to be aware of any risks in our business and in our wider 
supply chains and report any concerns to senior management.

Our business
At Brit, we provide highly specialised insurance products to 
support our clients across a broad range of complex risks. 
We have a major presence in Lloyd’s of London (Lloyd’s), the 
world’s specialist insurance market provider, and a significant 
US and international reach. We have local offices in the US, 
Bermuda, South Africa, Germany and Japan.

We operate globally via our own international distribution 
network and broker partners. The average number of 
employees working at Brit during 2022, including non-executive 
Directors, was 946 and the result after tax in 2022 was a loss 
of $96.3m.

Our supply chains
We source our business through trading relationships 
with Lloyd’s brokers, wholesale brokers, retail agents and 
reinsurance intermediaries. Most of our reinsurance business 
is sourced through global reinsurance brokers. 

We require that all contractual agreements with third-party 
suppliers contain obligations to ensure compliance with the 
Modern Slavery Act 2015. 

As part of any due diligence exercise during supplier on-
boarding or at regular intervals, potential slavery concerns 
must be assessed and addressed.

Our Procurement and Material Outsourcing Policy ensures 
that information around our requirements is detailed and 
available to our wider business. 

Our policies on slavery and human trafficking
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery 
or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of 
our business. We believe in paying people fairly and properly 
for their work. This policy reflects our commitment to acting 
ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships 
and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and 
controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking 
place anywhere in our supply chains. 

Due diligence processes for slavery and human trafficking
As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk we have in 
place systems to:

• 

Identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains. 
We give all suppliers a copy of this statement and request  
a copy of their statement (if they are required to have one). 

•  Mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring 
in our supply chains. We set clear expectations for our 
suppliers by informing them of our Code of Conduct, which 
states ‘Brit does not tolerate modern slavery or any form 
of human trafficking within its business or supply chains. 
Brit does not allow harsh or inhumane treatment and we 
expect our suppliers to share our values’.

•  Monitor potential risk areas in our supply chains. Staff are 
encouraged to report any concerns to senior management 
and there is a risk register operated by the Operational 
Risk Manager to record any such concerns.

•  Ensure appropriate recruitment practices are carried 
out, using reputable employment agencies. We verify 
the practices of any new recruitment agency as part of 
our terms of business with them and before accepting 
any workers from that agency. We also request a 
copy of the agency’s modern slavery statement (if it is 
required to have one). We ask any agency supplying us 
with staff to conduct verification checks on those staff 
(including verification of identity, references, evidence of 
qualifications and criminal and financial checks). We also 
carry out the same checks on direct hires.

•  Protect whistleblowers. At Brit, workers, customers 
and suppliers are encouraged to report any concerns 
related to our activities or supply chains. This includes 
circumstances which may give rise to increased risk  
of slavery or human trafficking. Our whistleblowing 
procedure is designed to make it easy for people to make 
disclosures without fear of retaliation. 

Training
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern 
slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our 
business, we provide training to appropriate members of staff. 

Our commitment
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the 
Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our Group's slavery 
and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 
31 December 2022. 

This Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement is 
reviewed by Brit’s Board of Directors at least annually and 
may be amended from time to time.

By order of the Board

Tim Harmer
Company Secretary
23 February 2023

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

59

governance 
 
financial statements

60 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

financial statements

financial statements

Independent Auditors’ Report to the  
Members of Brit Limited 
Consolidated Financial Statements 
Parent Company Financial Statements 

62
72
170

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members of Brit Limited

Report on the audit of the  
financial statements
Opinion
In our opinion:

•  Brit Limited’s group financial statements and company 
financial statements (the “financial statements”) give 
a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and 
of the company’s affairs as at 31 December 2022 and 
of the group’s loss and the group’s cash flows for the 
year then ended;

•  the group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international 
accounting standards as applied in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006;

•  the company financial statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting 
Standards, including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting 
Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”, and 
applicable law); and

•  the financial statements have been prepared 
in accordance with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006.

We have audited the financial statements, included within the 
Annual Report, which comprise: the Consolidated and Parent 
Statements of Financial Position as at 31 December 2022; the 
Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement 
of Cash Flows, and the Consolidated and Parent Statements 
of Changes in Equity for the year then ended; and the notes 
to the financial statements, which include a description of the 
significant accounting policies.

Our opinion is consistent with our reporting to the 
Audit Committee.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law. 
Our responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described 
in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial 
statements section of our report. We believe that the audit 
evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate 
to provide a basis for our opinion.

Independence
We remained independent of the group in accordance with 
the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit 
of the financial statements in the UK, which includes the 
FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applicable to listed public interest 
entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities 
in accordance with these requirements.

62 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

To the best of our knowledge and belief, we declare that 
non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard 
were not provided.

Other than those disclosed in Note 14, we have provided 
no non-audit services to the company or its controlled 
undertakings in the period under audit.

Our audit approach
Overview
Audit scope

•  Our audit scope has been determined to provide coverage 
of all material financial statement line items. We performed 
full scope audit procedures over three of the group’s 
components, namely, Brit Syndicates Limited – Syndicate 
No. 2987, Brit Syndicates Limited – Syndicate No. 2988, 
Brit Syndicates Limited – Syndicate 1618.

•  For certain other components, we performed audit 
procedures over specified financial statement line 
item balances; and

•  For the remaining components that were not 

inconsequential, analytical procedures were performed 
by the group engagement team.

Key audit matters

•  Valuation of the gross claims incurred but not reported 
(IBNR) component of insurance contracts, and the 
associated reinsurers’ share; (group)

•  Risk of inappropriate revenue recognition (including fraud 

risk); (group)

•  Valuation of financial investments with valuations modelled 

using unobservable inputs; (group)

•  Valuation of the deferred tax asset (DTA); (group)

• 

IAS 8 presentation and disclosure in relation to the 
adoption of IFRS 17; (group)

•  Valuation of shares in group undertakings (parent)

Materiality

•  Overall group materiality: $31.80m based on 0.8% of gross 

written premiums.

•  Overall company materiality: $11.50m based on 1% of total 

assets (net of intercompany assets).

•  Performance materiality: $23.85m (group) and 

$8.63m (company).

The scope of our audit
As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality 
and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the 
financial statements.

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of Brit Limited

financial statements

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’ 
professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit 
of the financial statements of the current period and include 
the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement 
(whether or not due to fraud) identified by the auditors, 
including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall 
audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; 
and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These 
matters, and any comments we make on the results of our 
procedures thereon, were addressed in the context of our 
audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming 
our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion 
on these matters.

This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.

The valuation of shares in group undertakings (parent) 
and the IAS 8 presentation and disclosure in relation to the 
adoption of IFRS 17 (group) are new key audit matters this 
year. The valuation of the pension scheme transferred 
into the group from the Riverstone group in the prior year 
(group), which was a key audit matter last year, is no longer 
included because it was a one-off transaction which was 
executed in August 2021. We determined that the valuation 
at the date of transfer was the only key audit matter. 
Otherwise, the key audit matters below are consistent 
with last year.

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Valuation of the gross claims incurred but not 
reported (IBNR) component of insurance contracts, 
and the associated reinsurers’ share; (group)

See notes 2.5.1 (d & e), 3.2, 4.1.3 and 22 of the group 
financial statements for disclosures of related 
accounting policies, judgements and estimates.

The gross IBNR component of insurance contracts, 
and the associated reinsurers’ share (together 
‘IBNR reserves’), are material balances within the 
financial statements. Recognised actuarial techniques 
are used to derive gross and reinsurance ultimate 
claims (together ‘ultimate claims’) which are earned 
through to the period end. The difference between 
the earned ultimate claims and incurred claims 
is the IBNR reserves. The valuation of ultimate 
claims, and therefore IBNR reserves, rely on a large 
degree of judgement and underpinning assumptions. 
Relatively small changes in these assumptions can 
lead to significant movements in ultimate claims and 
the associated IBNR reserves.

We tested the group’s IBNR reserves, with the assistance of our 
actuarial specialists, by performing the following work:

•  Understood, assessed and tested the design and operating 
effectiveness of key controls over the group’s estimation 
of ultimate claims. This included controls over the extraction 
of source data supporting management’s calculations from 
the underlying systems, and the review and approval of the 
ultimate claims;

•  Tested, on a sample basis, the underlying source data including 

claims incurred and claims payments to supporting documentation;

•  Developed a point estimate of ultimate claims related to non-
catastrophe claims. We used our point estimate to challenge 
management’s; 

•  Understood the approach used to establish the ultimate claims 
in relation to catastrophe events and the consistency of its 
application across the group. For a sample of classes of business 
impacted by a catastrophe event we tested the process by which 
management identified exposed insurance contracts, and 
assessed key assumptions used by management in arriving 
at the ultimate claims. In concluding on the reasonableness 
of management’s estimates in this area, we also considered PwC’s 
market view for major events; and 

•  Tested the earning of the ultimate claims through to year 
end and the derivation of the IBNR reserves booked within 
insurance contracts. 

Based on the work performed, the valuation of the booked IBNR 
reserves was consistent with the evidence obtained.

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financial statements

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of Brit Limited

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Risk of inappropriate revenue recognition (including 
fraud risk); (group)

Estimated premium income: We tested the group’s estimated premium 
income by undertaking the following work:

See notes 2.5.1 (a) and 3.3, of the group financial 
statements for disclosures of related accounting 
policies, judgements and estimates.

Auditing standards assume a rebuttable presumption 
that there is a significant risk of fraud in revenue 
recognition in all businesses. We have determined the 
key risk of fraud in this area to be within the estimation 
of premium income (as it involves judgement) and 
unusual journals to revenue. 

Estimated premium income: For certain contracts, 
premium is initially recognised based on estimates 
of ultimate premiums. This is particularly the case 
where business is conducted through a delegated 
authority arrangement (‘DUA’). There is generally 
a level of uncertainty regarding the timing and amount 
of premium that will be underwritten by the DUA 
on behalf of the group and as such this gives rise 
to a need to estimate how much premium income 
should be recognised in any given year.

Journal entries: Journal entries could be used 
to inappropriately recognise revenue.

Valuation of financial investments with valuations 
modelled using unobservable inputs; (group)

See notes 2.5.5, 3.6, and 24 of the group financial 
statements for disclosures of related accounting 
policies, judgements and estimates.

The group investment portfolio contains $319.5m 
of Level 3 investments measured at fair value and 
whose fair value is determined using unobservable 
inputs. Fair values for these investments can only 
be calculated using estimates and accordingly these 
investments require additional audit focus as they 
require a greater degree of judgement to value.

•  Understood, assessed and tested the design and operating 

effectiveness of the governance and controls over the monitoring 
of estimated premium income estimates;

•  Assisted by our actuarial specialist, we reprojected ultimate 

premiums by class of business and by underwriting year for the 
2021 and prior underwriting years, challenging management 
to provide explanations where differences were identified. For 
premium estimates on the 2022 underwriting year, we understood 
how management derived them and challenged them accordingly 
based on our understanding of the business;

•  Tested the current calendar year data used in the actuarial 
projections noted above to source systems, and tested that 
historical data was consistent year-on-year; and

•  Tested the writing and earning of ultimate premiums through to 
year end and the derivation of gross written premiums booked 
within the group’s financial statements.

Based on the above procedures the estimated premium estimates were 
found to be consistent with the evidence obtained. 

Journal entries: We also tested unusual journals to revenue in the year 
based on risk criteria. There were no unsupported journals identified 
in our testing. 

We coordinated with our internal valuation specialists based in Toronto 
who centrally tested the valuation of Level 3 investments. We assessed 
and tested management’s controls over the valuation of Level 3 
investments, including management review of models and key inputs. 
For a sample of level 3 investments we performed the following:

•  Obtained management’s valuation memos and/or models, and 
developed an understanding of the investment and valuation 
methodology used;

•  Engaged our specialists (and experts, where applicable) to review 
the appropriateness of the valuation methodology/models applied 
and key inputs/assumptions used in the valuation; and in certain 
instances developed an independent point estimate to challenge 
management’s valuation; 

•  Corroborated key inputs/assumptions in the valuation model 

to third party support (where possible), and where applicable, 
inquired with management; and

•  For investment fund assets we performed back-testing 

(reconciliation between the latest audited and unaudited fund 
financial statements) and investigated significant differences 
identified. We used this work to assess the reasonableness  
of the current year end investment fund asset valuations.

Based on the above procedures, the valuation of the Level 3 
investments were consistent with the evidence obtained. 

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Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of Brit Limited

financial statements

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Valuation of the deferred tax asset (DTA); (group)

See notes 2.5.11 (b), 3.9, and 21 of the group financial 
statements for disclosures of related accounting 
policies, judgements and estimates.

At 31 December 2022, the group has recognised 
a DTA of $102.5m (net of deferred tax liabilities this 
equates to $50.1m). A DTA is recognised to the extent 
that future profits are considered likely to be available 
to utilise the asset. The extent of future profits 
is subject to a number of significant assumptions 
relating to the future performance of the group.

IAS 8 presentation and disclosure in relation to the 
adoption of IFRS 17; (group)

See notes 2.1 (b) of the group financial statements for 
disclosures of related accounting policies, judgements 
and estimates.

IFRS 17 is applicable for accounting periods 
commencing on or after 1 January 2023. 

IFRS 17 requires entities to measure insurance 
contracts using current estimates of fulfilment cash 
flows, which includes all future cash flows associated 
with insurance contracts, using one of three 
measurement models. The Standard must be applied 
retrospectively with restatement of comparatives 
unless impracticable. The transition to IFRS 17 
is complex and it involves a series of policy decisions 
and the application of a number of judgements 
and assumptions.

For the year ended 31 December 2022, IAS 8 requires 
companies to disclose ‘known or reasonably estimable 
information’ on the potential impact of new standards 
prior to implementation and therefore this disclosure 
was a focus of our audit.

The Brit Limited group opening balance sheet 
has been prepared for the purposes of reporting 
to Fairfax as the group’s ultimate parent. This has 
been prepared to a Fairfax materiality level which 
is significantly higher than the Brit Limited group 
stand-alone materiality. Further refinement is needed 
to prepare the Brit Limited group’s IFRS 17 opening 
balance sheet for its own stand-alone reporting. This 
includes moving the derivation of the opening balance 
sheet out of the IFRS 17 programme environment 
and into the ‘business as usual’ environment where 
appropriate controls and validation processes will be 
in place to govern the accuracy and completeness 
of the more detailed numbers reported.

With the assistance of our tax specialists, we performed the following 
procedures in order to assess the valuation of the DTA:

•  Assessed management’s calculation of the DTA to test whether 
it was calculated in accordance with current tax legislation and 
reflected enacted corporation tax rates;

•  Agreed inputs to management’s calculation to audited financial 

information, submitted tax computations, and approved business 
forecasts as appropriate;

•  Reviewed management’s assessment of historic forecasts to 

determine the robustness of management’s forecasting process, and 
therefore the reliability of forecasts used in the calculation of the DTA;

•  Assessed the reasonableness of assumptions relating to future 
forecasts and performed sensitivity testing in regards to those 
assumptions; and

•  Read and reviewed the appropriateness of management’s 

disclosures in relation to the recognised DTA.

Based on these procedures, the valuation of the DTA was consistent 
with the evidence obtained.

Together with our actuarial specialists, we performed procedures 
to assess the reasonableness of the IAS 8 disclosures related to the 
group’s implementation of IFRS 17.

We reviewed the group’s key accounting policy decisions and considered 
the consistency of those decisions with IFRS 17. Key areas of focus 
were as follows:

•  Unit of account – The determination of a unit of account is a new 
consideration required by the Standard. There is an element 
of judgement in how these are determined and these initial 
considerations have downstream implications for Premium Allocation 
Approach (PAA) eligibility and testing for onerous contracts;
•  PAA eligibility – Many of the group’s policies have relatively short 

coverage periods, however, management’s  choice to mix contracts 
<=12 months and >12 months within the same unit of account has 
necessitated eligibility testing across almost the entirety of the book 
of business. There is a small amount of business around the group 
that is not eligible for PAA and for these groups of contracts the 
General Measurement Model is applied. Ensuring the measurement 
model is appropriate is a key judgement for management;

•  Discounting – A key change from IFRS 4 is the need to discount 

fulfilment cash flows except in the case of the PAA measurement 
model for the liability for remaining coverage if it is not deemed 
significant. Management are discounting the liability for incurred 
claims using the EIOPA risk free rate plus an illiquidity premium; and

•  Risk adjustment – Management have taken the decision to use 
a confidence level technique to estimate the risk adjustment. 
Determining an appropriate risk adjustment is a key area of 
judgement for management.

We have assessed the appropriateness of the judgements made 
by management in the above areas and undertaken testing 
accordingly. In light of this work we assessed the appropriateness 
of the IAS 8 disclosure. 

Based on these procedures, the IAS 8 disclosures were found to be 
consistent with the evidence obtained.

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financial statements

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of Brit Limited

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Valuation of shares in group undertakings (parent)

See notes 1.2 (a) and 3 of the parent company 
financial statements for disclosures of related 
accounting policies, judgements and estimates.

In the company’s statement of financial position, 
the shares in group undertakings are reported 
at cost less impairment. Management carry out 
an impairment assessment on an annual basis 
which requires judgement and the application 
of underpinning assumptions.

We performed the following audit procedures to assess the valuation 
of the shares in group undertakings: 

•  Assessed the shares in group undertakings for an indication of 
impairment considering our understanding of the business;

•  Where there was an indicator of impairment we tested the value-
in-use (VIU) calculations and impairment analyses performed by 
management which included validating the accuracy of the input 
data and testing the key assumptions used. We used experts 
to assist us in challenging the discount rate applied in the VIU 
calculations; and

•  Performed sensitivity testing to support our final conclusions.

Based on these procedures, the valuation of the shares in group 
undertakings was found to be consistent with the evidence obtained.

How we tailored the audit scope
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed 
enough work to be able to give an opinion on the financial 
statements as a whole, taking into account the structure of 
the group and the company, the accounting processes and 
controls, and the industry in which they operate.

Brit is a global specialty insurer and reinsurer, present in 
Lloyd’s of London and has operations in the United States 
of America and Bermuda, and writes insurance business 
internationally. The group is structured into six segments  
(see Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements) and is  
a consolidation of over 26 separate legal entities. A full scope 
audit was performed for three significant components located 
in the United Kingdom. The three significant components 
were: (i) Brit Syndicates Limited - Syndicate No. 2987, (ii) 
Brit Syndicates Limited - Syndicate No. 2988, and (iii) Brit 
Syndicates Limited - Syndicate No. 1618. For certain other 
components, we identified account balances which were 
considered to be significant in size or audit risk at the financial 
statement line item level in relation to the consolidated  
financial statements, and performed financial statement line 
item audit procedures over these specified balances. Analytical 
procedures over the remaining components that were not 
inconsequential were performed by the group engagement 
team. We also performed specific procedures in respect of 
the Ambridge group classified as held for sale as at year 
end. This included auditing specific account balances of the 
Ambridge group where these were considered to be significant 
in size in relation to the discontinued operations balances. 
In establishing the overall approach to the group audit, we 
determined the type of work that needed to be performed at 
the components by us, as the group engagement team, or by 
the component audit team, being PwC Canada, who operated 
under our instruction. Where the work was performed by a 
component audit team, we determined the level of involvement 
we needed to have in the audit work at those components to be 

able to conclude whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence 
had been obtained. The group engagement team had regular 
interaction with the component team during the audit process. 
The engagement leader and senior members of the group 
engagement team reviewed in detail all reports with regards to 
the audit approach and findings submitted by the component 
auditor. This together with additional procedures performed at 
the group level, as described above, gave us the evidence we 
needed for our opinion on the consolidated financial statements 
as a whole.

The impact of climate risk on our audit
As part of our audit we made enquiries of management 
to understand the process management adopted to assess 
the extent of the potential impact of climate risk on the group’s 
financial statements and support the disclosures made within 
Note 4 – Risk management policies. In addition to enquiries with 
management, we also: 

•  Read management’s climate risk reporting provided to 

those charged with governance; 

•  Read additional reporting made by the group on 

climate including its PRA submission. We challenged the 
completeness of management’s climate risk assessment by:

•  Challenging the consistency of management’s climate 
impact assessment with internal climate plans and 
board minutes, including whether the time horizons 
management have used take account of all relevant 
aspects of climate change such as transition risks; and

•  Reading the group’s website/communications for details 
of climate related impacts. Management considers the 
impact of climate risk does not give rise to a potential 
material financial statement impact.

Our procedures did not identify any material impact in the 
context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, 
or our key audit matters for the year ended 31 December 2022.

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Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of Brit Limited

financial statements

Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application 
of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for 
materiality. These, together with qualitative considerations, 
helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, 
timing and extent of our audit procedures on the individual 
financial statement line items and disclosures and in evaluating 
the effect of misstatements, both individually and in aggregate 
on the financial statements as a whole.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality 
for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Financial statements  
– group

Financial statements  
– company

$11.50m 
(2021: $11.15m).

1%  
of total assets  
(net of  
intercompany  
assets)  

Due to the nature 
of operations of the 
parent company,  
i.e. a holding 
company, total 
assets (net of  
intercompany 
assets) is an  
appropriate 
and generally 
accepted auditing  
benchmark.

Overall  
materiality

$31.80m (2021: $18.06m).

How we  
determined  
it

0.8% of gross 
written premiums

Rationale for  
benchmark  
applied

In determining our 
materiality, we have 
considered financial 
metrics which we 
believe to be relevant 
to the primary users of the 
consolidated financial 
statements. We concluded 
a premium based metric 
was relevant to the users 
especially in light of the 
growth noted across the 
group in the year. This 
represents a change 
from prior year when 
a combined operating 
ratio (‘COR’) benchmark 
was applied. A premium 
based metric provides 
a good representation 
of the size and complexity 
of the business and 
it is not distorted 
by insured catastrophe 
events to which the group 
is exposed or to the levels 
of external reinsurance 
purchased by the group. 

We compared our 
materiality against other 
relevant benchmarks 
(COR, profit/loss before 
tax, earned premium, and 
net assets) to ensure the 
materiality selected was 
appropriate for our audit.

For each component in the scope of our group audit, we allocated 
a materiality that is less than our overall group materiality. 
The range of materiality allocated across components was 
$0.17m to $31.50m. Certain components were audited to a local 
statutory audit materiality that was also less than our overall 
group materiality.

We use performance materiality to reduce to an appropriately 
low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and 
undetected misstatements exceeds overall materiality. Specifically, 
we use performance materiality in determining the scope 
of our audit and the nature and extent of our testing of account 
balances, classes of transactions and disclosures, for example 
in determining sample sizes. Our performance materiality was 
75% (2021: 75%) of overall materiality, amounting to $23.85m 
(2021: $13.55m) for the group financial statements and $8.63m 
(2021: $8.36m) for the company financial statements.

In determining the performance materiality, we considered 
a number of factors – the history of misstatements, risk 
assessment and aggregation risk and the effectiveness 
of controls – and concluded that an amount in the middle of our 
normal range was appropriate.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them 
misstatements identified during our audit above $1.59m (group 
audit) (2021: $0.9m) and $0.58m (company audit) (2021: $0.56m) 
as well as misstatements below those amounts that, in our view, 
warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

Conclusions relating to going concern
Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the group’s 
and the company’s ability to continue to adopt the going 
concern basis of accounting included:

•  Validating management’s analysis and supporting 

documentation as it related to the group and company’s 
going concern;

•  Performing sensitivity analysis on management’s going 
concern assessment and assessing the impact on the 
group’s and company’s capital, solvency and liquidity 
positions; and

•  Assessing the disclosures made in the financial statements 

in respect of going concern.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified 
any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, 
individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the 
group’s and the company’s ability to continue as a going concern 
for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial 
statements are authorised for issue.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the 
directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the 
preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

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67

 
 
financial statements

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of Brit Limited

However, because not all future events or conditions can be 
predicted, this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the group’s 
and the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with 
respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections 
of this report.

Reporting on other information
The other information comprises all of the information in the 
Annual Report other than the financial statements and our 
auditors’ report thereon. The directors are responsible for 
the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements 
does not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do 
not express an audit opinion or, except to the extent otherwise 
explicitly stated in this report, any form of assurance thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our 
responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing 
so, consider whether the other information is materially 
inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge 
obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially 
misstated. If we identify an apparent material inconsistency 
or material misstatement, we are required to perform procedures 
to conclude whether there is a material misstatement of the 
financial statements or a material misstatement of the other 
information. If, based on the work we have performed, we 
conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other 
information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing 
to report based on these responsibilities.

With respect to the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report, we 
also considered whether the disclosures required by the UK 
Companies Act 2006 have been included.

Based on our work undertaken in the course of the audit, the 
Companies Act 2006 requires us also to report certain opinions 
and matters as described below.

Strategic Report and Directors' Report
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the 
audit, the information given in the Strategic Report and Directors’ 
Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 is consistent with 
the financial statements and has been prepared in accordance 
with applicable legal requirements.

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and 
company and their environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, we did not identify any material misstatements in the 
Strategic Report and Directors’ Report.

68 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

Responsibilities for the financial statements 
and the audit
Responsibilities of the directors for the  
financial statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities, the directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable 
framework and for being satisfied that they give a true and 
fair view. The directors are also responsible for such internal 
control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation 
of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are 
responsible for assessing the group’s and the company’s ability 
to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters 
related to going concern and using the going concern basis 
of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the 
group or the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic 
alternative but to do so.

Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the  
financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the financial statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to 
issue an auditors’ report that includes our opinion. Reasonable 
assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee 
that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always 
detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements 
can arise from fraud or error and are considered material 
if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on 
the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance 
with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our 
responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements 
in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which 
our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including 
fraud, is detailed below.

Based on our understanding of the group and industry, we 
identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws 
and regulations related to breaches of UK regulatory principles, 
such as those governed by the Prudential Regulation Authority 
and the Financial Conduct Authority, those regulations set by 
the Council of Lloyd’s and UK tax legislation, and we considered 
the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect 
on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and 
regulations that have a direct impact on the financial statements 
such as the Companies Act 2006. We evaluated management’s 
incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of 
the financial statements (including the risk of override of 
controls), and determined that the principal risks were related 
to posting of inappropriate journals and management bias in 
accounting estimates. The group engagement team shared 
this risk assessment with the component auditors so that they 

financial statements

could include appropriate audit procedures in response to such 
risks in their work. Audit procedures performed by the group 
engagement team and/or component auditors included:

•  Discussions with the Board, management, internal audit 
and the compliance function, including consideration of 
known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws 
and regulation and fraud;

•  Assessment of matters reported on the whistleblowing 

helpline and management’s investigation of such matters;

•  Reviewing relevant meeting minutes, including those of 

the Board, the Audit Committee, the Reserving Committee, 
the Risk Oversight Committee and correspondence with 
regulatory authorities, including the Council of Lloyd’s, the 
Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulatory 
Authority;

•  Testing and challenging, where appropriate, the assumptions 
and judgements made by management in their significant 
accounting estimates, for example, in relation to the valuation 
of the gross claims incurred but not reported component of 
insurance contracts and the associated reinsurers’ share, 
and the valuation of the deferred tax asset;

• 

Identifying and testing journal entries identified as potential 
indicators of fraud, in particular, consolidation journals, 
those with unexpected account combinations, those posted 
by unexpected users or with unusual words, and post close 
or backdated journal entries; and

•  Designing audit procedures to incorporate unpredictability 

around the nature, timing or extent of our testing.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures 
described above. We are less likely to become aware 
of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that 
are not closely related to events and transactions reflected 
in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting 
a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk 
of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve 
deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional 
misrepresentations, or through collusion.

Our audit testing might include testing complete populations 
of certain transactions and balances, possibly using data 
auditing techniques. However, it typically involves selecting 
a limited number of items for testing, rather than testing 
complete populations. We will often seek to target particular 
items for testing based on their size or risk characteristics. 
In other cases, we will use audit sampling to enable us 
to draw a conclusion about the population from which the 
sample is selected.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of  
the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at: 
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description 
forms part of our auditors’ report.

Use of this report
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and 
only for the company’s members as a body in accordance with 
Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other 
purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person 
to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come 
save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.
Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to 
you if, in our opinion:

•  we have not obtained all the information and explanations 

we require for our audit; or

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 

company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or

•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by 

law are not made; or

•  the company financial statements are not in agreement 

with the accounting records and returns.

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.
Appointment
Following the recommendation of the Audit Committee, we 
were appointed by the members on 14 June 2016 to audit the 
financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2016 and 
subsequent financial periods. The period of total uninterrupted 
engagement is 7 years, covering the years ended 
31 December 2016 to 31 December 2022.
Other matter
In due course, as required by the Financial Conduct Authority 
Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.1.14R, these 
financial statements will form part of the ESEF-prepared 
annual financial report filed on the National Storage Mechanism 
of the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with the ESEF 
Regulatory Technical Standard (‘ESEF RTS’). This auditors’ report 
provides no assurance over whether the annual financial report 
will be prepared using the single electronic format specified 
in the ESEF RTS.

Paul Pannell 
Senior Statutory Auditor
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 
London

24 February 2023

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

69

 
 
financial statements

Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Income Statement  

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: 

Note 1 

Note 2 

Note 3 

Note 4 
Note 5 

Note 6 

Note 7 

Note 8 

Note 9 

General information 

Accounting policies and basis of preparation 

Critical accounting estimates and judgements  
in applying accounting policies 

Risk management policies 
Segmental information 

Investment return 

Return on derivative contracts 

Deconsolidation of subsidiaries 

Other income (including gains/(losses) on other 
financial liabilities) 

Note 10 

Net foreign exchange losses 

72

73

74

75

76

78

78

78

90

94
115

119

120

120

120

121

Note 11 

Acquisition costs and other operating expenses  122

Note 12 

Staff costs 

Note 13 

Finance costs 

Note 14 

Auditors’ remuneration 

Note 15 

Investment in associated undertaking 

Note 16 

Non-controlling interests 

Note 17 

Tax expense 

123

123

124

124

125

126

Note 18 

Intangible assets 

Note 19 

Property, plant and equipment 

Note 20 

Deferred acquisition costs 

Note 21 

Deferred taxation 

Note 22 

Insurance and reinsurance contracts 

Note 23 

Employee benefits 

Note 24 

Financial investments 

Note 25 

Derivative contracts 

Note 26 

Insurance and other receivables 

Note 27 

Leases where the Group acts as a lessor 

Note 28 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Note 29 

Borrowings 

Note 30 

Other financial liabilities 

Note 31 

Insurance and other payables 

Note 32 

Called up share capital 

Note 33 

Dividends 

Note 34 

Cash flows provided by operating activities 

Note 35 

Share-based payments  

Note 36 

Consolidated entities 

Note 37 

Related party transactions and Ultimate  
Parent Company 

Note 38 

Discontinued Operations 

Note 39 

Guarantees and contingent liabilities 

Note 40 

Events occurring after the reporting date 

128

131

132

132

134

139

144

148

150

150

151

152

153

153

154

154

155

156

158

160

164

166

167

70 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

contentsfinancial statements

Introduction to the Primary Statements

Consolidated Income Statement
The income statement shows income earned and expenses 
incurred by all the companies of Brit. Other items are shown 
in the statement of comprehensive income. The numbers 
in brackets are costs or losses incurred. 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
As well as the profit or loss reported in the income 
statement, there are a number of other items not reported 
in the income statement which are instead shown here. 
These are gains and losses in the Group’s pension scheme, 
any tax associated with these gains or losses and foreign 
exchange gains and losses on the translation of foreign 
operations into US dollars. The statement starts from profit 
or loss reported in the income statement and adjusts for any 
gains and losses arising as a result of the pension scheme 
and foreign operations to show the overall result. 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
The statement of financial position is a summary of assets 
and how the assets have been funded through liabilities and 
equity investment by shareholders. 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
The cash flow statement shows how we generate cash 
through our operating activities, how we have spent cash 
(investing activities) and how we have borrowed or spent 
cash to fund our business for all the companies in the Group.

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
The statement of changes in equity shows how the various 
lines in the equity section of the Group’s statement 
of financial position have moved during the year.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

71

contents 
 
financial statements

consolidated income statement 

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Continuing Operations
Revenue 
Gross premiums written 
Less premiums ceded to reinsurers

Premiums written, net of reinsurance

Gross amount of change in provision for unearned premiums
Reinsurers' share of change in provision for unearned premiums

Net change in provision for unearned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance

Investment return 
Return on derivative contracts
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries
Gain on business combination
Other income
(Losses)/gains on other financial liabilities

Total income

Expenses
Claims incurred:
Claims paid:
Gross amount
Reinsurers' share

Claims paid, net of reinsurance

Change in the provision for claims:
Gross amount
Reinsurers' share

Net change in the provision for claims

Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Acquisition costs
Other operating expenses
Net foreign exchange losses

Total expenses excluding finance costs

Operating (loss)/profit
Finance costs
Share of net profit of associates

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax
Tax credit

(Loss)/profit from continuing operations

Discontinued operation
Profit from discontinued operation, net of tax

(Loss)/profit for the year

(Loss)/profit attributable to:
Owners of the parent

Non-controlling interests

Note

5
5

6
7
8
37(c)
9
9

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

3,970.0
(823.6)

3,146.4

(303.9)
24.4

(279.5)

3,238.3
(1,240.0)

1,998.3

(370.4)
126.4

(244.0)

2,866.9

1,754.3

(134.5)
14.3
–
–
33.2
(1.3)

167.2
(15.7)
19.8
6.1
36.4
2.5

2,778.6

1,970.6

(1,481.9)
439.9

(1,042.0)

(993.2)
210.2

(783.0)

(1,825.0)
(857.2)
(165.1)
(30.4)

(2,877.7)

(99.1)
(20.5)
1.5

(118.1)
0.1

(118.0)

21.7

(96.3)

(85.2)

(11.1)

(1,321.5)
437.6

(883.9)

(402.7)
405.0

2.3

(881.6)
(694.2)
(176.7)
(1.4)

(1,753.9)

216.7
(18.1)
1.7

200.3
12.0

212.3

24.6

236.9

248.5

(11.6)

5
11
11
10

13
15, 37(c)

17(a)

38

16

The accompanying Notes on pages 78 to 167 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

72 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

 
 
 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended 31 December 2022

financial statements

(Loss)/profit for the year
Other comprehensive (expense)/income

Items not to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods:
Remeasurements of post-employment benefit obligations
Deferred tax gain/(loss) relating to remeasurements of post-employment benefit 

obligations

Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods:
Change in unrealised foreign currency translation losses on foreign operations

Total other comprehensive (expense)/income 

Note

23

17(b)

Year ended 
31 December 
2022
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

(96.3)

236.9

(40.9)

14.3

(17.4)

(44.0)

18.7

(6.5)

(1.1)

11.1

Total comprehensive (expense)/income recognised for the year

(140.3)

248.0

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year

16

(129.2)
(11.1)

(140.3)

259.6
(11.6)

248.0

The accompanying Notes on pages 78 to 167 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

73

 
 
financial statements

consolidated statement of financial position

At 31 December 2022

Assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Deferred acquisition costs
Investment in associated undertaking
Reinsurance contracts
Employee benefits
Deferred taxation
Current taxation
Financial investments
Derivative contracts
Insurance and other receivables
Assets classified as held for sale
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Liabilities and Equity
Liabilities
Insurance contracts
Borrowings
Other financial liabilities
Provisions
Deferred taxation
Current taxation
Derivative contracts
Insurance and other payables
Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale

Total liabilities

Equity
Called up share capital
Share premium
Capital redemption reserve
Capital contribution reserve
Foreign currency translation reserve
Retained earnings

Total equity attributable to owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Total liabilities and equity

Note

18
19
20
15
22
23
21

24
25
26
38(c)
28

22
29
30

21

25
31
38(c)

32
32

16

31 December 
2022
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

120.0
41.8
376.8
15.2
2,487.0
62.4
50.1
15.5
4,912.4
10.8
1,803.3
331.6
941.3

205.3
57.6
321.8
15.0
2,291.2
113.8
47.9
10.6
4,015.0
15.1
1,615.3
–
1,510.3

11,168.2

10,218.9

7,779.0
172.4
92.7
2.2
1.8
0.5
10.1
917.1
49.6

9,025.4

10.0
1,432.6
1.0
32.2
(102.6)
395.1

1,768.3
374.5

6,532.9
227.9
95.8
2.4
12.9
3.8
12.5
1,184.1
–

8,072.3

10.0
1,432.6
1.0
28.5
(85.2)
525.5

1,912.4
234.2

11,168.2

10,218.9

The accompanying Notes on pages 78 to 167 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

These consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 23 February 2023 and were signed 
on its behalf by:

Martin Thompson 
Group Chief Executive Officer 

 Gavin Wilkinson
Group Chief Financial Officer

74 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

 
consolidated statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash (used in)/provided by operations
Tax paid
Interest received
Dividends received
Purchase of shares for share-based payment schemes

Net cash (outflows)/inflows from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Disposal of subsidiary undertakings, net of cash disposed
Acquisition of subsidiary undertaking, net of cash acquired
Dividends from associated undertakings

Net cash (outflows)/inflows from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of shares and other capital contributions
Repayment on revolving credit facility
Interest paid
Transactions with non-controlling interests
Dividends paid

Net cash inflows from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

financial statements

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

(571.3)
(5.1)
81.1
8.3
(0.4)

(487.4)

(9.2)
(2.1)
–
–
1.1

(10.2)

3.7
(35.0)
(11.8)
151.5
(18.7)

89.7

(407.9)
1,510.3
(23.0)

1,079.4

622.5
(8.1)
57.9
10.1
(16.9)

665.5

(12.8)
(1.7)
31.8
(6.4)
0.7

11.6

406.1
(85.0)
(9.7)
124.0
(375.0)

60.4

737.5
775.7
(2.9)

1,510.3

Note

34

18
19
8
37(c)

32

16
33

28

The accompanying Notes on pages 78 to 167 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

75

 
 
 
financial statements

consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Called up
 share
 capital
$m

Share
premium
$m

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
$m

Capital 
contribution 
reserve
$m

Note

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve
$m

Total 
attributable 
to owners of 
the parent 
$m

Retained 
earnings
$m

Non-
controlling 
interests
 $m

Total
equity 
$m

10.0

1,432.6

1.0

28.5

(85.2)

525.5

1,912.4

234.2

2,146.6

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

3.7

–

–

(85.2)

(85.2)

(11.1)

(96.3)

(17.4)

(26.6)

(44.0)

–

(44.0)

(17.4)

(111.8)

(129.2)

(11.1)

(140.3)

–
–

–

–

–
(18.7)

–
(18.7)

–

0.1

3.7

0.1

–
–

–

–
(18.7)

3.7

151.4

151.5

10.0

1,432.6

1.0

32.2

(102.6)

395.1

1,768.3

374.5

2,142.8

32
33

16

At 1 January 2022

Loss for the year
Other comprehensive 

expense

Total comprehensive 
expense recognised

Issuance of share 

capital
Dividend
Contribution from 

parent in relation to 
the acquisition of the 
RiverStone pension 
plan

Transactions with non-
controlling interests

At 31 December 2022

The accompanying Notes on pages 78 to 167 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

76 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 31 December 2021

financial statements

Called up
 share
 capital
$m

Share
premium
$m

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
$m

Capital 
contribution 
reserve
$m

Note

At 1 January 2021

Profit/(loss) for  

the year*

Other comprehensive 
(expense)/income*

Total comprehensive 
(expense)/income 
recognised

Reallocation of forfeited 
rollover shares to  
LTIP schemes
Issuance of share 

capital
Dividend
Contribution from 

parent in relation to 
the acquisition of the 
Riverstone pension plan

Transactions with non-
controlling interests

At 31 December 2021

35

32
33

23

16

8.6

1,027.9

1.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.4
–

404.7
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

28.5

–

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve
$m

Total 
attributable
 to owners of 
the parent 
$m

Retained 
earnings
$m

Non-
controlling 
interests
 $m

Total
equity 
$m

(84.1)

639.2

1,592.6

121.7

1,714.3

–

248.5

248.5

(11.6)

236.9

(1.1)

12.2

11.1

–

11.1

(1.1)

260.7

259.6

(11.6)

248.0

–

–
–

–

–

0.6

0.6

–
(375.0)

406.1
(375.0)

–

–

28.5

–

–

–
–

–

0.6

406.1
(375.0)

28.5

124.1

234.2

124.1

2,146.6

10.0

1,432.6

1.0

28.5

(85.2)

525.5

1,912.4

* The statement has been re-presented to include additional line items not reported in the prior year

Nature and Purpose of Group Reserves

Share premium: The balance represents the difference between the price at which shares are issued and their nominal value, 
less any distributions made from this account.

Capital redemption reserve: The balance represents the amount by which share capital is diminished in the event of a share 
cancellation and is required to be recognised in a legal reserve to maintain the Group’s capital. 

Capital contribution reserve: The balance represents the amount by which the Group has benefited from asset transfers 
or contributions from the owners of the parent company, for which no shares have been issued in exchange. 

Foreign currency translation reserve: The balance on this reserve represents the foreign exchange differences arising from 
the translation of financial statement information of entities within the Group from functional currencies to the presentational 
currency of the Group.

Retained earnings: Retained earnings represents the cumulative comprehensive income retained by the Group after taxation and 
after any distributions made from this account.

The accompanying Notes on pages 78 to 167 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

77

 
 
Financial Statements

notes to the consolidated financial statements

The first three Notes provide details of the basis of preparation and accounting policies applied in producing these financial 
statements and the critical accounting estimates and judgements therein.

1 

General information

The consolidated financial statements of Brit Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Group) for the year ended 
31 December 2022 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Directors on 23 February 2023. The Group’s 
principal activity is the underwriting of general insurance and reinsurance business.

Brit Limited (the Company) is a private company limited by shares, incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales, United Kingdom. 
The address of the registered office is The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London, England, EC3V 4AB. 

2 

Accounting policies and basis of preparation 

Basis of preparation

2.1  
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted 
international accounting standards and with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies reporting under those 
standards. The accounting policies of the Group have been applied consistently to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. 

On 31 December 2020, IFRS as adopted by the European Union at that date was brought into UK law and became UK-adopted 
International Accounting Standards, with future changes being subject to endorsement by the UK Endorsement Board. The Group 
transitioned to UK-adopted International Accounting Standards in its consolidated financial statements on 1 January 2021. This 
change constituted a change in accounting framework. However, there was no impact on recognition, measurement or disclosure 
in the prior period reported as a result of the change in framework.

The consolidated financial statements have been compiled on a going concern basis and prepared on a historical cost basis, except 
for financial investments, derivative contracts and certain other financial liabilities which have been measured at fair value. The 
consolidated financial statements are presented in US dollars and all values are rounded to the nearest $0.1m except where 
otherwise indicated.

Certain amounts recorded in the financial information include estimates and assumptions made by management, particularly about 
insurance liability reserves, investment valuations, interest rates and other factors. Actual results may differ from the estimates 
made. Further details on estimates, judgements and assumptions are included within Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. 

The Directors have considered the impact of the current inflationary environment and the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the principal 
risks and uncertainties faced by the Group as summarised in Note 4.7. 

The Directors have considered various factors in order to be satisfied that a going concern basis of preparation is appropriate. 
Such factors include, but are not limited to, the reserving policy and track record of the Group, including recent underwriting 
performance, improving market conditions, and the financial plans of the Group. More detail on these considerations can be found 
on page 55 of the Strategic Report. 

After assessing evidence in respect of these considerations, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Therefore, they consider it appropriate 
to continue to adopt the going concern basis for the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements include the results of the Company and all its subsidiary undertakings (collectively, the Group) 
made up to the same accounting date.

(a) New and amended standards adopted by the Group
The Group has applied the following standards and amendments for the first time for the annual reporting period commencing 
1 January 2022:

•  Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use (Amendments to IAS 16)

•  References to Conceptual Framework (Amendments to IFRS 3)

•  Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract (Amendments to IAS 37)

•  Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020 (Amendments to IFRS 1, IFRS 9, IFRS 16 and IAS 41)

The amendments listed above did not have any impact on the amounts recognised in prior periods and are not expected 
to significantly affect the current or future periods.

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2 

Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

(b) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted
At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following amendments to standards were in issue but not yet effective:

Amendment

Effective

Disclosure of Accounting Policies (Amendments to IAS 1 and  
IFRS Practice Statement 2)
Definition of Accounting Estimates (Amendments to IAS 8)
Deferred Tax Related to Assets and Liabilities arising from  
a Single Transaction (Amendments to IAS 12)
Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current  
(Amendments to IAS 1)
Sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its 
associate or joint venture (Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28)

Periods commencing on or after 1 January 2023
Periods commencing on or after 1 January 2023

Periods commencing on or after 1 January 2023

Periods commencing on or after 1 January 2023
N/A (In December 2015, the IASB decided to defer the 
application date of this amendment until such time as the IASB 
has finalised its research project on the equity method.)

These amendments, which have not been early adopted, are not expected to have a material impact on the Group in future 
reporting periods.

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following standards which have not been applied in these financial 
statements were in issue but not yet effective:

Standard

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2014)
IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts (2017)

Effective

Periods commencing on or after 1 January 2018 
Periods commencing on or after 1 January 2023

IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’
In July 2014, the IASB issued the final version of IFRS 9 that replaces IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’ and 
all previous versions of IFRS 9. IFRS 9 (2014) addresses all three aspects of the IASB’s accounting for financial instruments project, 
including classification and measurement, impairment and hedge accounting. IFRS 9 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2018, with early application permitted. Currently, the Group’s investment and derivatives portfolios are recorded at fair value 
through profit or loss under IAS 39. Brit expects to continue to record these items at fair value through profit or loss under IFRS 9.

In September 2016 the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 4 that provided two approaches for insurers applying the requirements 
of IFRS 9, including an optional temporary exemption from applying IFRS 9 until 2021 for those companies whose activities are 
predominantly connected with insurance. In line with the deferral of the effective date of IFRS 17 to 1 January 2023 the IASB has 
agreed to extend the IFRS 9 exemption for insurers to the same date. Brit has taken advantage of this temporary exemption 
on the basis that, at the time of its initial assessment, the percentage of the total carrying amount of its liabilities connected with 
insurance relative to the total carrying amount of all its liabilities was greater than 80% and it does not engage in significant activity 
unconnected with insurance. The Group will apply IFRS 9 for the period beginning 1 January 2023. Given the nature of the Group’s 
investments, this is not expected to have a significant impact on the financial position and financial performance of the Group.

IFRS 17 ‘Insurance Contracts’
In May 2017 the IASB issued IFRS 17, a comprehensive standard for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure 
of insurance contracts. Amendments to the standard were issued in June 2020 that included targeted improvements and the 
deferral of the effective date to 1 January 2023. The standard must be applied retrospectively with restatement of comparatives 
unless impracticable. IFRS 17 replaces the existing insurance contracts accounting standard, IFRS 4. The standard was approved 
by the UK Endorsement Board in May 2022 for application to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. 

(b) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted
IFRS 17 requires entities to measure insurance contracts using current estimates of fulfilment cash flows, which includes all future 
cash flows associated with insurance contracts, using one of three measurement models: 

•  General measurement model: The measurement is based on the building blocks of discounted, probability-weighted cash flows, 

a risk adjustment and a contractual service margin (‘CSM’) representing the unearned profit of the contract.

•  Premium allocation approach: A simplified measurement approach permitted for the liability for remaining coverage where it provides 

a measurement that is not materially different from the GMM or if the coverage period is one year or less. Claims incurred are 
measured based on the building blocks of discounted, risk-adjusted, probability-weighted cash flows, but no CSM is required.

•  Variable-fee approach: A measurement approach required for insurance contracts that specify a link between payments to the 

policyholder and returns on underlying items.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.1  

Basis of preparation (continued)

(b) New standards and interpretations not yet adopted (continued)
Therefore, the measurement of insurance contracts under IFRS 17 introduces new requirements, the most notable being that 
the measurement of insurance contracts reflect both the time value of money and an explicit risk adjustment as an allowance 
for uncertainty related to the timing and amount of cash flows arising for non-financial risk, compared with the Group’s current 
accounting policy under IFRS 4, where insurance contract liabilities do not reflect an explicit risk adjustment or a discount for the 
time value of money.

The Group has assessed that the majority of its insurance contracts will be eligible for the premium allocation approach, with 
the remainder of the Group’s insurance contracts (including loss portfolio transfers) using the general measurement model. The 
premium allocation approach results in the measurement of insurance contracts which is most similar to how insurance contracts 
are measured under IFRS 4. 

For the majority of the Group’s insurance contracts, under IFRS 17, the carrying amount of a group of insurance contracts at each 
reporting date will be measured as the sum of the liability for remaining coverage, which principally includes premium receipts net 
of acquisition cash flows, discounted where required, and the liability for incurred claims, which includes a probability weighted best-
estimate of future cash flows for losses on claims and expenses that have been incurred but have not yet been paid. 

A key judgement involved in this process is the determination of the unit of account. The creation of the unit of account 
at an appropriate level drives many of the downstream considerations of the Standard including onerosity testing and the basis 
on which business is assessed for eligibility to be measured under the PAA model.

The unit of account consists of portfolios of similar risks managed together, a portfolio is then further segregated by expected 
profitability. Brit has identified that current Brit divisions comprise similar risks managed together with a further split made at the 
syndicate level to take into account different levels of exposure.

In addition, the standard requires consideration of expected profitability such that a portfolio may be further split into three groups 
of contracts if required: onerous; no significant risk of becoming onerous; and remaining contracts. Brit has used approved planned 
combined ratios adjusted for IFRS 17 factors including expenses, risk adjustment and discounting to assess profitability groupings.

IFRS 17 will also see a significant change to the reporting of expenses, with a significantly wider definition of acquisition expenses 
included within insurance contract measurement than is applied under IFRS 4.

The measurement, presentation and disclosure of the insurance contracts within the Group’s consolidated financial statements will 
change considerably under IFRS 17. However, it will not affect the Group’s underwriting strategy, cash flows (except for the inclusion 
of ENIDs), or the practice of establishing an actuarial best estimate of reserves. The Group will be required to present insurance 
contract balances differently, including differentiating in the consolidated income statement between the insurance service result, 
which includes insurance revenue and insurance service expenses, and insurance finance income or expenses, which includes the 
effects of discounting.

In 2022, the Group finalised the implementation and testing of information technology systems across its insurance and reinsurance 
subsidiaries and completed its work and documentation over key accounting policy decisions. Key areas of judgement have included, 
amongst other items, determining where the Premium Allocation Approach can be applied, identifying an appropriate risk adjustment 
methodology, and determining discount rates that are appropriate to the portfolios of insurance contracts of the Group. In particular, 
it has been concluded that loss portfolio transfer arrangements entered into by the Group are not eligible for the premium allocation 
approach, that a confidence interval basis is appropriate for risk adjustment purposes, and that discount rates based on published 
EIOPA rates plus an illiquidity premium should be used. Additionally, work on IFRS 17 opening balance sheet (as at 1 January 2022) 
continues to focus on information that will be required for the wider Fairfax Group’s periodic reporting. The Group has assessed that 
it will be able to apply IFRS 17 to its insurance contracts on a fully retrospective basis.

The Group has worked to meet deliverables required by, and subject to the higher materiality levels of, the Fairfax Group. These 
deliverables have been prepared within a project environment and, prior to transitioning to business as usual, will be subject 
to further testing and review, as a consequence of the Group’s lower level of materiality. This work is expected to inform the IFRS 17 
comparative numbers that will be reported by the Group in the year ended 31 December 2023 accounts. Based on work performed 
to date, upon adoption of IFRS 17, the Group anticipates recording an increase to opening shareholders’ equity at 1 January 2022, 
primarily reflecting a decrease to insurance contract liabilities from the introduction of discounting claim reserves and the deferral 
of additional insurance acquisition costs which were previously expensed as incurred, partially offset by IFRS 17 risk adjustment 
as an allowance for uncertainty related to the timing and amount of cash flows arising from non-financial risks. The Group does not 
anticipate material changes to revenue or the selection of actuarial projection methodologies or the development of significant new 
assumptions to determine the estimation of its reserves on adoption of IFRS 17.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

Basis of consolidation

2.2  
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries and associates and the 
Group’s participation in Lloyd’s syndicates’ assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Subsidiaries are those entities (including 
structured entities) that an investor controls, when it is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the 
investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. 

Non-controlling interests in the results are shown separately in the consolidated income statement, statement of comprehensive 
income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and statement of financial position respectively.

The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared up to 31 December each year. Consolidation adjustments are made 
to convert subsidiary financial statements from local GAAP into IFRS to remove any dissimilar accounting policies that may exist. 
Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date control is transferred to the Group and cease to be consolidated from the date 
control is transferred from the Group. All inter-company balances, profits and transactions are eliminated. The acquisition method 
of accounting is used to account for business combinations by the Group.

Included within the financial statements of the Group are structured entities where under the requirements of IFRS 10 Consolidated 
Financial Statements it has been determined that control exists. The third-party investment in these entities is recognised 
as a financial liability in accordance with IAS 32.

Underwriting members at Lloyd’s have several but not joint liability for the transactions of the syndicates in which they participate. 
Therefore, for each managed syndicate on which the Group participates, only the relevant proportion of the transactions, assets and 
liabilities of those syndicates are reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Syndicate assets are held subject to trust deeds 
for the benefit of the syndicate’s insurance creditors. As at 31 December 2022:

•  Brit UW Limited, a subsidiary of the Group, provided 100% of the capital for Syndicate 2987 and therefore all transactions, assets 

and liabilities of Syndicate 2987 have been included in the Group’s financial statements. 

•  Subsidiaries of the Group participated as members of Syndicate 2988, providing 60.70%, 57.67%, and 67.98% of the capital for 
the 2020, 2021, and 2022 years of account respectively. Consequently, the proportionate shares of the transactions, assets and 
liabilities of Syndicate 2988 have been included in the Group’s financial statements.

•  Ki Member Limited (formerly known as Riverstone Corporate Capital 4 Limited), a subsidiary of the Group, provided 100% of the 

capital for Syndicate 1618 and therefore all transactions, assets and liabilities of Syndicate 1618 have been included in the Group’s 
financial statements.

If control of a subsidiary (including a structured entity) is lost during the reporting period, the assets and liabilities of that entity will 
be derecognised from the consolidated statement of financial position. The revenues and expenses of the entity will no longer be 
consolidated following the date that control is lost. The difference between the fair value of the consideration received, if any, from 
the transaction resulting in a loss of control and the fair value of the subsidiary’s net assets will be recognised as a gain or loss in the 
income statement. 

Associates are those entities over which the Group has the power to exercise significant influence but not control. The Group’s 
investment in associated undertaking is accounted for under the equity method of accounting whereby associated undertakings 
are carried in the statement of financial position at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of net assets 
of the associate, less any impairment in value. The income statement reflects the Group‘s share of the post-acquisition results 
of operations of the associated undertaking and the statement of comprehensive income reflects the Group’s share of the 
comprehensive income of the associated undertaking. The financial statements of the associated undertaking are prepared up 
to 31 December each year.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

Product classification

2.3  
Insurance contracts are those contracts that transfer significant insurance risk. The significance of insurance risk is dependent 
on both the probability of an insured event and the magnitude of its potential effect to the policyholder. Once a contract has been 
classified as an insurance contract, it remains an insurance contract for the remainder of its lifetime, even if the insurance risk 
reduces significantly during this period. 

Business combinations

2.4  
The acquisition method of accounting is used for business combinations. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate 
of the consideration transferred, measured at acquisition date fair value and the amount of any non-controlling interest (NCI) in the 
acquiree, where relevant. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Where goodwill or a bargain purchase arises, this 
is accounted for in accordance with the policy set out in Note 2.5.7(a).

When the Group acquires a business, it assesses the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, measured initially 
at their fair values at the acquisition date, for appropriate classification and designation in accordance with the contractual terms, 
economic circumstances and pertinent conditions at the acquisition date. This includes the separation of embedded derivatives 
in host contracts by the acquiree. No reclassification of insurance contracts is required as part of the accounting for the business 
combination. Thus, insurance contracts are classified on the basis of the contractual terms and other factors at the inception of the 
contract or modification date. 

The Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquired entity on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis either at fair value 
or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquired entity’s net identifiable assets.

If the business combination is achieved in stages, any previously held equity interest is remeasured at its acquisition date fair value 
and any resulting gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss.

Any contingent consideration will be recognised at fair value at the acquisition date and, where relevant, remeasured at subsequent 
reporting dates. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not remeasured and its subsequent settlement is accounted 
for within equity. Contingent consideration that is classified as an asset or liability within or outside the scope of IAS 39 is measured 
at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL).

2.5  

Other accounting policies 

2.5.1  

Insurance contracts

(a)  Premiums
Premiums written relate to business incepted during the year, together with any differences between booked premiums for prior 
years and those previously accrued, and include estimates of premiums due but not yet receivable or notified, less an allowance 
for cancellations. Premiums are accreted to the income statement on a pro rata basis over the term of the related policy, except 
for those contracts where the period of risk differs significantly over the contract period. In these circumstances, premiums are 
recognised over the period of risk in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided. Reinstatement premiums are 
recognised where, under an insurance policy that contains a contractual right to reinstatement, a loss event occurs that triggers 
reinstatement. Premiums are shown net of premium taxes and other levies on premiums. Pipeline premium estimates are derived 
from ultimate premium estimates which are typically based on standard actuarial projection techniques (e.g. Basic Chain Ladder) 
on the key assumption that historical development of premiums is representative of future development.

(b)  Profit commissions
Profit commission income arising from whole account quota share contracts is recognised when the economic benefits are highly 
probable. They are netted off against commission costs which are included within the ‘acquisition costs’ line in the income statement.

(c)  Deferred acquisition costs
Commission and other acquisition costs incurred during the financial period that are related to securing new insurance contracts 
and/or renewing existing insurance contracts, but which relate to subsequent financial periods, are deferred to the extent that they 
are recoverable out of future revenue margins. Deferred acquisition costs are capitalised and amortised over the life of the policy 
to which they relate on a basis consistent with the earnings pattern of that policy.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.5.1  

Insurance contracts (continued)

(d)  Claims incurred
Claims incurred comprise claims and claims handling costs paid in the year and changes in the outstanding claims provisions, 
including provisions for claims incurred but not reported and related expenses, together with any adjustments to claims from prior 
years. Claims handling costs are mainly external costs related to the negotiation and settlement of claims.

Internal costs to negotiate, manage, and settle claims (unallocated loss adjustment expenses) are apportioned to paid claims.  
The apportionment utilises the annual ULAE assumption that is agreed by the Reserving Committee. See Note 11 for more detail.

(e)  Outstanding claims provisions
Outstanding claims represent the estimated ultimate cost of settling all claims (including direct and indirect claims settlement costs) 
arising from events which have occurred up to the date of the statement of financial position, including provision for claims incurred 
but not reported, less any amounts paid in respect of those claims. The Group does not discount its liabilities for unpaid claims, the 
ultimate cost of which cannot be known with certainty at the date of the statement of financial position.

(f)  Provision for unearned premiums
The proportion of written premiums that relate to unexpired terms of policies in force at the date of the statement of financial 
position is deferred as a provision for unearned premiums, generally calculated on a time apportioned basis. The movement in the 
provision is taken to the income statement in order that revenue is recognised over the period of the risk.

(g)  Liability adequacy tests
At the date of each statement of financial position, liability adequacy tests are performed, to ensure the adequacy of unearned 
premiums net of related deferred acquisition costs, employing the current estimates of future cash flows under its insurance 
contracts. If as a result of these tests, the carrying amount of the Group’s insurance liabilities is found to be inadequate 
in comparison to the value of these future cash flows, the deficiency is charged to the income statement for the period 
by establishing an unexpired risk provision. The tests are performed at a Group level and at reportable segment level at the 
statement of financial position date to ensure the estimated costs of future claims and related deferred acquisition costs do not 
exceed the unearned premium provision.

(h)  Reinsurance
The Group assumes and cedes reinsurance in the normal course of business. Premiums and claims on reinsurance assumed 
are recognised in the income statement along the same basis as direct business, taking into account the product classification. 
Reinsurance premiums ceded and reinsurance recoveries on claims incurred are included in the respective expense and income 
accounts. Reinsurance outwards premiums are earned according to the nature of the cover. Losses occurring during policies 
are earned evenly over the policy period. ‘Risks attaching’ policies are expensed on the same basis as the inwards business being 
protected. Reinstatement premiums on both inwards and outwards business are accreted to the income statement on a pro rata 
basis over the term of the original policy to which they relate.

Reinsurance assets include amounts recoverable from reinsurance companies for paid and unpaid losses and loss adjustment 
expenses, and ceded unearned premiums. Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are calculated with reference to the claims liability 
associated with the reinsured risks. Revenues and expenses arising from reinsurance agreements are therefore recognised 
in accordance with the underlying risk of the business reinsured.

Gains or losses on buying reinsurance are recognised immediately in the income statement.

If a reinsurance asset is impaired, the Group reduces its carrying amount accordingly and will immediately recognise the impairment 
loss in the income statement. A reinsurance asset will be deemed to be impaired if there is objective evidence, as a result of an event 
that occurred after initial recognition of the asset, that the Group may not receive all amounts due to it under the terms of the 
contract and that the event has a reliably measurable impact on the amounts that the Group will receive from the reinsurer.

Gains or losses on buying retroactive reinsurance are recognised immediately in the income statement and are not deferred and 
amortised. Premiums ceded and claims reimbursed are presented on a gross basis in the consolidated income statement and 
statement of financial position as appropriate. 

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.5.2   Revenue recognition
Revenue is measured by the Group based on the consideration to which it expects to be entitled through contracts with customers 
(net of refunds). Amounts collected on behalf of third parties are excluded from revenue. When control of a service is transferred 
to a customer, the related revenue is then recognised. 

(a) Management fee income 
The Group receives administration and broking fees from non-aligned syndicates, in accordance with management agreements 
that are agreed on an annual basis and specify the services to be provided. These services are in relation to ‘effectively managing 
and operating’ the syndicate and are therefore provided continuously throughout the year. As a result, these services are treated 
as a single performance obligation. The price is fixed with no variable element and is matched against the single performance 
obligation. Consequently, the passage of time is used to measure the amount of fees and commission to be recognised.

(b) Underwriting agency fee income 
The Group also receives commissions for the placement or underwriting of policies on behalf of other insurers. Such commissions, 
which are measured as a portion of the policy premium, are recognised at the later of the policy inception date or when the policy 
placement has been completed. 

Brit also receives fees in respect of the costs and expenses of establishing and administering Lloyd’s consortia and conducting the 
underwriting on their behalf. The services provided are classed as ‘establishing and administering’ the consortium and are provided 
continuously throughout the year. As a result, this is treated as a single performance obligation and measured in accordance with 
the measurement bases set out in the relevant consortium agreement.

Investment return

2.5.3  
Investment income comprises all interest and dividend income and realised and unrealised gains and losses less investment 
management fees. Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method. Dividend income is recognised when the 
shareholders’ right to receive the payment is established.

Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between net sales proceeds and cost and are recognised 
when the sale transaction occurs.

Unrealised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between the valuation at the date of the statement 
of financial position and the valuation at the last statement of financial position or purchase price, if acquired during the year. 
Unrealised investment gains and losses include adjustments in respect of unrealised gains and losses recorded in prior years which 
have been realised during the year and are reported as realised gains and losses in the current year's income statement.

2.5.4   Recognition and derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the 
contract. A financial asset is derecognised when either the contractual rights to the asset’s cash flows expire, or the asset 
is transferred, and the transfer qualifies for derecognition under a combination of risks and rewards and control tests. A financial 
liability is derecognised when it is extinguished which is when the obligation in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expired.

All ‘regular way purchases and sales’ of financial assets are recognised on the trade date, i.e. the date that the Group commits 
to purchase or sell the asset. Regular way purchases and sales are purchases and sales of financial assets that require delivery 
of assets within the time frame generally established by regulation or convention in the marketplace.

Investments

2.5.5  
The Group has designated on initial recognition its financial assets held for investment purposes (investments) at fair value through 
profit or loss (FVTPL). This is in accordance with the Group’s documented investment strategy and consistent with investment risk 
being assessed on a portfolio basis. Information relating to investments is provided internally to the Group’s Directors and key 
managers on a fair value basis.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market 
participants at the measurement date. The fair value of financial assets and liabilities traded in active markets (which are the 
principal markets or the most advantageous markets that maximise the amount that would be received to sell the asset or minimise 
the amount that would be paid to transfer the liability) are based on quoted market bid and ask price for both financial assets and 
financial liabilities respectively.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.5.5  

Investments (continued)

The fair value of financial assets and liabilities that are not traded in an active market, including over-the-counter derivatives, 
is determined using valuation techniques. The Group uses a variety of methods and makes assumptions that are based on market 
conditions existing at each reporting date. Valuation techniques include the use of comparable recent arm’s-length transactions, 
reference to other instruments that are substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis, option pricing models and others 
commonly used by market participants and which make the maximum use of observable inputs. 

Gains and losses on investments designated as FVTPL are recognised through the income statement. Interest income from 
investments in bonds and short-term investments is recognised at the effective interest rate. Interest receivable is shown 
separately in the statement of financial position based on the instruments’ stated rates of interest.

2.5.6   Derivatives
Derivative financial instruments include foreign exchange contracts, forward rate agreements, interest rate futures, currency and 
interest rate swaps and other financial instruments that derive their value mainly from underlying interest rates, foreign exchange 
rates, credit indices, commodity values or equity instruments. All derivatives are initially recognised in the statement of financial 
position at their fair value, which represents their cost. They are subsequently remeasured at their fair value, with movements 
in this value recognised in the income statement. Fair values are obtained from quoted market prices or, if these are not available, 
by using valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow models or option pricing models. 

All derivatives are carried as assets when the fair values are positive and as liabilities when the fair values are negative. Derivative 
contracts may be traded on an exchange or over-the-counter (OTC). Exchange-traded derivatives are standardised and include 
certain futures and option contracts. OTC derivative contracts are individually negotiated between contracting parties and include 
forwards and swaps. 

Derivatives are subject to various risks including market, liquidity and credit risk, similar to those related to the underlying financial 
instruments. Many OTC transactions are contracted and documented under International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) 
master agreements or their equivalent, which are designed to provide legally enforceable set-off in the event of default, reducing 
the Group’s exposure to credit risk. The notional or contractual amounts associated with derivative financial instruments are not 
recorded as assets or liabilities on the statement of financial position as they do not represent the fair value of these transactions. 

2.5.7  

Intangible assets

(a)  Goodwill
Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred and the amount recognised 
for non-controlling interests and any previous interest held, over the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If those 
amounts are less than the fair value of the net identifiable assets of the business acquired, the difference is recognised directly 
in profit or loss as a bargain purchase.

After initial recognition, goodwill is not amortised but is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is tested for 
impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. For the purposes of impairment 
testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated to an appropriate cash generating unit (CGU) that is expected to benefit 
from the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the acquiree are assigned to those units.

Where goodwill has been allocated to a CGU and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, the goodwill associated with 
the disposed operation is included in the carrying amount of the operation when determining the gain or loss on disposal of the 
operation. Goodwill disposed of in this circumstance is measured based on the relative values of the operation disposed of and the 
portion of the cash-generating unit retained.

(b)  Syndicate participation rights
Lloyd’s syndicate participation rights that have been acquired on acquisition of a subsidiary are initially recognised at fair value. 
They are considered to have an indefinite useful life as they will provide benefits over an indefinite future period and are therefore 
not subject to an annual amortisation charge. The continuing value of the underwriting capacity is reviewed for impairment annually 
by reference to the expected future profit streams to be earned from the respective syndicate, with any impairment in value being 
charged to the income statement.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.5.7  

Intangible assets (continued)

(c)  Trade names
Trade names that have been acquired on acquisition of a subsidiary are initially recognised at fair value. They are considered to have 
an indefinite useful life as they will provide benefits over an indefinite future period and are therefore not subject to an annual 
amortisation charge. The carrying value of the trade names is reviewed for impairment annually by reference to the expected future 
profit streams to be earned from the CGUs to which the trade names relate, with any impairment in value being charged to the 
income statement.

(d)  Computer software
Acquired computer software licences are capitalised based on the costs incurred to acquire and bring into use the specific software. 
Internal development costs that are directly associated with the production of identifiable and unique software products controlled 
by the Group are also capitalised where the cost can be measured reliably, the Group intends to and has adequate resources 
to complete development and the computer software will generate future economic benefits. All computer software costs are finite 
life assets and amortised on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives, not exceeding a period of five years.

(e)  Distribution channels 
Distribution channels that have been acquired on acquisition of a subsidiary are initially recognised at fair value. They are deemed to be 
finite life assets and amortised on a straight-line basis over their expected useful economic lives, not exceeding a period of 15 years. 

(f)  Employee-related intangibles 
A non-compete agreement in favour of the Group, signed upon acquisition of a subsidiary, and non-compete clauses in certain employee 
contracts acquired in business combinations have been recognised at fair value. These are considered to be finite life assets and, 
as such, are amortised on a straight-line basis over their expected useful economic lives, not exceeding a period of three years. 

(g)  Regulatory licences 
Regulatory licences that have been acquired on acquisition of a subsidiary are initially recognised at fair value. They are considered 
to have an indefinite useful life as they do not expire and will provide benefits over an indefinite future period and are therefore not subject 
to an annual amortisation charge. The carrying value of the licences is reviewed for impairment annually by reference to the expected future 
profit streams to be earned from the respective licences, with any impairment in value being charged to the income statement.

2.5.8   Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and any impairment in value. Depreciation 
is calculated so as to write-off the cost over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight-line basis having regard to the 
residual value of each asset, as follows:

Land
Buildings
Office refurbishment costs, office machinery, furniture and equipment
Computers, servers, data storage devices, networks and other IT infrastructure

Indefinite
30 years
5-15 years
3-5 years

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed at the date of each statement of financial position and adjusted if appropriate.

An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected to arise 
from the continued use of the asset. Gains and losses on the disposal of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing 
proceeds with the carrying amount of the asset and are included in the income statement. Costs for repairs and maintenance are 
expensed as incurred.

Impairment

2.5.9  
Goodwill, syndicate participation rights, trade names and regulatory licenses are not subjected to amortisation but are tested annually 
for impairment as they are assets with an indefinite useful life. Other assets, except for assets arising from insurance contracts,  
are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

If the carrying value of an asset is impaired, it is reduced to the recoverable amount by an immediate charge to the income 
statement. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. 

Value in use is based on discounting cash flows at the Group’s weighted average cost of capital which is loaded where significant 
uncertainties exist. Assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash-generating 
units). Cash flow forecasts have been performed to account for the impact of climate change.

Impairment reviews are made by comparing carrying value to recoverable amount.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.5.10  Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of financial position include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short-
term, highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition.

Income taxes

2.5.11 
Income tax comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in the income statement except where it relates to an item 
which is recognised in equity.

(a)  Current income tax
Current income tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable profit for the period using tax rates (and laws) enacted 
or substantively enacted at the date of the statement of financial position and any adjustment to the tax payable in respect 
of previous periods. The Group calculates current income tax using current income tax rates. 

(b)  Deferred income tax
Where relevant deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax 
bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. If the deferred income tax arises 
from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction 
affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss, it is not recognised. 

Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the date of the 
statement of financial position and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred 
income tax liability is settled.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which 
the temporary differences can be utilised. 

Deferred income tax relating to items recognised in other comprehensive income is also recognised in other comprehensive income.

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, except where 
the Group controls the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not 
reverse in the foreseeable future. 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes relate to the same fiscal authority.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.

2.5.12   Employee benefits
The Group operates a number of defined contribution schemes. It also makes payments into a number of personal money purchase 
pension plans. Contributions in respect of these schemes are charged to the income statement in the period to which they relate.

The Group also operates two defined benefit pension schemes. The asset recognised in the statement of financial position in respect 
of a defined benefit scheme is the fair value of the scheme assets less the present value of the defined benefit obligation which 
is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows. The discount rate is based on market yields at the reporting date 
of high-quality corporate bonds that have terms to maturity which approximate to those of the related pension liability. An asset 
is recognised only to the extent that it is considered available in the form of future refunds from the plan, in particular taking into 
consideration any minimum funding requirements that apply to the plan. 

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately through other comprehensive income.

The Group determines the net interest expense/income on the net defined benefit liability/asset for the period by applying the discount 
rate used to measure the defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the annual period to the net defined benefit liability/asset. 

Past service costs arising in the period are recognised as an expense at the earlier of the date when the plan amendment 
or curtailment occurs and the date when the Group recognises related restructuring costs or termination benefits. 

On 18 August 2021, the Group assumed responsibility for the liabilities of the RiverStone Management Pension and Life Assurance 
Plan (the Plan) from Riverstone Holdings Limited and RiverStone Management Limited, through a Flexible Apportionment Agreement 
(FAA). No consideration was paid by the Group, with the transfer taking place as part of wider Fairfax group transactions. The Group 
has recorded a pension surplus in respect of the Plan, which is recognised as an asset in the statement of financial position, with 
a corresponding capital contribution recorded in equity. 

The Group recognises an accrual in respect of profit-sharing, bonus plans and long service cash awards where a contractual 
obligation to employees exists or where there is a past practice that has created a constructive obligation.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.5.13  Share-based payments 
The fair value of equity instruments granted under share-based payment plans are recognised as an expense and spread over the 
vesting period of the instrument. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the fair value of the awards made 
at the grant date. 

At the date of each statement of financial position, the Group revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments that are 
expected to become exercisable and it recognises the impact of the revision of original estimates, if any, in the income statement. 
Where the awards have been granted by a parent company and are therefore treated as equity-settled, a corresponding adjustment 
is made to equity over the remaining vesting period. 

Where the awards have been granted by the Company and are therefore treated as cash-settled, a liability is provided for settlement 
of the awards. The corresponding adjustment arising on a revision of the original estimate is made to that liability. In addition, the fair 
value of the award and ultimate expense are adjusted upon a change in the market share price of the underlying shares or at the 
valuation date. The liability is remeasured at each reporting date, and on settlement, at which point it is derecognised from the 
statement of financial position.

 Provisions and contingencies

2.5.14 
Provisions are liabilities with uncertainties in the amount or timing of payments. Provisions are recognised if there is a present 
obligation as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required 
to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate of the amount of the obligation can be made at the date of the statement 
of financial position.

A contingent liability is a possible obligation that arises from past events or a present obligation that is not recognised as it is not 
probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation or the amount of obligation cannot be measured with 
sufficient reliability. A contingent liability is disclosed but not recognised. 

 Leases

2.5.15 
The Group leases various offices under rental contracts that are typically from 1 to 15 years but may have extension options. Lease 
terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of terms and conditions. Leased assets are recognised as right-
of-use assets and corresponding liabilities are recorded at the date at which the leased assets are available for use by the Group.

Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis.

Lease liabilities include the net present value of the following lease payments:

•  fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives receivable;

•  variable lease payments that are based on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the 

commencement date; and

•  payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects the Group exercising that option.

Lease payments to be made under reasonably certain extension options are also included in the measurement of the liability.

The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be readily determined, which 
is generally the case for leases in the Group, the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate is used, being the rate that the individual lessee 
would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic 
environment with similar terms, security and conditions. To determine this, the Group uses recent third-party financing received 
by the individual lessee (where available) and, if necessary, makes adjustments to reflect subsequent changes in financing conditions 
and other adjustments specific to the lease (for example, to reflect lease term, country of leased asset, contract currency 
and security).

The Group is exposed to potential future increases in variable lease payments based on an index or rate, which are not included 
in the lease liability until they take effect. When adjustments to lease payments based on an index or rate take effect, the lease liability 
is reassessed and adjusted against the right-of-use asset.

Lease payments are allocated between principal and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to profit or loss over the lease period 
so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. 

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.5.15 

 Leases (continued)

Right-of-use assets are measured at cost comprising the following:

•  the amount of the initial measurement of lease liability;

•  any lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received;

•  any initial direct costs, and

•  restoration costs. 

Right-of-use assets are generally depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis. 

Payments associated with short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognised on a straight-line basis as an expense 
in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a term of 12 months or less. 

Extension and termination options are included in a number of leases across the Group. These are used to maximise operational 
flexibility in terms of managing the assets used in the Group’s operations. Most of the extension and termination options held are 
exercisable only by the Group and not by the respective lessor. 

When the Group is an intermediate lessor, it accounts for its interests in the head lease and the sublease separately. It assesses 
the lease classification of a sublease with reference to the right-of-use asset arising from the head lease, not with reference 
to the underlying asset. If a head lease is a short-term lease to which the Group applies the exemption, then it classifies the 
sublease as an operating lease. The Group recognises assets held under a finance lease in its statement of financial position and 
presents them as a receivable at an amount equal to the net investment in the lease. The lessor will derecognise the carrying 
amount of the underlying asset (i.e. right-of-use-asset) that relates to the sublease and the difference between this and the net 
investment in lease is recognised in the income statement. Subsequently, finance income will be recognised over the lease term with 
a corresponding increase in the net investment in the lease. Any cash received by the Group is recorded as a reduction in the net 
investment in the lease.

2.5.16   Foreign currency translation
Items included in the financial statements of the parent and subsidiaries are measured using the functional currency which is the 
primary economic environment in which the entity operates. The Group presents its consolidated financial statements in US dollars 
which is the functional currency of the parent. 

Foreign currency transactions are recorded in the functional currency for each entity using the exchange rates prevailing at the 
dates of the transactions or at the average rate for the period when this is a reasonable approximation. Substantially all of the Group’s 
operations have US dollars as their functional currency. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated 
at period end exchange rates. The resulting exchange differences on translation are recorded in the income statement. Non-monetary 
assets and liabilities that are measured at historical cost denominated in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

The functional currencies of some of the Company’s subsidiaries differ from the consolidated Group US dollar presentation 
currency. As a result, the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries, including any goodwill arising on consolidation, are translated 
on consolidation at the rates of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at the average 
rate of exchange for the period. The unrealised gain or loss resulting from this translation is recognised in other comprehensive 
income and transferred to a foreign currency translation reserve.

2.5.17  Borrowings
Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred and subsequently stated at amortised cost.  
Fair value is normally determined by reference to the fair value of the proceeds received. Any difference between the initial carrying 
amount and the redemption value is recognised in the income statement over the period of the borrowings using the effective 
interest rate method.

2.5.18  Other financial liabilities
The Group has designated its financial liabilities in respect of third-party investments in consolidated structured entities and 
investment funds at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL). The fair value of the investments by independent third parties 
is determined by reference to the net assets of those entities, which may also require reference to the underlying net assets 
of other vehicles or investment funds in which those entities have invested. Gains or losses in respect to change in fair value 
is recognised through the income statement.

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Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

2.5.19  Segmental reporting
An operating segment is a component of an entity that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur 
expenses, whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the entity’s chief operating decision maker and for which discrete 
financial information is available.

2.5.20  Other receivables
Other receivables are financial assets with fixed or determinable payments. Other receivables are measured at amortised cost, 
using the effective interest rate method, less provision for impairment. Individual receivables known to be uncollectible are written 
off by reducing the carrying amount directly. Other receivables are assessed collectively to determine whether there is objective 
evidence that an impairment has occurred but not yet been identified and, where necessary, the estimated impairment losses are 
recognised in a separate provision for impairment. 

2.5.21   Offsetting of financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the statement of financial position only when there 
is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis, or to realise the 
assets and settle the liability simultaneously.

2.5.22  Dividend and capital distributions
Dividend and capital distributions to the Company’s shareholders are recognised in the Group’s financial statements in the period 
in which they are declared and appropriately approved.

2.5.23  Collateral
The Group receives collateral from certain reinsurers and pledges collateral where required for regulatory purposes and other 
funding arrangements. Collateral received in the form of cash is recognised as an asset on the statement of financial position with 
a corresponding liability for the repayment. Non-cash collateral received is not recognised on the statement of financial position. 
Except where it is used for the purposes of the agreement to which it relates, collateral pledged is not derecognised from the 
statement of financial position unless it is cash or where the Group defaults on its obligations under the relevant agreement.

2.5.24  Non-current assets (or disposal groups) held for sale and discontinued operations
Non-current assets (or disposal groups) are classified as held for sale if their carrying amount will be recovered principally through 
a sale transaction rather than through continuing use and a sale is considered highly probable. They are measured at the lower 
of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell, except for assets such as deferred tax assets, assets arising from 
employee benefits, financial assets and investment property that are carried at fair value and contractual rights under insurance 
contracts, which are specifically exempt from this requirement.

An impairment loss is recognised for any initial or subsequent write-down of the asset (or disposal group) to fair value less costs 
to sell. A gain is recognised for any subsequent increases in fair value less costs to sell of an asset (or disposal group), but not 
in excess of any cumulative impairment loss previously recognised. A gain or loss not previously recognised by the date of the sale 
of the noncurrent asset (or disposal group) is recognised at the date of derecognition.

Non-current assets (including those that are part of a disposal group) are not depreciated or amortised while they are classified as held 
for sale. Interest and other expenses attributable to the liabilities of a disposal group classified as held for sale continue to be recognised. 

Non-current assets classified as held for sale and the assets of a disposal group classified as held for sale are presented separately 
from the other assets in the balance sheet. The liabilities of a disposal group classified as held for sale are presented separately 
from other liabilities in the balance sheet.

A discontinued operation is a component of the entity that has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale and that represents 
a separate major line of business or geographical area of operations, is part of a single co-ordinated plan to dispose of such a line 
of business or area of operations, or is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale. The results of discontinued operations 
are presented separately in the statement of profit or loss.

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Critical accounting estimates and judgements in applying accounting policies

Introduction

3.1  
The Group makes various assumptions about the future, and other major sources of estimation uncertainty at the end of the 
reporting period, that have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities 
within the next financial year. 

Estimates and judgements are regularly re-evaluated and are based on a combination of historical experience and other factors, 
including exposure analysis, expectations of future experience and expert judgement.

3.2 

Estimation and judgement in relation to determining the ultimate liability arising from claims made under  
insurance contracts

The estimation of the ultimate liability arising from claims made under insurance contracts is the Group’s most critical accounting 
estimate. There are several sources of uncertainty that need to be considered in the estimate of the amounts that the Group will 
ultimately pay to settle such claims. Significant areas requiring estimation and judgement include:

•  Estimates of the amount of any liability in respect of claims notified but not settled and incurred but not reported claims (IBNR) 

to be included within provisions for inwards insurance and reinsurance contracts;

•  The corresponding estimate of the amount of outwards reinsurance recoveries which will become due as a result of the 

estimated claims on inwards business;

•  The recoverability of amounts due from reinsurers; and
•  Estimates of the proportion of exposure which has expired in the period as represented by the earned proportion of premiums written.

The assumptions used and the manner in which these estimates and judgements are made are set out below, including the reserving 
process for the estimation of gross, and net of reinsurance, ultimate premiums and claims:

•  Quarterly statistical data is produced in respect of gross and net premiums and claims (paid and incurred);
•  Projections of ultimate premiums, reinstatement premiums and claims are produced by the internal actuarial department using 
standard actuarial projection techniques (e.g. Basic Chain Ladder, Bornhuetter-Ferguson, Initial Expected Loss Ratio). The Basic 
Chain Ladder and Bornhuetter-Ferguson projection methods are based on the key assumption that historical development 
of premiums and claims is representative of future development. Claims inflation is taken into account in the Initial Expected Loss 
Ratio selections but is otherwise assumed to be in line with historical inflation trends, unless explicit adjustments for other drivers 
of inflation such as legislative developments are deemed appropriate;

•  Some classes of business have characteristics which do not necessarily lend themselves easily to statistical estimation 
techniques, e.g. due to low data volumes. In such cases, for example, a policy-by-policy review may also be carried out 
to supplement statistical estimates;
In the event of catastrophe losses, prior to detailed claims information becoming available, claims provision estimates are 
compiled using a combination of output from specific recognised modelling software and detailed reviews of contracts exposed 
to the event in question;

• 

•  The initial ultimate selections derived by the actuarial department, along with the underlying key assumptions and methodology, 
are discussed with class underwriters, divisional underwriting directors and the claims team at ‘pre-committee’ meetings. The 
actuarial department may make adjustments to the initial ultimates following these meetings;

•  Following the completion of the ‘pre-committee’ meetings and peer review process within the actuarial department, the ultimate 
selections (actuarial estimate), assumptions, methodology and uncertainties are presented to the Reserving Committee for 
discussion and debate; and

•  Following review of the actuarial estimate, the Reserving Committee recommends the committee estimates to be adopted in the 

financial statements.

The estimates and judgements are applied in line with the overall reserving philosophy and seek to state the claims provisions 
on a best estimate, undiscounted basis. A management risk margin is also applied over and above the actuarial best estimate to allow 
for the inherent uncertainty within the best estimate reserve position. 

Brit has carefully considered the impact of the higher levels of inflation. Our reserves continue to be set at a margin above the 
actuarial estimate which is set on a best estimate basis. As part of the year-end reserving exercise, the impact of inflation has been 
considered in detail by the Actuarial team to ensure that assumptions are consistent with our forward looking expectations for 
claims inflation. Various techniques have been considered in line with guidance from Lloyd’s and regulators. 

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Critical accounting estimates and judgements in applying accounting policies (continued)

The Russia-Ukraine conflict arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a cause for uncertainty. Brit has analysed its potential 
exposures across its (re)insurance portfolio as well as the wider financial and operational challenges brought about by the conflict. 
We have direct exposures within the Terrorism, Casualty Treaty, Marine War, Contingency and Political and Credit Risk classes, 
along with secondary impacts across the Cyber class and potential recessionary impacts. Brit’s exposures continue to be actively 
monitored and managed.

Brit has continued to adopt a comprehensive approach to reserving for COVID-19 related losses. COVID-19 related reserves 
at 31 December 2022 are materially unchanged from those at 31 December 2021.

In addition to claims provisions, the reserve for future loss adjustment expenses is also subject to estimation with consideration 
being given to the level of internal and third-party loss adjustment expenses incurred annually. The estimated loss adjustment 
expenses are expressed as a percentage of gross claims reserves and the reasonableness of the estimate is assessed through 
benchmarking. Further judgements are made as to the recoverability of amounts due from reinsurers. Provisions for bad debts are 
made specifically, based on the solvency of reinsurers, internal and external ratings, payment experience with them and any disputes 
of which the Group is aware.

The carrying value at the date of the statement of financial position of gross claims reported and loss adjustment expenses and 
claims incurred but not reported were $6,082.8m (2021: $5,140.9m) as set out in Note 22 to the financial statements. The amount 
of reinsurance recoveries estimated at that date is $2,070.3m (2021: $1,894.4m).

Estimated premium income

3.3 
Premium income reported by the Group includes estimates of premium for certain contracts, in particular those written under 
delegated authority agreements. The Group considers relevant information when determining estimates, including information 
provided by brokers and coverholders, past underwriting experience, market conditions, and the contractual terms of policies. 
As updated information relating to such variables becomes available, for example when bordereaux are received, adjustments 
to estimates are recorded in the period in which they are determined, and will impact gross premiums written and provisions for 
unearned premium in the consolidated income statement.

Estimation involved in impairment testing of intangible assets

3.4 
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment on an annual basis in accordance with IAS 36 ‘Impairment 
of Assets’. Determining the assumptions used in the test requires estimation. The calculations use projected profit streams based 
on cash flow forecasts and are approved by management. These forecasts include an adjustment for catastrophe risk, taking the 
results of the syndicates up to their expected reinsurance attachment points, and adjustments based on prior year experience. 
Forecast investment return is considered for reasonableness and excluded or reduced if necessary. 

The indefinite useful life intangible assets of the Group consist of goodwill, syndicate participation rights and trade names. The 
carrying amount at the date of the statement of financial position was as follows: goodwill: $14.4m (2021: $61.3m); trade names: 
$0.8m (2021: $1.3m); and syndicate participation rights: $70.8m (2021: $70.8m). There is also $45.9m of goodwill and $0.5m of trade 
names included within ‘Assets classified as held for sale’. These were subject to impairment testing prior to reclassification. 

For further information on impairment testing and sensitivity of key assumptions in respect of intangible assets, refer to Note 18.

Judgements made in respect of lease accounting

3.5 
The accounting for leases under IFRS 16 requires an incremental borrowing rate to use as the discount rate for the leases. Brit took 
advantage of the practical expedient in IFRS 16 to apply a single discount rate to its entire portfolio of leases, with the rate calculated 
as the weighted average of discount rates applied in each jurisdiction in which the Group has leases. The property leases do not 
explicitly or implicitly state interest rates, therefore unsecured borrowing rates for individual leases have been estimated by using 
the borrowing rate for the Group in the jurisdictions that the leases are held.

Extension and termination options are included in a number of leases across the Group. These are used to maximise operational 
flexibility in terms of managing the assets used in the Group’s operations. Most of the extension and termination options held are 
exercisable only by the Group and not by the respective lessor. Management have exercised judgement in determining whether there 
is a significant expectation that these options would be exercised.

Estimation and judgements in respect of fair values of financial investments

3.6  
Financial investments are carried in the statement of financial position at fair value. The carrying amount of financial investments 
at the date of the statement of financial position was $4,912.4m (2021: $4,015.0m). Determining the fair value of certain investments 
requires estimation.

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Critical accounting estimates and judgements in applying accounting policies (continued)

The Group value investments using designated methodologies, estimations and assumptions. These securities, which are reported 
at fair value on the consolidated statement of financial position, represent the majority of the invested assets. The measurement 
basis for assets carried at fair value is categorised into a ‘fair value hierarchy’ in accordance with the valuation inputs and 
consistent with IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active 
markets for identical assets or liabilities (level one); the middle priority to fair values other than quoted prices based on observable 
market information (level two); and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect the assumptions that we consider market 
participants would normally use (level three). To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are unobservable 
in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgement and, accordingly, those instruments included in level 
three will require a greater degree of judgement to be exercised during valuation than for those included in level two or level one. 
At 31 December 2022, financial investments amounting to $319.5m (2021: $269.9m) were classified as level three.

The classification within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of significant input to its valuation. Any change to investment 
valuations may affect our results of operations and reported financial condition. For further information, refer to Note 24.

Estimation of defined benefit plan assets or obligations

3.7 
The amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements in respect of the Group’s defined benefit pension plans are 
determined using actuarial valuations, which involves making assumptions that may differ from actual developments in the future. 
These include the determination of the discount rate, inflation, mortality rates and future pension increases. Due to the complexities 
involved in the valuation and its long-term nature, a defined benefit obligation is highly sensitive to changes in these assumptions.  
All assumptions are reviewed at each reporting date.

The carrying amount of the pension asset at the date of the statement of financial position was $62.4m (2021: $113.8m). For further 
information, refer to Note 23.

Judgements in respect of the consolidation of structured entities

3.8 
During the year, the Group held an investment in a Bermuda-domiciled special purpose vehicle, Sussex Capital Limited (which is the 
sole investor in the majority of segregated accounts and protected cells of two other special purpose vehicles, Sussex Re Limited and 
Sussex Capital UK PCC Limited). The Group is therefore required to determine whether this entity (or segregated accounts or protected 
cells thereof) meet the criteria for consolidation as defined in IFRS 10, for which the exercise of judgement is required. In particular, 
the Group considered the following factors to determine whether it is acting as an agent or a principal for these entities: (i) the power 
the Group has over them and the ability to direct relevant activities; (ii) the rights of the Group to variable returns from the Group’s 
involvement with the entities; and (iii) the ability to use that power to affect the amount of the Group’s returns. 

The Group is, or has been, exposed to variability of returns from the activities of this entity both through its direct investments in the 
vehicle and through the receipt of fee income from services provided to the entity. 

As at 31 December 2022, in respect of the Sussex special purpose vehicles, that exposure was of a significance that it indicates that 
the Group is acting as a principal when considered alongside additional factors including the design of the structures in which those 
entities have been established, their business models, and a range of other qualitative factors in determining whether the criteria 
for consolidation are met. Consequently, the Group has continued to consolidate Sussex Capital Limited (or relevant segregated 
accounts or protected cells thereof) during the financial year.

The Group’s investment in another Bermuda-domiciled special purpose vehicle, Versutus Limited, was divested during 2021. Prior 
to this, it had also met the criteria for consolidation and as such, was consolidated up to the date of that divestment.

Estimation of deferred tax asset in respect of carried forward losses

3.9 
The deferred tax asset includes an amount of $89.6m which relates to current year losses carried forward and US$nil 
(2021: US$18.8m) which relates to carried forward tax losses in respect of Lloyd’s undeclared year of account losses for 2020, 
2021 and 2022 which will be taxed under the Lloyd’s declaration basis in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively. The Group has 
concluded that the deferred tax asset is recoverable based on Lloyd’s approved plan for the year of account 2022 and forecast profits 
for the Brit Group UK entities which are available for group relief. This forecast information includes an adjustment for catastrophe 
risk, taking the results of the syndicates up to their expected reinsurance attachment points, and adjustments based on prior year 
experience. Forecast investment return is considered for reasonableness and excluded or reduced if necessary. 

The losses can be carried forward indefinitely and have no expiry date, however a further deferred tax asset of $91.2m (2021: $71.3m) 
has not been recognised as an asset on the basis that it is not yet possible to measure the asset reliably due to further work required 
to forecast results beyond 2029 and the year of account 2026. This forecast period of 6.25 years represents a reduction compared 
to that applied in previous reporting periods, where a forecast period of 7 years was typically applied. 

For further information, refer to Note 21.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

4  

Risk management policies 

This Note provides details of key risks that the Group is exposed to and explains the Group’s strategies and the role of management 
in mitigating these risks.

Insurance risk 

4.1  
Insurance risk arises from the possibility of an adverse financial result due to actual experience being different from that expected 
when an insurance product was designed and priced. The actual performance of insurance contracts is subject to the inherent 
uncertainty in the occurrence, timing and amount of the final insurance liabilities. This is the principal risk the Group is exposed 
to as the Group’s primary function is to underwrite insurance contracts. The risk arises due to the possibility of insurance contracts 
being under-priced, under-reserved or subject to unforeseen catastrophe claims. 

The areas of insurance risk discussed below include underwriting (including aggregate exposure management), reinsurance 
and reserving. 

4.1.1   Underwriting risk 

(a)  Introduction
Underwriting risk is the risk that insurance premiums will not be sufficient to cover the future losses and associated expenses. 
It arises from the fluctuations in the frequency and severity of financial losses incurred through the underwriting process by the 
Group as a result of unpredictable events. 

The Group is also exposed to the risks resulting from its underwriters accepting risks for premiums which are insufficient to cover 
the ultimate claims which result from such policies. The underwriting and economic environment and the associated impact 
on premium rates, including trends due to the underwriting cycle and inflation, are factored into the Group’s pricing models and risk 
management tools, and is continually monitored to assess whether any corrective action is required. Additional controls over the 
underwriting strategy are described in the section below.

The Group primarily writes its business through Lloyd’s and therefore can take advantage of Lloyd’s centralised infrastructure 
and service support. Lloyd’s also has an established global distribution framework, with extensive licensing agreements providing 
the Group access to over 200 territories. Primarily using the Lloyd’s platform to underwrite, subjects the Group to a number 
of underwriting risks. The Group relies on the efficient functioning of the Lloyd’s market. If for any reason Brit Syndicates Limited 
(BSL) was restricted or otherwise unable to write insurance through the Lloyd’s market, there would be a potentially material 
adverse effect on the Group’s business. In particular, any damage to the brand or reputation of Lloyd’s, increase in tax levies imposed 
on Lloyd’s participants or deterioration in Lloyd’s asset base when compared with its liabilities may have a material adverse effect 
on the Group’s ability to write new business. 

BSL also benefits from the ability to write business based on the Lloyd’s financial rating, which allows the Group to write more 
business as part of the Lloyd’s platform. A downgrade in Lloyd’s financial strength ratings may have an adverse effect on the Group. 

The Group also writes business through the Sussex Capital collateralised reinsurance platform. Through Sussex Re Limited the 
platform writes direct collateralised property catastrophe reinsurance in addition to providing collateralised reinsurance to Brit’s 
Property Treaty portfolio. Please refer to section 4.10 for details on the governance structure relevant to the Sussex platform.

94 

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4  

Risk management policies (continued)

(b)  Controls over underwriting strategy
The Board sets the Group’s underwriting strategy for accepting and managing underwriting risk. The BSL Underwriting Committees 
(including the Ki Portfolio and Underwriting Committee) and Brit Re Management Committee meet regularly to drive the underwriting 
strategy and to monitor performance against the plans. The assessment of underwriting performance is all-encompassing applying 
underwriting key performance indicators (KPIs), technical pricing management information (MI), premium monitoring, delegated 
underwriting operations and claims. The risks are managed by the committee in line with the underwriting risk policy and within 
the risk tolerance set by the underwriting entity Boards. The underwriting risk policy also sets out a number of controls, which are 
summarised below. 

The Group carries out a detailed annual business planning process for each of its underwriting units. The resulting plans set out 
premium, territorial and aggregate limits and reinsurance protection thresholds for all classes of business and represent a key tool 
in managing concentration risk. Performance against the plans is monitored on a regular basis by the Underwriting Committees 
as well as by the Boards of the regulated entities. A dedicated Risk Aggregation Team also performs catastrophe modelling and 
Realistic Disaster Scenario (RDS) analysis on a regular basis to ensure that the Group’s net losses remain within its risk appetite.

The Group has developed underwriting guidelines, limits of authority and business plans which are binding upon all staff authorised 
to underwrite. These are detailed and specific to underwriters and classes of business. Gross and net line size limits are in place for 
each class of business with additional restrictions in place on catastrophe exposed business. 

A proportion of the Group’s insurance risks are written by third parties under delegated underwriting authorities, with the 
remaining being written through individual risk acceptances or through reinsurance treaties. The third parties are closely vetted 
in advance and are subject to tight reporting requirements. In addition, the performance of these contracts is closely monitored 
by underwriters and/or portfolio managers, and regular audits are carried out.

The technical pricing framework ensures that the pricing process in the Group is appropriate. It ensures pricing methodologies are 
demonstrable and transparent and that technical (or benchmark) prices are assessed for each risk. The underwriting and actuarial 
functions work together to maintain the pricing models and assess the difference between technical price and actual price. The 
framework also ensures that sufficient data is recorded and checked by underwriters to enable the Group to maintain an effective 
rate monitoring process. 

Compliance is checked through both a peer review process and, periodically, by the Group’s internal audit department which 
is entirely independent of the underwriting units.

In order to limit risk, the number of reinstatements per policy is limited, deductibles are imposed, policy exclusions are applied and 
whenever allowed by statute, maximum indemnity limits are put in place per insured event.

(c)  Underwriting risk profile
The core insurance portfolio of property, marine, energy and casualty covers a variety of largely uncorrelated events and also 
provides some protection against the underwriting cycle as different classes are at different points in the underwriting cycle. The 
underwriting portfolio is managed to target top quartile underwriting performance and the mix of business is continually adjusted 
based on the current environment (including the current pricing strength of each class). This assessment is conducted as part 
of the business planning and strategy process which operates annually and uses inputs from the technical pricing framework.  
The business plan is approved by the Boards and is monitored monthly.

The Group underwrites a well-diversified portfolio across multiple regions and classes. While underlying risk and the policyholder may 
be situated anywhere in the world, 97% of the GWP for the Group in 2022 was sourced in London (2021: 84%). Other business was 
sourced via Brit’s extensive international distribution network, including its broker partnerships and its wholly owned MGAs. In 2022, 
21% (2021: 38%) of the Group’s GWP was reinsured to third parties.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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4  

Risk management policies (continued)

(d)  Geographical concentration of premium
The Group enters into policies with policyholders from all over the world, with the underlying risk relating to premiums spread 
worldwide. This allows the Group to benefit from a wide geographic diversification of risk. The four principal locations of the Group’s 
policyholders are the United States, UK, Europe and Canada. The concentration of insurance premium before and after reinsurance 
by the location of the underlying risk is summarised below:

2022
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Europe (excluding UK)
Other (including worldwide)

2021
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Europe (excluding UK)
Other (including worldwide)

Gross
 premiums 
written 
$m

2,117.1
263.7
156.0
115.8
1,317.4

3,970.0

1,732.6 
186.6 
129.5 
84.3 
1,105.3 

3,238.3 

Net
 premiums 
written 
$m

1,674.3
175.5
119.3
78.5
1,098.8 

3,146.4 

870.3 
132.1 
92.0 
58.2 
845.7 

1,998.3 

The nature of the London Market business is such that the insureds and reinsureds are often operating on a multi-territory 
or worldwide basis and hence coverage is often provided on a worldwide basis. Premiums written on a multi-territory or worldwide 
basis are included in ‘Other’ in the table above.

(e)  Portfolio mix
The Group underwrites business in a wide variety of classes. The breakdown of premium before reinsurance by principal lines 
of business is summarised below:

Core Underwriting
Other Underwriting 
Ki

2022
Gross premiums written 

2021
Gross premiums written

$m

3,116.8 
19.1 
834.1 

3,970.0

%

78.5
0.5
21.0

100.0

$m

2,834.1 
8.6 
395.6 

3,238.3 

%

87.5
0.3
12.2

100.0

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financial statements

2022
Gross premiums written 

2021
Gross premiums written

$m

3,116.8
 566.1 
 704.2 
 413.8 
 387.4 
 63.2 
 76.3 
 334.8 
 399.9 
 176.6 
 (5.5) 
19.1

834.1

 201.0 

 176.8 

 222.8 

 94.4 

 16.6 

 30.3 

 82.1 

 7.5 
 2.6 

%

78.5
14.3
17.7
10.4
9.8
1.6
1.9
8.4
10.1
4.4
(0.1)
0.5

21.0

5.1

4.4

5.5

2.4

0.4

0.8

2.1

0.2
0.1

$m

2,834.1
 497.5 
 568.9 
 378.4 
 349.3 
 62.7 
 91.7 
 266.0 
 384.5 
 175.5 
59.6
8.6

395.6

 106.4

 89.3 

 100.4 

 48.8 

 – 

 16.9 

 33.8 

 – 
 – 

%

87.5
15.4
17.6
11.7
10.8
1.9
2.8
8.2
11.9
5.4
1.8
0.3

12.2

3.3

2.8

3.1

1.5

–

0.5

1.0

–
–

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Core Underwriting

Financial & Professional
Programs & Facilities
Property
Specialty
Ambridge Speciality
Ambridge Transactional
Casualty Treaty
Property Treaty
Ambridge Re
Classes in run-off & Other lines 

Other Underwriting

Ki

Financial & Professional

Programs & Facilities

Property

Specialty

Ambridge Speciality

Ambridge Transactional

Casualty Treaty

Ambridge Re
Classes in run-off & Other lines

The Group underwrites a mix of both insurance and reinsurance, long and short-tail business across a number of geographic areas 
which results in diversification within the Group’s portfolio. The business mix is monitored on an ongoing basis. 

Underwriting risk is mainly driven by the Group’s US catastrophe exposure. Casualty Treaty is also a driver due to its long-tail 
exposure. The risk profile of Brit’s underwriting portfolio is set out in more detail in the sections below.

3,970.0

100.0

3,238.3 

100.0

(i)   Core Underwriting and Ki

(1)  Financial & Professional (FinPro)

Directors & Officers (D&O)

Financial Institutions (FI)

Cyber Privacy and Technology

Coverage provided to both directors and officers and companies for personal liability 
or securities-related lawsuits.

Coverage of financial institutions for risks including internal and external fraud, and 
liability to customers, shareholders and regulators.

Coverage of first- and third-party risks relating to network security, privacy and data 
protection risks.

Healthcare

Coverage of hospitals, allied health and long-term care liability, predominantly in the US.

US Professional Indemnity

Coverage for professional negligence, errors and omissions, provided on both an open 
market and a binding authority basis.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

97

 
 
 
 
 
financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Financial and professional lines are typically long-tailed, meaning that on average the claims are not settled for several years 
after the expiry of the policy, which increases exposure to claims inflation. Other key risks relate to increasing claim frequency 
due to global recessions or systemic malpractice, as well as an increasing prevalence of cyber security risk. This portfolio is also 
exposed to the risk of latent claims arising from risks that were not envisaged at the time of writing the policy.

(2)  Programs & Facilities

Accident and Health

Long Tail Facilities

Property Facilities 

Transport

Coverage for personal accident and medical expenses, kidnap and ransom, 
and contingency.
Coverage of legal expenses for individuals, companies and affinity groups worldwide, 
and of professional negligence, errors and omissions for small and medium-sized 
enterprises in the US and Canada.
Coverage of commercial and residential properties and for financial institutions, loan 
servicers and property investors, including lender-placed hazard and flood protection.
Coverage of commercial automobile physical damage and motor truck cargo across the 
US and Canada.

The Programs & Facilities portfolio consists of business written on a delegated authority basis. Property Facilities is exposed 
to catastrophe claims, particularly US windstorms, earthquakes, floods and terrorist events, and to an increased frequency of fire 
and weather-related events. 

Accident and Health offers diversification due to low correlation with other business lines. Personal accident has the potential 
to suffer from large losses due to a high concentration of multiple deaths from a catastrophe or large claims from highly valued 
insured individuals. Medical expense claims are subject to high inflationary costs and may experience a high claim frequency. 
Contingency classes have exposure to multiple claims from a single event. 

The key risks relating to Long Tail Facilities lie with increasing claim frequency due to global recessionary events 
or systemic malpractice.

(3)  Property

Political Risk and Trade Credit*

Political Violence

Covers non-payment/performance of counterparties and confiscation, expropriation, 
nationalisation, deprivation, sequestration or forced abandonment of overseas assets.

Covers physical damage and business interruption losses due to perils including 
terrorism, riots, war, chemical, biological and/or radiological attacks.

Open Market and Worldwide Property

Coverage of commercial property in the US and internationally.

UK Property

UK property package covers for individuals and small or medium-sized enterprises.

Private Client* and Specie

Coverage of fine art, specie and private client risks.

Brit provides property cover on a worldwide basis, with the largest exposures in the US. The open market, UK and worldwide 
property lines are exposed to catastrophe claims, particularly windstorms, earthquakes, floods and terrorist events, and 
to an increased frequency of fire and weather-related events. The Political Risk and Political Violence classes are exposed 
to individual large losses arising from terrorist attacks or state action.

* Classes of business not underwritten by Ki

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4  

Risk management policies (continued)

(4)  Specialty

Marine

Energy

Space & Nuclear*

Specialist Liability

Coverage for cargo, hull, marine war and marine liability. 

Coverage for Upstream and Midstream operations, including renewables.

Space provides coverage of satellites at both launch and in orbit.
Nuclear provides coverage of nuclear power projects.

Coverage for UK and international liability business including Employers, Public, Products 
and Environmental Liability across a range of territories

The Specialty portfolio includes a diverse range of business lines. However, the portfolio is exposed to large losses on individual 
risks, for example due to the loss of marine vessels or offshore oil platforms. The Employers’ Liability (EL) and Public Liability (PL) 
portfolios are exposed to large losses resulting from bodily injury claims, and the risk of latent claims arising from risks that were 
not envisaged at the time of writing the policy. Outwards reinsurance is purchased to mitigate this large loss risk.

* Classes of business not underwritten by Ki

(5)  Ambridge Specialty 

Ambridge Casualty

Casualty treaty reinsurance. North American portfolio, covering a range of classes 
including general liability, umbrella, professional liability, personal accident, auto liability, 
environmental liability, medical malpractice and workers compensation. Target client 
focus is broad and includes but is not limited to captives, Risk Retention Groups, 
regional, super-regional and nationwide carriers.

The Ambridge portfolio is well-diversified but is exposed to the risk of catastrophe claims and individual large losses. A downturn 
in the US economy could also lead to increased claims activity.

(6)  Ambridge Transactional
Ambridge is a specialised managing general underwriter of complex risks, whose core products are Transactional Insurance, 
Complex Management Liability Insurance and Intellectual Property Insurance.

(7)  Casualty Treaty

Casualty Treaty

Casualty and accident treaty reinsurance. Worldwide portfolio, writing predominantly 
non-proportional reinsurance (including retrocession) covering all the principal casualty 
classes as well as Personal Accident and other accident classes. These include Property 
Terror, Products Recall, Credit/Bond/Surety, Political Risks and Contingency.

The Casualty Treaty business is exposed to man-made catastrophe claims such as terrorism, increased claim activity in the event 
of an economic downturn and the potential for latent claims which were not foreseen at the time the policies were underwritten.  
This division contains the longest tailed liabilities the Group holds, i.e. there can be a significant delay between the loss event and final 
settlement of a claim. This delay can result in the final settlement being subject to significant claims inflation.

(8)  Property Treaty

Property Treaty*

* Classes of business not underwritten by Ki

Catastrophe excess of loss, risk excess of loss reinsurance and retrocession.

The key exposures for Property Treaty are US windstorms and Californian earthquakes. Property Treaty also has exposures 
to Japanese earthquakes and European windstorms.

(9)  Ambridge Re 

Ambridge Re

Property and casualty treaty reinsurance and retrocession business.

The Ambridge portfolio is well-diversified but is exposed to the risk of catastrophe claims and individual large losses. A downturn 
in the US economy could also lead to increased claims activity.

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financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

(iv) Aggregate exposure management
The Group closely monitors aggregation of exposure to natural catastrophe events against agreed risk appetites using stochastic 
catastrophe modelling tools, along with knowledge of the business, historical loss information, and geographical accumulations. 
Climate change impacts natural catastrophe events and Brit’s approach to climate change is discussed in section 4.7.1. Analysis and 
monitoring also measures the effectiveness of the Group’s reinsurance programmes. 

The Group’s catastrophe risk tolerance is reviewed and set by the Boards on an annual basis. The last review of catastrophe risk 
tolerances was in March 2022.

Overall, the Group, for major catastrophe events (as measured by Worldwide All Perils net, 1-in-5, 1-in-30 and 1-in-250 Aggregate 
Exceedance Probability (AEP)) has tolerances for each return period expressed as a percentage of the Brit Limited Group net 
tangible assets. 

Stress and scenario tests are also run, such as Lloyd’s and internally developed Realistic Disaster Scenarios (RDSs). Below are the 
key RDS losses to the Group for all classes combined (unaudited):

Gulf of Mexico windstorm
Florida Miami windstorm
US North East windstorm
San Francisco earthquake
Japan earthquake
Japan windstorm
European windstorm

 Estimated 
Industry loss

$m

111,000
131,000
81,000
80,000
60,488
12,854
25,487

Modelled 
Group loss at 
1 October 2022
Gross
$m

1,144
1,027
1,124
1,714
347
108
94

Modelled 
Group loss at 
1 October 2021
Gross
$m

1,072
1,190
1,103
1,581
326
58
98

Net
$m

300
217
281
528
213
68
66

Net
$m

216
170
142
415
190
35
63

Actual results may differ materially from the losses above given the significant uncertainties within model assumptions, techniques 
and simulations applied to calculate these event loss estimates. There could also be non-modelled losses which result in actual losses 
exceeding these figures. Moreover, the portfolio of insured risks changes dynamically over time.

(v)  Sensitivity to changes in net claims ratio
The Group profit/loss on ordinary activities before taxation is sensitive to an independent 1% change in the net claims ratio 
(excluding the effect of foreign exchange on non-monetary items) for each segment of business as follows:

Core Underwriting

Other Underwriting
Ki

Total

Impact on profit of 1% change in claims ratio

$m

22.8
20.5
15.1

58.4

year ended 
2022
%

39.1
35.1
25.8

100.0

$m

15.6
13.4
10.0

39.0

year ended 
2021
%

40.0
34.2
25.8

100.0

Subject to taxation, the impact on shareholders’ equity would be the same as that on profit following a change in the net claims ratio.

100 

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financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

4.1.2   Reinsurance
The Group purchases reinsurance to manage its exposure to individual risks and aggregation of risks arising from individual large 
claims and catastrophe events. This allows the Group to mitigate exposure to insurance losses, reduce volatility of reported results 
and protect capital. 

Proportional quota share reinsurance is purchased to provide protection against claims arising either from individual large claims 
or aggregation of losses. Quota share reinsurance is also used to manage the Group’s net exposure to classes of business where 
the Group’s risk appetite is lower than the efficient operating scale of the class of business on a gross of reinsurance basis. These 
placements are reviewed on the basis of market conditions. 

The Group also has in place a comprehensive programme of excess of loss reinsurances to protect itself from severe size 
or frequency of losses:

•  Facultative reinsurance is used to reduce risk relating to individual contracts. The amount of cover bought varies by class 
of business. Facultative reinsurance is also used as a tool to manage the net line size on individual risks to within tolerance. 

•  Risk excess of loss reinsurance is used to protect a range of individual inwards contracts which could give rise to individual 

large claims. The optimal net retention per risk is assessed for each class of business given the Group’s risk appetite during the 
business planning exercise. 

•  Aggregate catastrophe excess of loss covers are in place to protect against combined property claims from multiple policies 
resulting from catastrophe events. This is supplemented by specific covers for peril regions, catastrophe swaps, catastrophe 
bonds and industry loss warranties where they are a cost-efficient means to ensure that the Group remains within its 
catastrophe risk appetite.

In December 2020 Brit issued a catastrophe bond which provides $300m of reinsurance protection to Syndicate 2987. The bond has 
a four-year term and covers losses from US named windstorms and US earthquakes. The bond was issued in the UK via a protected 
cell of Sussex Capital that is not consolidated by the Group, and which has entered into a reinsurance contract with Syndicate 2987.

Given the fundamental importance of reinsurance protection to the Group’s risk management, the Group has in place internal 
controls and processes to ensure that the reinsurance arrangements provide appropriate protection of capital and maintain our 
ability to meet policyholder obligations. The Outwards Reinsurance Committee oversees the purchase of reinsurance. 

The Group remains exposed to a number of risks relating to its reinsurance programme:

• 

It is possible for extremely severe losses to exhaust the reinsurance purchased. Any losses exceeding the reinsurance protection 
would be borne by the Group. 

•  Some parts of the programme have limited reinstatements which limit the amount that may be recovered from second 

or subsequent claims. If the entirety of the cover is exhausted, it may not be possible to purchase additional reinsurance 
at a reasonable price.

•  A dispute may arise with a reinsurer which may mean the recoveries received are lower than anticipated.

•  Basis risk on reinsurance which responds to something other than Brit’s Ultimate Net Loss.

These risks are managed through a combination of techniques and controls including risk aggregation management, capital modelling 
and internal actuarial review of outward reinsurance costs. The counterparty risk in relation to reinsurance purchased is managed 
by the Credit Committee. This is further discussed in the Credit risk section below.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

4.1.3   Reserving risk
Reserving risk arises as the actual cost of losses for policyholder obligations incurred before 31 December 2022 from the 
established reserves due to inaccurate assumptions or unforeseen circumstances. This is a key risk for the Group as the reserves 
for unpaid losses represent the largest component of the Group’s liabilities and are inherently uncertain. The BSL Reserving 
Committee is responsible for the management of Syndicate 2987 and 2988’s reserving risk, and the Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) 
Limited Management Committee performs a similar function for Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited. The Ki Reserving Committee 
is responsible for managing Syndicate 1618’s reserving risk.

The Group has a rigorous process for establishing reserves for insurance claim liabilities and a number of controls are used 
to mitigate reserving risk. The reserving process starts with controls over claims data which ensure complete and accurate 
recording of all paid and notified claims. Claims adjusters validate policy terms and conditions, adjust claims and investigate 
suspicious or disputed claims in accordance with the Group’s claims policy. Case reserves are set for notified claims using the 
experience of specialist claims adjusters, underwriters and external experts where necessary. 

Whilst the case reserve is expected to be sufficient to meet the claims amount when it is settled, incurred but not reported (IBNR) 
claims require additional reserves. This is particularly the case for the longest tailed classes of business where the final settlement 
can occur several years after the claim occurred. Actuarial triangulation techniques are employed by the Group’s experienced 
actuaries to establish the IBNR reserve. These techniques project IBNR reserves based on historical development of paid and 
incurred claims by underwriting year. For the most uncertain claims, the triangulation techniques are supplemented by additional 
methods to ensure the established reserve is appropriate. The actuarial team work closely with other business functions such 
as underwriting, claims and risk aggregation management to ensure that they have a full understanding of the emerging claims 
experience across the Group. Further details on the actuarial methods used can be found in Note 22. Inflation is considered as part 
of the reserve setting process.

The Group’s reserving policy sets out the approach to estimating claims provisions and is designed to produce accurate and reliable 
estimates that are consistent over time and across classes of business. The actuarial best estimate set out in the policy is subject 
to Reserving Committees and Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited Management Committee sign-off as part of the formal governance 
arrangements for the Group. The estimate agreed by the committees is used as a basis for the consolidated financial statements. 
A management risk margin is also applied over and above the actuarial best estimate to allow for the inherent uncertainty within the 
best estimate reserve position and wider inherent uncertainty across the economic and insurance environment. Finally, the reserves 
in the financial statements are presented to the Audit Committee for recommendation to the BSL Board who are responsible for the 
final sign-off.  

The reserves can be more or less than is required to meet the claims arising from earned business. The level of uncertainty varies 
significantly between the classes written by the Group but typically is highest for those classes where there are significant delays 
in the settlement of the final claim amount. More specifically, the key areas of uncertainty within the Group’s reserves are considered 
to be claims from the long-tailed direct and long-tailed reinsurance classes. The issues contributing to this heightened uncertainty 
are common to all entities which write such business. Further details on the reserve profile and claims development tables can be 
found in Note 22.

4.2  

Investment risk management

Introduction

4.2.1  
This section describes the Group’s approach to managing its investment risk, from both a quantitative and a qualitative perspective. 
Investment risk includes market risk (which is covered in section 4.3), investment credit risk (which is covered in section 4.4) and 
liquidity risk (which is covered in section 4.5).

102 

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4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Investment governance framework

4.2.2  
Investment risk is managed in line with the elements of the Risk Management Framework (RMF) – identification, measurement and 
management. The Board has overall responsibility for determining the investment strategy, including defining the risk tolerance. This 
is achieved through investment policies and guidelines, which reflect the risk appetite and the business strategy of the Group and 
individual entities within the Group. 

The BSL Investment Committee and the Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited Management Committee have been mandated 
to review, advise and make recommendations to the respective Boards on investment strategy with a view to optimising investment 
performance. The investment strategy is executed through outsourced investment management agreements, which is in line with 
prevailing regulations, with Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Limited (HWIC) and a range of other third-party investment managers. 

The Risk Oversight Committee ensures that the investment risk is managed within the framework and also reports to the Board. 
An Investment Operations Committee oversees the operational risk that is relevant to the investment management function.

Information is provided at least quarterly covering portfolio composition, performance, forecasting and the results of stress and 
scenario tests. Any operational issues and breaches to the risk appetite framework are reported to the Risk Oversight Committee 
and the Board.

4.2.3   Risk tolerance 
Investment risk tolerances are set by the Board, defining the appetite to investments, solvency risk, concentration risk, credit 
quality, currency risk and liquidity risk. The appetite to these elements of investment risk is derived from the overall risk appetite 
and business strategy and reflects a number of factors, including the current and expected economic climate, capital management 
strategy, liquidity needs and asset liability matching (ALM) policy. The investment risk tolerance helps determine the strategic 
asset allocation.

Risk metrics are monitored and reported on regularly, to ensure that performance is within the Board-approved levels and limits 
continue to remain appropriate, within the governance framework highlighted above.

4.2.4   Solvency matching
Assets are considered by both currency and duration profile in relation to the liabilities thereby managing the impact of foreign 
exchange and interest rate risk on the solvency position.

Under this strategy, the total assets of each underwriting entity within the Group are sought to be held in proportion to the 
currencies of that entity’s technical provisions. For each Group underwriting entity, a solvency matched benchmark is calculated. 
This benchmark is the cash flow profile for investments which would minimise the sensitivity of the Group’s solvency position 
to changes in interest and exchange rates. The Group seeks to implement this through the use of cash, investments and foreign 
exchange forward contracts in the respective currencies. The investment guidelines for each entity stipulate duration limits and the 
positioning and sensitivity for both the asset and solvency position is reported quarterly.

Investment management

4.2.5  
The investment management strategy is delivered, at the entity level, through outsourced Investment Management Agreements 
(IMAs) with HWIC and a range of other third-party investment managers. The IMAs prescribe the investment parameters within which 
HWIC are permitted to make asset allocation decisions on behalf of the respective entities.

Each of the Group’s investing entities is governed by separate investment policies; these detail the parameters, roles and 
responsibilities relating to the management of each entity’s investment portfolio.

4.3  

Market risk

Introduction

4.3.1  
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market 
prices. Market risk comprises three types of risk: interest rate risk, currency risk and other price risk. Credit risk on financial 
investments and cash is covered in the credit risk section.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

4.3.2  

Interest rate risk

Introduction
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value and/or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes 
in interest rates. The Group is exposed to interest rate risk through its investment portfolio, borrowings and cash and cash 
equivalents. The sensitivity of the price of these financial exposures is indicated by their respective durations. This is defined as  
the modified duration which is the change in the price of the security subject to a 100 basis points parallel shift in interest rates.  
The greater the duration of a security, the greater the possible price volatility.

The banded durations of the Group’s financial investments and cash and cash equivalents (including those reclassified as ‘held for 
sale’) sensitive to interest rate risk are shown in the table below:

Duration

At 31 December 2022
Cash and cash equivalents
Financial investments

At 31 December 2021
Cash and cash equivalents
Financial investments

1 year or less
$m

1 to 3 years
$m

3 to 5 years
$m

Over 5 years
$m

1,079.4
986.9

2,066.3

1,510.3
1,669.2

3,179.5

–
2,261.4

2,261.4

–
606.3

606.3

–
752.1

752.1

–
994.1

994.1

–
368.0

368.0

–
265.4

265.4

Equities
$m

–
544.0

544.0

–
480.0

480.0

Total
$m

1,079.4
4,912.4

5,991.8

1,510.3
4,015.0

5,525.3

The duration of the investment portfolio is set within an allowable range relative to the targeted duration and monitored 
on a quarterly basis. 

As the claims liabilities are measured on an undiscounted basis, the reported liabilities are not sensitive to changes in interest rates. 
Therefore, there is a balance to be struck between targeting a longer duration to protect the solvency position against movements 
in interest rates, and targeting a shorter duration that will reduce the possible volatility around the income statement. 

Sensitivity to changes in investment yields
The sensitivity of the profit to the changes in investment yields is set out in the table below. The analysis is based on the information 
at 31 December 2022.

Impact on profit before tax

Increase
25 basis points
50 basis points
100 basis points
Decrease
25 basis points
50 basis points
100 basis points

2022 
$m

(25.3)
(50.7)
(101.4)

25.3 
50.7 
101.4 

2021 
$m

(21.3)
(42.5)
(85.1)

21.3
42.5
85.1

Analysis of larger movements in yield is not shown above as the relationship between profit and investment yields is linear in respect 
of Brit’s portfolio. Subject to taxation, the effect on shareholders’ equity would be the same as the effect on profit.

104 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

4.3.3   Currency risk

Introduction
Currency risk is the risk that movements in exchange rates impact the financial performance or solvency position of the Group.

The Group matches assets to liabilities for each of the main currencies. Group capital is held in proportion to the liabilities, 
to minimise the impact on solvency and distributable earnings from movements in exchange rates. The split of assets and liabilities 
for each of the Group’s main currencies, converted to US dollars, is set out in the tables below:

At 31 December 2022
Total assets
Total liabilities

Net assets/(liabilities) excluding the effect 

of currency derivatives

Adjustment for foreign exchange derivatives

Adjusted net assets

At 31 December 2021
Total assets
Total liabilities

Net assets/(liabilities) excluding the effect 

of currency derivatives

Adjustment for foreign exchange derivatives

Adjusted net assets

USD
$m

8,516.1
6,947.9

1,568.2

230.9

1,799.1

GBP £
 Conv.
$m

1,198.9
1,156.8

42.1

138.9

181.0

7,607.6 
6,045.5 

1,287.0
1,198.7

1,562.1

225.9

1,788.0

88.3

84.0

172.3

CAD $
Conv.
$m

879.0
397.2

481.8

(399.2)

82.6

855.7
372.2

483.5

(382.7)

100.8

EUR €
Conv.
$m

490.8
403.6

87.2

(11.9)

75.3

392.4
345.2

47.2

13.6

60.8

AUD $
Conv.
$m

Total
Conv. 
$m

83.4
119.9

11,168.2
9,025.4

(36.5)

2,142.8

41.3

4.8

0.0

2,142.8

76.2
110.7

10,218.9 
8,072.3 

(34.5)

2,146.6

59.2

24.7

–

2,146.6

The non-US dollar denominated net assets of the Group may lead to profits or losses (depending on the mix relative to the liabilities), 
should the US dollar vary relative to these currencies. 

Foreign currency forward contracts may be used to achieve the desired exposure to each currency. From time to time the Group 
may also choose to utilise foreign currency derivatives to manage the risk of reported losses due to changes in foreign exchange 
rates. The details of all foreign currency derivative contracts entered into are given in Note 24.

As a result of the accounting treatment for non-monetary items, the Group may also experience volatility in its income statement 
due to fluctuations in exchange rates. The degree to which derivatives are used is dependent on the prevailing costs versus the 
perceived benefit to shareholder value from reducing the chance of a reported loss due to changes in foreign exchange rates.

In accordance with IFRS, non-monetary items are recorded at original transaction rates and are not revalued at the reporting date. 
These items include unearned premiums, deferred acquisition costs and reinsurers’ share of unearned premiums. This means these 
amounts in the statement of financial position are carried at a different exchange rate to the remaining assets and liabilities, with the 
resulting exchange differences that are created being recognised in the income statement. The Group considers this to be a timing 
issue which can cause volatility in the income statement.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Sensitivity to changes in foreign exchange rates
The table below gives an indication of the impact on profit of a percentage movement in the relative strength of the US dollar 
against the value of Sterling, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar and Euro simultaneously, after taking into consideration the effect 
of hedged positions and items recorded as non-monetary assets and liabilities under IFRS. The analysis is based on the information 
at 31 December 2022.

Impact on profit before tax

US dollar weakens
10% against other currencies
20% against other currencies
US dollar strengthens
10% against other currencies
20% against other currencies

2022 
$m

53.0
106.0

(53.0)
(106.0)

2021
$m

50.3
100.6

(50.3)
(100.6)

Subject to taxation, the effect on shareholders’ equity would be the same as the effect on profit.

 Other price risk

4.3.4 
Introduction
This is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices 
(other than those arising from interest rate risk or currency risk), whether those changes are caused by factors specific to the 
individual financial instrument or its issuer, or factors affecting all similar financial instruments traded in the market.

Financial assets and derivatives that are recognised at their fair value are susceptible to losses due to adverse changes in their 
prices. This is known as price risk.

Listed investments are recognised in the financial statements at quoted bid price. If the market for the investment is not considered 
to be active, then the Group establishes fair valuation techniques. This includes using recent arm’s-length transactions, reference 
to current fair value of other similar investments, discounted cash flow models and other valuation techniques that are commonly 
used by market participants.

The prices of fixed and floating rate income securities are predominantly impacted by currency, interest rate and credit risks. Credit 
risk on investments is discussed in the following section of this Note.

Sensitivity to changes in other price risk
The sensitivity of the profit to the changes in the prices of equity is set out in the table below. The analysis is based on the 
information as at 31 December 2022.

Impact on profit before tax

Increase in fair value
10% 
20% 
30% 
Decrease in fair value
10% 
20% 
30% 

Subject to taxation, the effect on shareholders’ equity would be the same as the effect on profit.

106 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

2022 
$m

93.2 
186.5 
279.7 

(93.2)
(186.5)
(279.7)

2021
$m

83.7
167.4
251.0

(83.7)
(167.4)
(251.0)

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Credit risk

4.4  
This is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss for the other party by failing to discharge 
an obligation in a timely manner. The main sources of credit risk relate to:

•  Reinsurers: through the failure to pay valid claims against a reinsurance contract held by the Group;

•  Brokers and coverholders: where counterparties fail to pass on premiums or claims collected or paid on behalf of the Group;

• 

Investments: through the issuer default of all or part of the value of a financial instrument or the market value of that 
instrument; and 

•  Cash and cash equivalents: through the default of the banks holding the cash and cash equivalents.

The insurance and non-insurance related counterparty credit risks are managed separately by the Group.

Investment credit risk

4.4.1  
Investment credit risk management process 
The Group Board has overall responsibility for investment credit risk. The investment guidelines and investment policy set out clear 
limits and controls around the level of investment credit risk. The Group has established concentration guidelines that restrict 
the exposure to any individual counterparty. The investment guidelines further limit the type, credit quality and maturity profile 
of both the Group’s cash and investments. In addition, the investment risk framework further limits potential exposure to credit risk 
through aggregate investment risk limits. The Brit Syndicates Limited Investment Committee chaired by Simon Lee, Chairman of Brit 
Syndicates Limited, is responsible for the immediate oversight of the Group’s UK investments and the Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) 
Limited Board is responsible for the immediate oversight of the Group’s Bermuda investments. Ultimately, both are responsible to the 
Brit Limited Board.

Investment credit risk profile 
The summary of the investment credit risk exposures for the Group is set out in the tables below:

At 31 December 2022
Financial investments
Derivative contracts
Cash and cash equivalents1

At 31 December 2021
Financial investments
Derivative contracts
Cash and cash equivalents

AAA
$m

AA
$m

A
$m

P-1
$m

P-2
$m

2,632.2
–
281.6

2,913.8

2,163.3
–
703.9

2,867.2

125.0
–
316.8

441.8

183.2
–
382.4

565.6

499.6
–
99.5

599.1

379.7
–
236.1

615.8

–
–
334.4

334.4

–
–
130.0

130.0

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

BBB and
 below
$m

592.8
–
47.1

639.9

372.1
–
57.9

430.0

Equities
$m

Not rated
$m

Total
$m

544.0
–
–

544.0

480.0
–
–

480.0

518.8
10.8
–

4,912.4
10.8
1,079.4

529.6

6,002.6

436.7
15.1
–

451.8

4,015.0
15.1
1,510.3

5,540.4

1. ‘Cash and cash equivalents’ per the above tables also includes those cash and cash equivalents reclassified as ‘held for sale’.

The table above gives an indication of the level of credit worthiness of assets that are most exposed to credit risk. The ratings are 
mainly sourced from Standard & Poor’s and where these are not available an equivalent rating agency. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Insurance credit risk

4.4.2  
Insurance credit risk management process
The Credit Committee chaired by the Group Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the management of credit risk arising from 
insurance activities. 

Reinsurer credit risk is managed by transacting only with reinsurance counterparties that satisfy a minimum level of financial 
strength or provide appropriate levels of collateral and have been approved for use by the Credit Committee. The reinsurer security 
list, which sets out the list of approved reinsurance counterparties, is reviewed at least annually and following any significant change 
in risk profile, which includes any changes to reinsurers' financial ratings. Credit risk appetite limits are set for reinsurance entities 
and groups to limit accumulations of risk. These positions are monitored quarterly against current balance sheet exposures and 
in relation to a number of extreme loss scenarios.

Reinsurance aged debt is monitored and managed against the management risk appetite limits set by the Credit Committee. A bad 
debt provision is held against all non-rated reinsurers or any reinsurer where there is deemed to be a specific risk of non-payment.

Any breaches of credit risk tolerance and/or appetite are reported to the Risk Oversight Committee and the Board at least quarterly.

Insurance credit risk profile 
The summary of the insurance credit risk exposures for the Group is set out in the tables below:

At 31 December 2022
Reinsurance assets
Insurance receivables

At 31 December 2021
Reinsurance assets
Insurance receivables

AAA
$m

10.8
–

10.8

8.9
–

8.9

AA
$m

A
$m

Collateral
 $m

1,062.4
–

1,062.4

895.3
–

895.3

763.3
–

763.3

781.7
–

781.7

213.0
–

213.0

189.4
–

189.4

Not 
rated
$m

20.8
1,637.8

1,658.6

19.1
1,347.4

1,366.5

Total
$m

2,070.3
1,637.8

3,708.1

1,894.4
1,347.4

3,241.8

Insurance credit risk arises primarily from reinsurers (whereby reinsurers fail to pay recoveries due to the Group in a timely 
manner) and brokers and coverholders (whereby intermediaries fail to pass on premiums due to the Group in a timely manner).

As at 31 December 2022, collateral of $213.0m (2021: $189.4m) had been drawn against reinsurance assets.

108 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

Impairment 
provision against 
reinsurance assets 
$m

Impairment 
provision against 
insurance 
receivables
$m

0.4
0.1
–

0.5

0.5
–
(0.1)

0.4

2022 
$m

38.5
6.2
5.6 
0.4 
21.6 

72.3

1.0 
7.4
0.1

8.5

1.1 
0.3 
(0.4)

1.0 

2021
$m

(324.9)
12.5 
49.4 
1.0 
5.1 

(256.9)

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

The following table shows movements in impairment provisions during the year:

2022
Opening provision at 1 January 
Strengthening for the year
Net foreign exchange differences

Closing provision at 31 December 

2021
Opening provision at 1 January 
Strengthening for the year
Net foreign exchange differences

Closing provision at 31 December 

The following table shows the amount of insurance receivables past due but not impaired at the end of the year:

0-3 months past due*
4-6 months past due
7-9 months past due
10-12 months past due
More than 12 months past due

* As at 31/12/2021, this included $344.1m of payable balances in respect of loss portfolio reinsurance. No balance in respect of loss portfolio reinsurance was payable at 31/12/2022.

Liquidity risk

4.5  
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group may encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities that are 
settled by delivering cash or another financial asset. The predominant liquidity risk the Group faces is the daily calls on its available 
cash resources in respect of claims arising from insurance contracts.

The Group monitors the levels of cash and cash equivalents on a daily basis, ensuring adequate liquidity to meet the expected cash 
flow requirements due over the short-term. 

The Group also limits the amount of investment in illiquid securities in line with the liquidity policy set by the Boards. This involves 
ensuring sufficient liquidity to withstand claim scenarios at the extreme end of business plan projections, by reference to modelled 
Realistic Disaster Scenarios. Contingent liquidity also exists in the form of a Group revolving credit facility.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

109

 
 
 
financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

The tables below present the fair value of monetary assets and the undiscounted value of monetary liabilities of the Group into 
their relevant maturing groups based on the remaining period at the end of the year to their contractual maturities or expected 
repayment dates. The amounts below cash and cash equivalents that have been reclassified to ‘Assets held for sale’. Borrowings are 
stated at their nominal value at maturity.

Statement of
 financial position
$m

2,487.0
4,912.4
10.8
1,637.8
1,079.4

10,127.4

Statement of
 financial position
$m

7,779.0
10.1
172.4
92.7
917.1

8,971.3

Statement of
 financial position
$m

2,291.2
4,015.0
15.1
1,347.4
1,510.3

9,179.0

Statement of
 financial position
$m

6,532.9
12.5
227.9
95.8
1,184.1

8,053.2

31 December 2022

Assets
Reinsurance assets
Financial investments
Derivative contracts
Insurance receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

31 December 2022

Liabilities
Insurance contract liabilities
Derivative contracts
Borrowings
Other financial liabilities
Insurance and other payables

31 December 2021

Assets
Reinsurance assets
Financial investments
Derivative contracts
Insurance receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

31 December 2021

Liabilities
Insurance contract liabilities
Derivative contracts
Borrowings
Other financial liabilities
Insurance and other payables

110 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

<1 year
$m

1 to 3 years
$m

3 to 5 years
$m

>5 years
$m 

Equities
$m

Total
$m

Fair values

975.7
986.9
10.0
1,637.8
1,079.4

4,689.8

792.0
2,261.4
–
–
–

3,053.4

351.2
752.1
0.8
–
–

1,104.1

368.1
368.0
–
–
–

736.1

–
544.0
–
–
–

544.0

2,487.0
4,912.4
10.8
1,637.8
1,079.4

10,127.4

<1 year
$m

1 to 3 years
$m

3 to 5 years
$m

>5 years
$m 

Equities
$m

Total
$m

Undiscounted values

3,409.4
10.1
–
–
885.5

4,305.0

1,932.1
–
10.0
–
11.1

1,953.2

1,007.7
–
–
–
11.2

1,018.9

1,429.8
–
162.4
–
13.5

1,605.7

–
–
–
92.7
–

92.7

7,779.0
10.1
172.4
92.7
921.3

8,975.5

<1 year
$m

1 to 3 years
$m

3 to 5 years
$m

>5 years
$m 

Equities
$m

Total
$m

Fair values

939.0
1,669.2
13.9
1,347.4
1,510.3

5,479.8

624.1
606.3
–
–
–

339.4
994.1
1.2
–
–

1,230.4

1,334.7

388.7
265.4
–
–
–

654.1

–
480.0
–
–
–

480.0

2,291.2
4,015.0
15.1
1,347.4
1,510.3

9,179.0

<1 year
$m

1 to 3 years
$m

3 to 5 years
$m

>5 years
$m 

Equities
$m

Total
$m

Undiscounted values

2,808.6
12.5
–
–
1,139.1

3,960.2

1,685.3
–
–
–
16.2

1,701.5

841.4
–
45.0
–
13.6

900.0

1,197.6
–
182.9
–
21.4

1,401.9

–
–
–
95.8
–

95.8

6,532.9
12.5
227.9
95.8
1,190.3

8,059.4

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Operational risk

4.6  
Operational risk is the potential for loss arising from the failure of people, process or technology or the impact of external events. 
The nature of operational risk means that it is dispersed across all functional areas of Brit. Operational risk exposures are managed 
through a consistent set of management processes that drive risk identification, assessment, control and monitoring.

The BSL Operations Committee, chaired by the Group Chief Operating Officer, is a key governance committee reporting to the 
Executive Committee. The BSL Operations Committee is responsible for managing operational risk in line with the operational 
risk policy and the risk tolerance and management appetite limits set by the BSL Board and management respectively. Each 
individual risk committee is provided with relevant operational risk updates and these committees include operational risk owners 
within executive management who actively manage operational risk within their respective areas (such as Underwriting, Claims, 
Investments and Finance).

An operational risk management framework is in place to ensure an appropriate standard approach is taken to managing operational 
risk across the Group. The key elements of this framework are:

•  Allocation of responsibility for the identification and assessment of operational risk. Standard tools are used to facilitate 

these assessments;

•  Definition of standard elements of sound operating controls that are expected to be in place to address all identified operational risks;

•  A process that integrates with Brit’s internal model to support the setting and monitoring of operational risk appetite and tolerances;

•  Governance, reporting and escalation for operational risk;

• 

Infrastructure supporting the operational risk management framework; and

•  Operational risk management training and awareness.

A conduct risk framework is in place across the Group to ensure Brit’s products and services continue to meet the needs 
of our customers.

Emerging risks

4.7 
Brit undertakes a formal emerging risk review annually with the results reported to the Risk Oversight Committee and included 
in the Own Risk & Solvency Assessment (ORSA) report and Commercial Insurer’s Solvency Self-Assessment (CISSA) reports of the 
underwriting entities. The review is an important part of the risk identification aspect of the RMF and includes horizon scanning of the 
internal and external risk environment to identify potential new or developing risks to Brit. These risks can then be included in the risk 
register and managed appropriately as required. 

The emerging risk review has previously identified risks such as the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU (Brexit) and cyber risk. 
These risks have been managed throughout their development and are now monitored as part of the business-as-usual risk 
management process. 

4.7.1   Climate Change
Climate change has been recognised as an emerging risk in the ORSA since 2014 and has been an area of focus since having been 
identified as a high priority by Brit’s 2018 emerging risks analysis. Its potential impact on the insurance industry is an area of focus 
for the wider insurance market and its regulators. 

The financial risks to insurers may include the potential for increased frequency and severity of weather-related natural 
catastrophes, for example, hurricanes and wildfires. In line with recent years, 2022 experienced material losses from catastrophe 
activity globally, with Hurricane Ian being the most material event to Brit.

The three main areas of risk identified for Brit are natural catastrophes, liability claims and investment losses. Scenario analysis has 
been performed on all three risk types to identify the most material risk types as well as the most exposed segments within each risk 
as described below.

Climate scenario analysis
Climate scenario analysis is key to understanding the potential impact of climate-related risks on Brit. Analysis performed to date 
has identified physical risks arising from natural catastrophes as having the highest potential for losses therefore this is an area 
of greater focus.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

PRA stress tests
Syndicate 2987 (Brit’s largest syndicate) participated in the PRA Climate Change Biennial Exploratory Stress Test (“CBES”) exercise 
in 2021-22. The exercise was designed by the PRA to assess the impact of climate change on physical and asset risks over a 30 year 
time horizon in three policy action scenarios as described below. Key assumptions were also provided by the PRA:

•  Early action: Global carbon dioxide emissions are reduced to net-zero by around 2050 and global warming (relative to pre-
industrial levels) is successfully limited to 1.8°C by the end of the scenario, falling to around 1.5°C by the end of century.

•  Late action: Global warming is limited to 1.8°C by the end of the scenario (2050) relative to pre-industrial levels, but then remains 

around this level at the end of the century.

•  No action: The absence of transition policies in this scenario leads to a growing concentration of greenhouse gas emissions in the 
atmosphere and, as a result, global temperature levels continue to increase, reaching 3.3°C higher relative to pre-industrial levels 
by the end of the scenario.

It also required general insurance participants to consider the impact of seven PRA designed hypothetical litigation risk scenarios 
on liability classes as well as articulations of Brit’s current and future risk management actions.

Following the CBES exercise, Brit has incorporated the following risk management initiatives:

•  Physical risk: scenario analysis helped identify the region-perils where climate change could have a big impact (hurricanes and 

wildfires) and quantify the potential long-term impact on those perils. These considerations have been fed into developing Brit’s future 
catastrophe strategy which includes how much exposure Brit has an appetite to underwrite and how these exposures are managed. 
Furthermore, Brit’s internal assessment of physical risk is being enhanced, for example by licensing a third party wildfire model. 
•  Asset risk: Industries and asset types that could be most impacted were identified through CBES. As a result, Brit’s exposures 
to these are being monitored. ESG is now explicitly considered for any new investment decisions, which helps control exposure 
to industries exposed to transition risk. 

•  Litigation risk: The PRA scenarios provided a foundation for more detailed analysis. Liability classes that may have exposure under 

various scenarios have been identified. We continue to monitor any trends in litigation as well as engage with relevant Underwriters and 
Legal. Ongoing monitoring of the number of climate change related litigation notifications was also introduced following the exercise.

Internal scenario analysis
In addition to the above, Brit performs climate change related scenario analysis in each entity’s ORSA. The 2022 scenario considered 
the impact of a repeat of the 2017 US natural catastrophe events uplifted to reflect the potential increase in severity due to climate 
change as well as Financial Institution liability losses. Investment losses from energy related assets were also considered. 

Building on CBES, a more detailed climate change related litigation risk scenario analysis was performed in 2022. This considered the 
potential gross and net impact of climate change related litigation under three hypothetical scenarios:

•  Failure to consider climate change: Insureds sued for not considering climate change for example in strategic decisions (D&O) 

or advice given (Professional Indemnity)

•  Failure to appropriately disclose/greenwashing: Insureds found to be misleading investors or the public either by understating 

disclosures or misrepresenting products as environmentally friendly

•  Directly contributing to Climate Change: Insured sued for their contribution to climate change (e.g. carbon emissions).

Climate risk management

Natural catastrophe risk
Relates to the physical risks of increased frequency and severity of weather-related natural catastrophes. This could result 
in additional claims and could impact Brit in the short to medium-term. 

Natural Catastrophe risk is assessed using an external vendor model (AIR) for the most material and established perils. Using external 
vendor models is a market practice for most general insurance firms as they are built by scientists and specialists. The modelling 
is supplemented using the Brit View of Risk where there is uncertainty or reliable vendor models do not exist. Scenario analysis performed 
to date has identified North American Windstorms and Wildfires as being the perils that could be most exposed to climate change. 

The natural catastrophe modelling is leveraged in pricing as well as outwards reinsurance purchasing decisions. 

We continuously monitor scientific studies, regularly review the completeness of existing models and the application of the Brit 
view of risk. Brit’s exposure to natural catastrophe risks at an overall and peril-region level at key return periods is monitored 
on an ongoing basis by the Risk Management Function. Board limits are in place to ensure Brit is not over exposed to natural 
catastrophe risk. The Group’s aggregate exposure for material peril-regions can be found in Note 4.1(iv). 

112 

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notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Liability risk
Climate change could result in additional liability claims arising from litigation against Brit’s clients. The claims could arise from firms 
being held responsible for directly contributing to climate change, not taking climate change into account in business decisions 
or inadequate disclosures. Scenario analysis found that the Financial and Professional lines as well as Casualty Treaty classes could 
have exposure to climate change related liability claims.

Brit’s exposure is managed by use of limits on gross underwriting exposure, contract wording and through the purchase 
of reinsurance. The number of climate change litigation related claims notifications is also monitored to enable early identification 
of any material uptick.

Market risks
Investment losses have the potential to arise from exposure to industries contributing to climate change which could subsequently 
result in the market value of investments in these industries reducing. This transition risk could occur over the short or long term 
depending on financial markets movements. 

Brit has a diversified investment portfolio, with limits on exposure to individual issuers. An annual review of equity holdings 
is conducted which includes a review of the ESG strategy of underlying companies within Brit’s equity portfolio. Holdings of industries 
such as oil and gas, transport and utilities, are also monitored.

Overall risk management
Brit is managing the risks associated with climate change in line with the Risk Management Framework (page 34) which is reviewed 
annually. Through the use of Board tolerances and management metrics, exposure to the above risk types is managed and 
monitored. Brit’s Solvency II internal models also include an allowance for the impact of climate change. The outputs from these feed 
into business decision making. 

Regulatory requirements and guidance are monitored on an ongoing basis. Brit is compliant with PRA Supervisory Statement SS3/19 
which sets expectations for firms regarding their management of financial risks arising from climate change.

Managing climate risk will continue to be an area of Management, Risk Committee and Board focus, with a multi-disciplinary Climate 
Change Risk Working Party to consider the financial risks associated with Climate Change. 

4.7.2  Geopolitics
Geopolitical events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have the potential to cause insurance losses and disruption to financial 
markets. This may impact various subsidiary undertakings within the Group which could in turn impact the future income from those 
entities. There may also be a potential impact on the operational costs of the Group attributable to the downstream effects of high 
inflation. The Group continues to monitor developments closely.

Brit has direct exposures to the Russia-Ukraine conflict within the Terrorism, Casualty Treaty, Marine War, Contingency and Political 
and Credit Risk classes, along with potential secondary impacts on classes such as Cyber. Brit does not write Aviation business. Brit’s 
exposures are actively monitored and managed as described in the section on principal risks on page 36. Geopolitical risk events may 
also impact the global economy, as discussed in section 4.7.3 below.

4.7.3  Global economic environment
Inflation in the USA and the UK has reached 40-year highs and interest rates worldwide have risen. Recessions are expected 
in a number of advanced economies, which may impact the frequency and cost of claims, investment results, the likelihood 
of counterparty defaults and the potential for operational risk events. Brit continues to actively monitor and respond to changes 
in the economic environment.

Brit has considered the impact of the increased level of inflation and the economic downturn. Increased focus has been placed 
on ensuring Brit’s pricing models adequately address current inflationary trends. Feeding into these models is an enhanced 
framework assessing the key drivers of claim settlement costs for each class of business. Inflationary impacts were also considered 
during the year end reserving process. 

We remain cognisant of the impact of inflation on the underlying portfolio, with work being undertaken collaboratively across 
Underwriting, Actuarial, Risk and Claims to quantify the impact, mitigate the impact of inflation on profitability and to ensure it has 
been appropriately considered in our ongoing business and 2023 business plan. We continue to review the key drivers of claim 
settlement costs and frequency by class of business, which in turn will further inform any required recalibration of our pricing 
models. Our reserves continue to be set at a margin above the actuarial best estimate and incorporate our current view of social 
and economic inflation.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

113

 
 
financial statements

4  

Risk management policies (continued)

Capital management

4.8  
Brit defines management entity capital as the amount of capital that the Board of each underwriting entity determines that it should 
hold, taking into account the requirements of shareholders, regulators, policyholders, and the Boards’ solvency risk appetite. The 
capital policy is set by the entity and Group Boards. Management entity capital requirements are in excess of capital requirements 
under the Solvency II capital regime, which became effective on 1 January 2016.

The capital requirements are based on the output of the internal model which reflects the risk profile of the business. 

The capital policy requires capital to be held well in excess of regulatory minimum requirements, underpinning Brit’s financial 
strength. The policy ensures the capital adequacy of the Group as a whole, and each entity, through an efficient capital structure. 
Brit proactively responds to developments in the financial environment to ensure its capital strength is maintained while optimising 
risk adjusted returns. 

The Group’s total available capital consists of net tangible assets (after the exclusion of the deferred tax liability on intangible 
assets and non-controlling interest), subordinated debt, letters of credit, and contingent funding. This amounted to $2,053.0m 
as at 31 December 2022 (2021: $2,199.5m). This represented a surplus of $709.8m (2021: $617.9m) over the management capital 
requirements (unaudited). 

All regulatory capital requirements have been complied with during the year by the Group’s individual insurance subsidiaries. 

The Lloyd’s market is subject to the solvency and capital adequacy requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). 
Any regulatory intervention by the PRA in respect of Lloyd’s may adversely affect the Group. The PRA may impose more stringent 
requirements on Lloyd’s which may result in higher capital requirements or a restriction on trading activities for entities within 
the Group. If Lloyd’s fails to satisfy its solvency test in any year, the PRA may require Lloyd’s to cease trading and/or its members 
to cease or reduce their underwriting exposure, which may result in a material adverse effect to the Group’s reputation, financial 
condition and results of operations.

During 2022, Brit primarily underwrote through the Group’s wholly aligned Lloyd’s Syndicate 2987 and through Ki Syndicate 1618, 
which benefits from the Lloyd's credit ratings of A (Excellent) from A.M. Best, AA- (Very Strong) from Fitch and A+ (Strong) from 
Standard & Poor’s. Any downgrade in Lloyd’s financial strength ratings may have an adverse effect on the Group. 

The Group’s business plan and underwriting capacity for the Syndicate may be affected by a decrease in the value of the Group’s 
Funds at Lloyd’s or by recommendations from the Lloyd’s Franchise Board. The Group is also reliant upon the compliance of Lloyd’s 
with US regulations, including the maintenance by Lloyd’s of its trading licences and approvals in the US. 

Sussex: Governance Structure

4.9 
Sussex Capital is Brit’s collateralised reinsurance platform based in Bermuda which was launched on 1 January 2018. Sussex Capital 
Limited has two segregated accounts operating as funds available for capital investment, referred to as The Diversified Fund and 
Specialty Insurance Fund (the Funds). Through Sussex Re, it writes direct collateralised property catastrophe reinsurance and also 
provides collateralised reinsurance to Brit’s Property Treaty portfolio. 

Sussex Capital has an independent governance structure to manage its operations. This consists of a Board and three sub-
committees. The Board has overall responsibility for oversight of the business. The Valuation Committee is responsible for fund 
valuation, settling claims and setting reserves, the Investment Committee ensures investments are made in line with the Funds 
objectives, and the Management Committee oversees the day-to-day operations of the Funds. 

The risks to Brit from Sussex Capital arise from two main sources: first, a direct investment risk due to the Group’s investment 
in the Funds: secondly, operational, reputational, and strategic risks relating to managing the Funds on behalf of external investors. 
The direct investment risk is managed in the same way as the Group’s other investment risks, through oversight by the relevant 
committees. The operational, reputational, and strategic risks are managed through the governance structure in place at Sussex 
as described above. In particular, the Sussex Board has independent non-executive Directors with significant industry experience. 
The Brit Group provides support (for example, catastrophe modelling) to assist Sussex’s operations and risk management.

Ki: Governance and Risk Management Framework

4.10 
Ki is the first fully digital and algorithmically driven Lloyd's syndicate offering instant capacity, accessible anywhere, at any time. 
It started writing business from 1 January 2021, writing a mix of lines that are either already underwritten by Brit Syndicates 2987 
and 2988, or other approved nominated syndicates.

Ki is managed by BSL, with its capital backing coming from a mix of Fairfax and Blackstone. In line with Brit’s Risk Management Framework, 
risks to Ki and Syndicate 1618 are managed in the same way as Brit’s other syndicates, other than where specifically noted above.

114 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

5 

Segmental information 

This Note breaks down the operating results summarised in the income statement into the main business areas of the Group.  
It also shows how our revenue is split globally. This analysis is designed to help you understand how each segment of our business 
has performed and how we have allocated our shareholders’ capital.

For the year ended 31 December 2022, we have re-presented our reporting segments following changes to how information 
is reported to key decision-makers. The reportable segments identified were as follows: 

• 

‘Core Underwriting’ is Syndicate 2987, Brit’s share of Syndicate 2988 and Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited, with trading between 
the two syndicates eliminated. It includes both direct and reinsurance business:

•  Direct business represents the Group’s international and US business predominantly transacted with wholesale buyers 
of insurance, rather than individuals. Risks are large and usually syndicated by several underwriters by means of the 
subscription market; and 

•  Reinsurance business (essentially the insurance of insurance and reinsurance companies) and includes writing non-proportional 
cover for major events such as earthquakes or hurricanes. These insurance and reinsurance companies calculate how much risk 
they want to retain and then pass on their remaining exposure to reinsurers in return for a premium

• 

‘Other Underwriting’, includes:

•  The Group’s special purpose vehicles, net of trading with the ‘Core Underwriting’ segment; 

•  Fee income received from Ki by other group companies, less expenses incurred on Ki’s behalf; 

•  An adjustment as a result of the IFRS requirement to recognise non-monetary assets and liabilities at historic exchange rates. 

This adjustment is essentially a timing difference; and 

•  A reallocation of ‘unallocated loss adjustment expenses’ from underwriting expenses to attritional claims.

• 

• 

• 

• 

‘Distribution’ is the result of Brit’s MGAs, the Ambridge and Camargue companies, net of trading with other reportable segments.

‘Investments’ represents the Group’s investment activity, excluding that associated with the ‘Ki’ reporting segment.

'Corporate', which is made up of residual income and expenditure and foreign exchange movements not allocated to other segments. 

‘Ki’ represents the activities of the Ki Financial Holdings Limited sub-group, which underwrites business through Syndicate 1618.  
Ki commenced underwriting in 2021.

The segmental analysis also includes an analysis between ‘continuing business’ and ‘discontinued business’, thereby reconciling to the 
Consolidated Income Statement. 

The segments for the year ended 31 December 2021 have been re-presented on this basis.

The ratios set out in the segmental analysis are calculated as follows:

•  The claims ratio is calculated as claims incurred, net of reinsurance divided by earned premiums, net of reinsurance.

•  The expense ratio is calculated as acquisition costs, other insurance related expenses, gains/losses on other financial liabilities 

and other income divided by earned premiums, net of reinsurance.

•  The combined ratio is the sum of the claims ratio and the expense ratio.

These ratios are presented after the impact of gains/losses on other financial liabilities and before any adjustment for non-
controlling interests.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

115

 
 
financial statements

5 

Segmental information (continued) 

The 2022 ratio calculations contain an adjustment whereby the premium adjustment following the endorsement to the loss 
portfolio reinsurance (LPR) is added back to premium earned net of reinsurance, with an equal and opposite adjustment to net 
claims incurred:

Core 
Underwriting 

Other 
Underwriting

Distribution

$m

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
LPR adjustment

Adjusted earned premiums, net of reinsurance

Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
LPR adjustment

Adjusted claims incurred, net of reinsurance

2,283.4
(37.2)

2,246.2 

(1,425.6)
37.2

(1,388.4)

77.2
–

77.2 

(71.7)
–

(71.7)

Total Brit 
Underwriting 
(excluding Ki)

2,360.6
(37.2)

Total
All business 

Ki 

506.3
–

2,866.9
(37.2)

Total
Continuing 
business 

2,866.9
(37.2)

2,323.4 

506.3 

2,829.7 

2,829.7 

(1,497.3)
37.2

(327.7)
–

(1,825.0)
37.2

(1,825.0)
37.2

–
–

– 

–
–

– 

(1,460.1)

(327.7)

(1,787.8)

(1,787.8)

A $0.7m reserve strengthening resulting from the endorsement is included in the calculation.

The 2021 ratio calculations contain an adjustment whereby the premium paid for the loss portfolio reinsurance (LPR) is added back 
to premium earned net of reinsurance, with an equal and opposite adjustment to net claims incurred:

$m

Core 
Underwriting 

Other 
Underwriting

Distribution

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance
LPR adjustment

Adjusted earned premiums, net of reinsurance

Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
LPR adjustment

1,557.7
344.1

1,901.8 

(732.3)
(344.1)

Adjusted claims incurred, net of reinsurance

(1,076.4)

31.0
–

31.0 

(34.1)
–

(34.1)

–
–

– 

–
–

– 

Total Brit 
Underwriting 
(excluding Ki)

1,588.7
344.1

Total
All business 

Ki 

165.6
–

1,754.3
344.1

Total
Continuing 
business 

1,754.3
344.1

1,932.8 

165.6 

2,098.4 

2,098.4 

(766.4)
(344.1)

(115.2)
–

(881.6)
(344.1)

(881.6)
(344.1)

(1,110.5)

(115.2)

(1,225.7)

(1,225.7)

The benefit of a $35.0m reserve release resulting from the additional protection afforded by the contract is included 
in the calculation. 

The Directors believe that the ratios when calculated after these adjustments present a more consistent and understandable view 
of the Group’s performance. 

Information regarding the Group's reportable segments is presented below.

116 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

(a)  Income statement by segment
Year ended 31 December 2022

$m

Gross premiums 

written

Premiums written, 
net of reinsurance

Earned premiums, 
net of reinsurance
Investment return 
Return on derivative 

contracts

Gains on 

deconsolidation  
of subsidiaries
Gain on business 
combination
Other income
Losses on other 

financial liabilities

Core 
Underwriting 

Other 

Underwriting Distribution

Total Brit 
Underwriting 
(excluding Ki)

Investments 

Corporate

Total Brit 
(excluding Ki)

Ki 

Less: 
Discontinued 
operation

Total Group 
Continuing 
operations

Total 
Group

3,116.8

19.1

– 3,135.9

2,450.1

52.7

– 2,502.8

–

–

– 3,135.9

834.1 3,970.0

– 3,970.0

– 2,502.8

643.6 3,146.4

– 3,146.4

2,283.4
–

77.2
–

– 2,360.6
–
–

–
(110.5)

– 2,360.6
–
(110.5)

506.3 2,866.9
(23.9)
(134.4)

– 2,866.9
(134.5)

(0.1)

–

–

–
10.0

–

–

–

–
(0.4)

(1.3)

75.5

–

–

–

–

–
33.3

–
42.9

–

(1.3)

0.8

13.5

14.3

–

–
–

–

–

–
20.9

–

–
63.8

–

(1.3)

–

–

–
–

–

14.3

–

–
63.8

(1.3)

–

–

–
(30.6)

14.3

–

–
33.2

–

(1.3)

33.3 2,402.2 (109.7)

34.4 2,326.9

482.4 2,809.3

(30.7) 2,778.6

Total income

2,293.4

Gross claims incurred 
Reinsurers' share

(2,014.7)
589.1

(44.2)
(27.5)

– (2,058.9)
–
561.6

Claims incurred, net 

of reinsurance
Acquisition costs – 

commission

Acquisition costs – 
other and other 
insurance related 
expenses

Other expenses
Net foreign exchange 

losses

Total expenses 

excluding finance 
costs

(1,425.6)

(71.7)

– (1,497.3)

(584.4)

37.6

–

(546.8)

(216.9)
–

(30.3)
–

(18.7)
–

(265.9)
–

–

–

–

–

(2,226.9)

(64.4)

(18.7) (2,310.0)

–
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

Operating profit/(loss)

66.5

11.1

14.6

92.2 (109.7)

–

–

–

1.5

– (2,058.9)
–
561.6

(416.2) (2,475.1)
650.1

88.5

– (2,475.1)
–
650.1

– (1,497.3)

(327.7) (1,825.0)

– (1,825.0)

–

(546.8)

(117.6)

(664.4)

(45.6)

(710.0)

–
(56.9)

(265.9)
(56.9)

(57.8)
–

(323.7)
(56.9)

68.3
–

(255.4)
(56.9)

(27.0)

(27.0)

(1.6)

(28.6)

(1.8)

(30.4)

(83.9) (2,393.9)

(504.7) (2,898.6)

20.9 (2,877.7)

(49.5)

(15.2)

(67.0)

(22.3)

(89.3)

(15.2)

(4.9)

(20.1)

(9.8)

(0.4)

(99.1)

(20.5)

–

1.5

–

1.5

–

1.5

92.2 (108.2)

(64.7)

(80.7)

(27.2)

(107.9)

(10.2)

(118.1)

61.8% 92.9%
35.2% (7.3)%
97.0% 85.6%

62.8%
33.2%
96.0%

11.6

(11.5)

0.1

(96.3)

(21.7)

(118.0)

62.8% 64.8% 63.2%
33.2% 34.6% 33.4%
96.0% 99.4% 96.6%

63.2%
33.7%
96.9%

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

117

Finance costs
Share of net profit  

of associates

Profit/(loss) on 

ordinary activities 
before tax

Tax credit/(charge)

Profit/(loss) for  

the year

Claims ratio
Expense ratio 
Combined ratio

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
financial statements

5 

Segmental information (continued)

Year ended 31 December 2021 (re-presented)

$m

Gross premiums 

written

Premiums written, 
net of reinsurance

Earned premiums, 
net of reinsurance
Investment return 
Return on derivative 

contracts

Gains on 

deconsolidation  
of subsidiaries
Gain on business 
combination
Other income
Gains on other 

financial liabilities

Core 
Underwriting 

Other 

Underwriting Distribution

Total Brit 
Underwriting 
(excluding Ki)

Investments 

Corporate

Total Brit 
(excluding Ki)

Ki 

Less: 
Discontinued 
operation

Total Group 
Continuing 
operations

Total 
Group

2,834.1

8.6

– 2,842.7

1,614.8

37.9

– 1,652.7

–

–

– 2,842.7

395.6 3,238.3

– 3,238.3

– 1,652.7

345.6 1,998.3

– 1,998.3

1,557.7
–

31.0
–

– 1,588.7
–
–

–
165.8

– 1,588.7
–
165.8

165.6 1,754.3
167.2

1.4

– 1,754.3
–
167.2

–

–

–
12.1

–

–

–

–
3.0

2.5

–

–

–
41.5

–

–

–

–
56.6

2.5

3.0

(18.7)

(15.7)

–

–
–

–

19.8

6.1
21.7

–

19.8

6.1
78.3

2.5

–

–

–
–

–

(15.7)

19.8

6.1
78.3

2.5

–

–

–
(41.9)

–

(15.7)

19.8

6.1
36.4

2.5

Total income

1,569.8

36.5

41.5 1,647.8

168.8

28.9 1,845.5

167.0 2,012.5

(41.9) 1,970.6

Gross claims incurred 
Reinsurers' share
Claims incurred, net 

of reinsurance
Acquisition costs – 

commission

Acquisition costs – 
other and other 
insurance related 
expenses

Other expenses
Net foreign exchange 

losses

Total expenses 

excluding finance 
costs

(1,589.6)
857.3

(9.9)
(24.2)

(732.3)

(34.1)

(532.1)

46.5

– (1,599.5)
–
833.1

–

–

(766.4)

(485.6)

(210.1)
–

(66.9)
–

(5.7)
–

(282.7)
–

–

–

–

–

(1,474.5)

(54.5)

(5.7) (1,534.7)

–
–

–

–

–
–

–

–

Operating profit/(loss)

95.3

(18.0)

35.8

113.1

168.8

–

–

–

1.7

– (1,599.5)
–
833.1

(124.7) (1,724.2)
842.6

9.5

– (1,724.2)
–
842.6

–

–

(766.4)

(115.2)

(881.6)

–

(881.6)

(485.6)

(42.8)

(528.4)

(46.2)

(574.6)

–
(44.7)

(282.7)
(44.7)

(30.1)
–

(312.8)
(44.7)

61.2
–

(251.6)
(44.7)

(0.8)

(0.8)

(0.3)

(1.1)

(0.3)

(1.4)

(45.5) (1,580.2)

(188.4) (1,768.6)

14.7 (1,753.9)

(16.6)

(14.7)

265.3

(21.4)

243.9

(27.2)

216.7

(14.7)

(3.6)

(18.3)

0.2

(18.1)

–

1.7

–

1.7

–

1.7

113.1

170.5

(31.3)

252.3

(25.0)

227.3

(27.0)

200.3

9.6

2.4

12.0

236.9

(24.6)

212.3

56.6% 110.0%
38.4% 48.1%
95.0% 158.1%

57.5%
36.6%
94.1%

57.5% 69.6% 58.4%
36.6% 44.0% 37.3%
94.1% 113.6% 95.7%

58.4%
38.6%
97.0%

Finance costs
Share of net profit  

of associates

Profit/(loss) on 

ordinary activities 
before tax

Tax credit

Profit for the year

Claims ratio
Expense ratio 
Combined ratio

118 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
financial statements

5 

Segmental information (continued)

(b) Geographical information
The Group's strategic business units operate mainly in five geographical areas, though the business is managed on a worldwide 
basis. The segmental split shown below is based on the location of the underlying risk.

Gross premiums written 
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Europe (excluding UK)
Other (including worldwide)

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

2,117.1
263.7
156.0
115.8
1,317.4

3,970.0

1,732.6
186.6
129.5
84.3
1,105.3

3,238.3

The nature of the London Market business is such that the insureds and reinsureds are often operating on a multi-territory 
or worldwide basis and hence coverage is often provided on a worldwide basis. Premiums written on a multi-territory or worldwide 
basis are included in ‘Other’ in the table above.

6 

Investment return 

This Note shows the income generated through investing funds. It also shows the gains and losses generated on various types 
of investment assets as a result of the movement in their market values.

Year ended 31 December 2022 
Equity securities
Debt securities
Mortgages and loans
Specialised investment funds
Cash and cash equivalents

Total investment return before expenses
Investment management expenses

Total investment return

Year ended 31 December 2021 
Equity securities
Debt securities
Mortgages and loans
Specialised investment funds
Cash and cash equivalents

Total investment return before expenses
Investment management expenses

Total investment return

Investment
income
$m

Net realised
 (losses)/gains
$m

Net unrealised
 gains/(losses)
$m

Total investment
return
$m

8.4
65.9
1.3
0.2
10.3

86.1
(13.8)

72.3

10.1
45.9
1.0
0.9
0.5

58.4
(14.2)

44.2

(26.1)
(49.5)
–
0.4
–

(75.2)
–

(75.2)

22.6
32.4
–
4.4
–

59.4
–

59.4

30.4
(150.0)
–
(11.9)
–

(131.5)
–

(131.5)

93.2
(84.1)
–
54.5
–

63.6
–

63.6

12.7
(133.6)
1.3
(11.3)
10.3

(120.6)
(13.8)

(134.4)

125.9
(5.8)
1.0
59.8
0.5

181.4
(14.2)

167.2

Investment return in respect of the discontinued operation included investment income from cash and cash equivalents during the 
year of $0.1m (2021: nil). All other investment return related to continuing operations.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

119

 
 
 
financial statements

7 

Return on derivative contracts

This Note shows the effect on the income statement of derivative contracts held during the year, and which help manage exposure 
to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. Derivatives are shown analysed between investment and currency 
related derivatives, reflecting the way the business is managed.

Investment-related non-currency options
Currency forwards

Return on derivative contracts

8 

Deconsolidation of subsidiaries

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

0.8
13.5

14.3

3.0
(18.7)

(15.7)

This Note provides information in respect of disposal of subsidiary undertakings during the reporting period.

The Group had no disposals in the year ended 31 December 2022.

In the prior year, the following disposals took place:

•  On 5 February 2021, the Group sold its entire investment in Commonwealth Insurance Company of America and a profit of $3.7m 
was recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. At this point, there was a loss of control and, as such, 
only the subsidiary’s results up to the date of disposal are included in the current year Group result.

•  On 25 March 2021, the Brit Group received a return of its investment in North America Property Insurance Series 2017 Account 
A-3 (‘Account A3’) (a segregated account within Versutus Limited that was previously consolidated into the Group). As Brit no 
longer has an economic interest in Account A3 it has been deconsolidated, resulting in a loss on disposal of $2.2m.

•  On 28 June 2021, the Group sold its entire investment in Scion Underwriting Services Inc. and a profit of $18.3m was recognised 

in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. At this point, there was a loss of control and, as such, only the 
subsidiary’s results up to the date of disposal are included in the current year Group result.

9 

Other income (including gains/(losses) on other financial liabilities)

This Note shows the analysis of other income generated in the year, including gains/(losses) on other financial liabilities.

Fees and commission from non-aligned syndicate 
Change in value of ultimate parent company shares held by Brit 
Net commission fee income from intermediary activities
Consortium income
Other 

Other income
Change in value of other financial liabilities*

Total

Attributable to:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operation

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

5.6
20.9
31.0
4.5
1.8

63.8
(1.3)

62.5

31.9
30.6

62.5

7.5
21.7
42.3
4.6
2.2

78.3
2.5

80.8

38.9
41.9

80.8

*Other financial liabilities are investments by third parties in structured insurance and investment entities consolidated by the Group.

120 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

10 

Net foreign exchange losses

The Group operates in multiple countries and currencies and is exposed to gains and losses arising as a result of movement 
in various foreign currency exchange rates. This Note explains the foreign exchange gains or losses as a result of converting the 
income, expenses, assets and liabilities from foreign currencies to US dollars.

The Group recognised foreign exchange losses of $28.6m (2021: losses of $1.1m) in the income statement in the year. Foreign 
exchange gains and losses result from the translation of the statement of financial position items using closing exchange rates, 
and translation of income statement items using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the relevant transactions, or at the 
average rate for the period when this is a reasonable approximation. However, as an exception to this, IAS 21 'The Effects of Changes 
in Foreign Exchange Rates' requires that net unearned premiums and deferred acquisition costs (UPR/DAC), being non-monetary 
items, remain at historic exchange rates. This creates a foreign exchange mismatch, the financial effects of which are shown 
in the table below.

Gains/(losses) on foreign exchange arising from:
Translation of the statement of financial position and income statement 
Maintaining UPR/DAC items in the income statement at historic rates 

Net foreign exchange losses

Attributable to:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operation

Principal exchange rates applied are set out in the table below.

Sterling
Canadian dollar
Euro
Australian dollar
South African rand

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

(14.4)
(14.2)

(28.6)

(30.4)
1.8

(28.6)

Average

0.727 
1.253 
0.845 
1.331 
14.765 

2.5
(3.6)

(1.1)

(1.4)
0.3

(1.1)

Year ended
31 December
 2021 
Closing

0.738 
1.263 
0.879 
1.375 
15.960 

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
Closing

0.831 
1.355 
0.937 
1.475 
17.015 

Average

0.809
1.301
0.950
1.440
16.309

In accordance with IAS 1 'Presentation of Financial Statements', exchange gains and losses are presented on a net basis. They are 
reported within income where they result in a net gain and within expenses where they result in a net loss.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

121

 
 
 
financial statements

11 

Acquisition costs and other operating expenses

This Note shows the analysis of costs incurred in acquiring and underwriting insurance contracts and the running costs of our 
business during the year. We have separated out the more material costs in order to provide a more detailed insight into 
our cost base.

Salary, pension and social security costs 

(Note 12)

Other staff related costs
Accommodation costs
Legal and professional charges
IT costs
Travel and entertaining
Marketing and communications
Amortisation and impairment of intangible 

assets

Depreciation, impairment and losses on 

disposal of property, plant and equipment

Regulatory levies and charges
Other 
Reclassification of expenses relating 
to paid unallocated loss adjustment 
expenses 

Expenses before commissions

Commission costs

Total acquisition costs and other 

operating expenses

Attributable to:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operation

Year ended 31 December 2022
Other operating
 expenses
 $m

Acquisition
costs 
$m

107.7
7.8
4.6
8.2
3.3
3.8
0.4

0.8

2.6
69.1
7.0

–

215.3

664.4

87.3
24.8
3.2
16.0
26.7
1.8
2.0

10.9

5.8
–
10.5

(23.7)

165.3

–

Total
$m

195.0
32.6
7.8
24.2
30.0
5.6
2.4

11.7

8.4
69.1
17.5

(23.7)

380.6

664.4

 Year ended 31 December 2021

Acquisition
costs 
$m

Other operating
 expenses
 $m

90.9
4.6
4.2
9.8
2.6
0.9
0.2

0.5

3.9
58.2
4.1

–

179.9

528.4

87.8
23.6
2.7
12.3
26.1
0.6
1.5

11.2

6.7
-
5.1

–

177.6

–

Total
$m

178.7
28.2
6.9
22.1
28.7
1.5
1.7

11.7

10.6
58.2
9.2

–

357.5

528.4

879.7

165.3

1,045.0

708.3

177.6

885.9

857.2
22.5

879.7

165.1
0.2

165.3

1,022.3
22.7

1,045.0

694.2
14.1

708.3

176.7
0.9

177.6

870.9
15.0

885.9

From 1 January 2022, internal costs to negotiate, manage, and settle claims (unallocated loss adjustment expenses) are apportioned 
to paid claims. The apportionment utilises the annual ULAE assumption that is agreed by the Reserving Committee. The inclusion 
of these costs within paid claims rather than operating expenses is considered to provide a more representative view of the 
Group’s cost of claims. The impact of this change in policy for the year to 31 December 2022 was a $23.7m decrease in ‘Other 
operating expenses’, and a corresponding $23.7m increase in ‘Claims paid – Gross amount’. On the basis that there was insufficient 
data to apportion similar costs in the prior period, the Group have concluded that it would be impractical to apply this policy 
retrospectively. There is no impact on the consolidated statement of financial position as a result of this change. 

122 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

12 

Staff costs

This Note gives a breakdown of the total cost of employing staff (including executive and non-executive Directors) and gives the 
average number of people employed by the Group during the year.

Wages and salaries 
Social security costs
Pension costs

Total staff costs

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

166.6
18.5
9.9

195.0

154.0
17.1
7.6

178.7

The monthly average number of employees during the year, including executive and non-executive Directors, was as follows:

Underwriters
Claims staff
Other underwriting and direct support staff
Management
Administration

Total employees

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
Number

Year ended
31 December
 2021*
Number

305
81
10
207
343

946

270
86
5
173
285

819

‘Management’ includes non-executive Directors and employees who have other members of staff reporting to them. 

* Average headcount numbers for the year ended 31 December 2021 have been re-presented to better reflect the nature 
of responsibilities within Ki and US operations. Originally, staff within these operations were previously all included as part of other 
underwriting and direct support staff due to the operations being in their early stages. However, as both operations have expanded 
significantly, a more disaggregated split is now considered more appropriate.

Director emoluments are included on page 176.

13  

Finance costs

Finance costs arise from interest due on moneys borrowed by the Group and any other amounts payable in respect of those 
borrowings or borrowing facilities. Finance costs also includes interest payable on lease liabilities. The Group’s borrowings consist 
of a revolving credit facility and listed unsecured subordinated debt, details of which are set out in Note 29.

Revolving credit facility and other bank borrowings
Interest payable on lease liabilities
Subordinated debt

Total finance costs

Attributable to:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operation

Year ended 
31 December 
2022
$m

Year ended 
31 December
 2021
$m

12.7
1.3
6.1

20.1

20.5
(0.4)

20.1

9.8
1.7
6.8

18.3

18.1
0.2

18.3

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

123

 
 
financial statements

14  

Auditors’ remuneration

The Group engages PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to perform the audit of the Group and all subsidiaries except for the Ambridge and 
Camargue companies.

The remuneration of the auditors or their associates is analysed as follows:

Audit of the Group and Company financial statements*
Audit of subsidiaries
Audit related assurance services

Total audit and audit related assurance services

Total non-audit services

Total audit and non-audit services

* In 2022, $1.7m (2021: $0.4m) has been included within this figure in respect of early IFRS 17 related audit work.

15  

Investment in associated undertaking

Year ended
31 December
2022
$m

Year ended 
31 December
2021
$m

2.4
1.2
0.4

4.0

0.2

4.2

1.0
1.3
0.5

2.8

0.3

3.1

This Note describes the investment made in an associated undertaking and provides summarised income statements and statements 
of financial position of that associate.

Sutton Special Risk Inc. (‘Sutton’)
On 2 January 2019 Brit Insurance Holdings Limited acquired 49% of the issued shares of Sutton for a total purchase consideration 
of CAD$17.2m, and entered into a forward contract to purchase the remaining 51% in 2024. Sutton is a Canadian managing general 
underwriter of a range of specialised insurance products, including Accident and Health. The summarised statement of financial 
position of Sutton and reconciliation to the carrying amount is as follows: 

Statement of financial position

Current assets
Non-current assets

Total assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

51% not owned by Brit
Acquisition fair value, result since acquisition and other adjustments

Carrying value

Income statement

Commission revenue
Operating expenses
Net profit

51% not owned by Brit

Share of net profit of associate

124 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

31 December
2022
$m

31 December
2021
$m

46.1
2.8

48.9
(42.3)
(0.3)

(42.6)

6.3

(3.2)
12.1

15.2

26.0
3.5

29.5
(23.4)
–

(23.4)

6.1

(3.1)
12.0

15.0

31 December
2022
$m

31 December
2021
$m

9.5
(6.4)
3.1

(1.6)

1.5

8.6
(6.2)
2.4

(1.2)

1.2

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

16 

Non-controlling interests

This Note provides summarised financial information for each subsidiary that has non-controlling interests (‘NCI’) that are material 
to the Group. The amounts disclosed are before inter-company eliminations.

During 2020, Ki Financial Limited was incorporated and received initial funding from investors, including Brit Limited, to support the 
initial underwriting activities of Ki Syndicate 1618. On 1 January 2021 Ki Syndicate 1618 commenced underwriting. During 2021 and 
2022, additional funding from investors, including Brit Limited, was received to support the continued underwriting. The Group’s 
shareholding remained consistent throughout the year, as at 31 December 2022, the Group continues to hold 20% of the share 
capital but a majority of the voting rights in the Company. 

From 1 January 2021, Ki Member Limited (formerly RiverStone Corporate Capital 4 Limited) provided capital to Syndicate 1618.  
Ki Member Limited was legally owned by RiverStone Holdings Limited (‘RHL’) throughout 2021. However, the Group was exposed 
to the majority of Ki Member Limited’s business as a result of the Ki structure and, as a result, the Group was considered to control 
Ki Member Limited. A non-controlling interest was recorded in respect of RHL’s entitlement to residual retained profits arising 
from activities unrelated to Ki. In the year ended 31 December 2021, the accumulated NCI attributable to RHL was $0.7m, and the 
profit allocated to RHL NCI was $0.5m. On 1 January 2022, the Group acquired 100% of the issued shares in Ki Member Limited. 
The purchase consideration was $0.5m. As a result, there is no longer an NCI attributable to RHL, and a $0.1m gain was recognised 
as a movement in retained earnings.

No dividends were paid to non-controlling interests in 2022 (2021: nil).

The summarised financial information of Ki Financial Limited, before inter-company eliminations, is as follows:

Statement of financial position

Current assets
Non-current assets

Total assets
Current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Accumulated NCI*

Comprehensive income statement

Revenue

Loss for the period

Total comprehensive income

Loss allocated to NCI*

Statement of cash flows

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

31 December
 2022
$m

31 December
2021
$m

55.4
436.2

491.6
(2.3)

(2.3)

489.3

42.3
263.5

305.8
(0.6)

(0.6)

305.2

374.5

233.5

31 December
 2022 
$m

31 December
2021
$m

(0.1)

(27.3)

(27.3)

(11.1)

 –

(25.1)

(25.1) 

(12.1)

31 December
 2022 
$m

31 December
2021
$m

(0.4)
(171.5)
190.0

18.1

(10.6)
(132.6)
155.0

11.8

*Total accumulated NCI reported in the statement of financial position is $374.5m (2021: $234.2m), comprising $374.5m (2021: $233.5m) attributable to Blackstone and $nil (2021: $0.7m) 
attributable to RHL. Total loss allocated to NCI reported in the comprehensive income statement is $11.1m (2021: $11.6m), comprising $11.1m loss (2021: $12.1m) attributable to Blackstone and 
$nil (2021: $0.5m) attributable to RHL. Therefore, the total transactions with non-controlling interests recorded in the statement of changes in equity is $151.5m (2021: $124.1m), comprising 
$152.0m (2021: $123.9m) attributable to Blackstone and ($0.5m) (2021: $0.2m) attributable to RHL. The 2022 movement in relation to RHL is a result of the Group acquiring 100% of the 
issued shares in Ki Member Limited in January 2022.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

125

 
 
financial statements

17 

Tax expense 

Income tax is tax charged on trading activities during the year. This Note shows the breakdown of tax payable in the current period 
(current tax) and also tax that may become payable sometime in the future (deferred tax).

(a) Tax credited to the income statement 

Current tax:
Current taxes on income for the year
Overseas tax on income for the year 

Double tax relief
Adjustments in respect of prior years

Total current tax

Deferred tax:
Relating to the origination and reversal of temporary differences
Adjustments in respect of prior years

Total deferred tax

Total tax credited to the income statement 

Tax credited/(charged) to the income statement is attributable to:
Profit or loss from continuing operations
Profit or loss from discontinued operations

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

–
(7.0)

(7.0)
–
10.4

3.4

4.3
3.9

8.2

11.6

0.1
11.5

11.6

0.5
(12.4)

(11.9)
1.2
0.7

(10.0)

21.9
(2.3)

19.6

9.6

12.0
(2.4)

9.6

Overseas tax and the double tax relief principally arise from taxes suffered as a result of the Group’s operations at Lloyd’s. Double 
tax relief is effectively limited to an amount equal to the tax due at the UK tax rate on the same source of income.

(b)  Tax credited/(charged) to other comprehensive income

Deferred tax credit/(charge) on actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit pension scheme

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

14.3

(6.5)

Tax credited/(charged) to other comprehensive income in the current and prior years is attributable to continuing operations.

126 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
financial statements

17 

Tax expense (continued)

(c)  Tax reconciliation
The tax on the Group's profit/(loss) before tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise based on the weighted average 
rate of tax as follows:

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax
Tax calculated at weighted average rate of tax on income
Non-deductible and non-taxable items
Taxes on income at rates in excess of the domestic rate and where credit is unavailable
Effect of temporary differences not recognised
Effect of revaluation of deferred tax following change in rate of tax
Other items
Adjustments to tax charge in respect of prior years

Total tax credited to income statement 

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December 
2021
$m

(107.9)
16.5
1.5
(1.7)
(16.3)
(2.6)
–
14.2

11.6

227.3
(19.0)
2.4
0.5
7.3
20.0
0.1
(1.7)

9.6

The weighted average rate of tax is based on the geographic split of profit across Group entities in jurisdictions with differing tax 
rates. As the mix of taxable profits changes, so will the weighted average rate of tax.

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax includes profits and losses arising from both continuing and discontinued operations:

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax

Year ended 31 December 2022
Year ended 31 December 2021

Continuing
operations
$m

(118.1)
200.3

Discontinued
operations
$m

10.2
27.0

Total
$m

(107.9)
227.3

(d) Other considerations 
Brit is expected to fall within the scope of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s new global minimum tax 
framework. Canada has not formally announced a specific date on which it will substantively enact enabling legislation whilst the UK 
has announced its intention to substantively enact both the global minimum tax of 15% and a UK domestic minimum top-up tax of 15% 
during 2023. Brit has operations in Bermuda and its entities have an effective tax rate of less than 15%.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

127

 
 
financial statements

18 

Intangible assets

An intangible asset is an asset without any physical substance but which has long-term value to the business. With the exception 
of goodwill, syndicate participation rights at Lloyd’s, and trade names, which are classified as indefinite life assets, the values 
of these assets are reduced according to their useful life by way of amortisation. Amortisation is included as an expense in the 
income statement.

Trade
 names
 $m

Distribution
 channels
$m

Syndicate
participat-
ions
$m

Employee
 related 
$m

Software
$m

Total
$m

0.5
–

0.9
–
(0.1)

1.3

1.3
–

(0.5)
–
–

0.8

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–
–
–

–

52.4
–

7.3
–
(0.5)

59.2

59.2
–

(42.6)
–
(0.3)

16.3

11.3
3.6
–
–

14.9

14.9
3.9

(10.5)
–
–

8.3

44.3
8.0

70.8
–

–
–
–

70.8

70.8
–

–
–
–

70.8

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–
–
–

–

70.8
70.8

1.2
–

–
–
–

1.2

1.2
–

(1.2)
–
–

–

0.7
0.4
–
–

1.1

1.1
0.1

(1.2)
–
–

–

0.1
–

44.3
12.8

–
(11.1)
(0.4)

45.6

45.6
9.2

(1.6)
–
(5.1)

48.1

21.9
7.7
(11.1)
(0.4)

18.1

18.1
7.7

(1.6)
–
(2.1)

22.1

27.5
26.0

215.1
12.8

24.6
(11.1)
(2.0)

239.4

239.4
9.2

(91.8)
–
(6.4)

150.4

33.9
11.7
(11.1)
(0.4)

34.1

34.1
11.7

(13.3)
–
(2.1)

30.4

205.3
120.0

61.3
14.4

1.3
0.8

Goodwill
$m

45.9
–

16.4
–
(1.0)

61.3

61.3
–

(45.9)
–
(1.0)

14.4

–
–
–
–

–

–
–

–
–
–

–

Cost:
At 1 January 2021
Additions
Additions through 

acquisitions

Disposals
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2021

At 1 January 2022
Additions
Assets classified as held 

for sale
Disposals
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2022

Amortisation:
At 1 January 2021
Charge for the year
Disposals
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2021

At 1 January 2022
Charge for the year
Assets classified as held 

for sale
Disposals
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2022

Carrying amount:
At 31 December 2021
At 31 December 2022

128 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
financial statements

18 

Intangible assets (continued)

Additional information
The gross cost of software fully amortised but still in use is $19.5m (2021: $18.8m). All software additions in 2022 and 2021 were 
internally developed. The software amortisation charge for the year of $7.7m (2021: $7.7m) is included in the ‘Other operating 
expenses’ and ‘Profit/(loss) from discontinued operation, net of tax’ lines in the Income Statement. There were no impairments 
to software in 2022 (2021: nil). Assets not yet in use with a total cost of $6.2m (2021: $10.2m) are included in software. 

Impairment testing

Goodwill
Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment and has been allocated to the Ambridge and Camargue cash-generating units (CGUs):

Ambridge
Camargue

Total

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December 
2021 
$m

–
14.4

14.4

45.9
15.4

61.3

The goodwill of the Group relates to the acquisitions of Ambridge and Camargue in 2019 and 2021 respectively, and the recoverable 
amounts have been determined using a value in use calculation. Prior to the goodwill allocated to Ambridge being reclassified 
to ‘Assets classified as held for sale’, it was assessed for impairment as at 31 December 2022.

In respect of Ambridge, the value in use calculation uses cash flow projections based on business plans approved by senior 
management covering a one-year period and subsequent cash flows which assume a nil growth rate over a further two years. 
A perpetuity is assumed from year 4 onwards and is based on the year 3 estimated cash flows. These cash flows have been 
discounted using a risk adjusted discount rate of 9.79% (2021: 10.35%). 

Camargue was acquired on 4 October 2021 and was subject to a purchase price allocation exercise in Q4 2021 to determine the 
value of the goodwill at acquisition. In respect of Camargue, the value in use calculation uses cash flow projections based on business 
plans approved by senior management covering a one-year period and subsequent cash flows which assume a 4% per annum 
growth in expenses and a 5% per annum growth in commissions over a further two years. A perpetuity is assumed from year 4 
onwards and is based on the year 3 estimated cash flows. These cash flows have been discounted using a risk adjusted discount rate 
of 9.79% (2021: 10.35%). 

In the goodwill impairment reviews for both Ambridge and Camargue, the recoverable amount exceeds the carrying value of the CGU 
including its associated goodwill and it is considered that a reasonably possible change in key assumptions will not cause the carrying 
value of the CGU to exceed its recoverable amount.

The key assumptions used for the impairment calculations were that cash flows and profit levels will mainly depend on the level 
of commissions earned by Ambridge and Camargue. The business plans reflect senior management's best estimates based 
on historical experience, growth rates for the respective insurance industry sector, the insurance pricing cycle and expected results 
from ongoing and future strategic business unit product and distribution strategies. 

Syndicate participations
Syndicate participations are indefinite life intangible assets and are therefore reviewed annually for impairment. They have been 
allocated to cash-generating units (CGUs) as follows:

Global Specialty Direct
Global Specialty Reinsurance

Total

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

52.7
18.1

70.8

52.7
18.1

70.8

These CGUs are based upon operating segments which earn revenues and incur expenses and whose results are regularly reviewed 
by management.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

129

 
 
financial statements

18 

Intangible assets (continued)

The recoverable amounts of the CGUs have been determined using a value-in-use calculation.

Each value-in-use calculation uses post-tax cash flow projections based on business plans approved by senior management covering 
a one-year period and subsequent cash flows which assume a 10% per annum growth in GWP over a further two years. A perpetuity 
is assumed from year 4 onwards and is based on the year 3 estimated cash flows. These cash flows have been discounted using 
a risk adjusted post-tax discount rate of 9.79% (2021: 10.35%). In each syndicate participation impairment review, the recoverable 
amount significantly exceeds the carrying value of the CGU, including its associated syndicate participations and it is considered that 
a reasonably possible change in key assumptions will not cause the carrying value of the CGU to exceed its recoverable amount.

The key assumptions used for the impairment calculations were that cash flows and profit levels will mainly depend on the level 
of premiums written by each strategic business unit, the rates at which these premiums are written and the claims activity on both 
prior and future underwriting years. The business plans reflect senior management's best estimates based on historical experience, 
growth rates for the respective insurance industry sector, the insurance pricing cycle, and expected results from ongoing and 
future strategic business unit product and distribution strategies. For the purposes of the cash flow forecast, the investment 
returns have been reduced compared to the approved plan. Due to significant negative movements in investments in 2022, large 
gains are expected in 2023 as the market recovers. In order to build into the testing a degree of prudence over these estimated 
gains, a more conservative investment return has been assumed.

Trade names
Trade names are indefinite life intangible assets and are therefore reviewed annually for impairment. They have been allocated 
to cash-generating units (CGUs) as follows:

Ambridge
Camargue

Total

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December 
2021 
$m

–
0.8

0.8

0.5
0.8

1.3

Trade names were acquired in 2019 as part of the Ambridge acquisition, and subsequently, in 2021, as part of the Camargue 
acquisition. Prior to the trade names allocated to Ambridge being reclassified to ‘Assets classified as held for sale’, it was assessed 
for impairment as at 31 December 2022.

Regarding the Ambridge trade name, the recoverable amounts have been determined based on the net present value of future cash 
flows generated by Ambridge. The projections, discount rate and assumptions used are in line with that described above for the 
goodwill impairment assessment in respect of Ambridge.

Camargue was acquired on 4 October 2021 and has been subject to a purchase price allocation exercise in Q4 2021 to determine the 
value of the trade name at acquisition. The projections, discount rate and assumptions used are in line with that described above for 
the goodwill impairment assessment in respect of Camargue.

Sensitivity of key assumptions
In performing impairment testing, the Group has considered the impact on key assumptions of potential adverse changes in the 
economic and regulatory environment:

•  Discount rates – In order to test sensitivity of forecast profits to changes in future market conditions, the discount rate applied 
during testing has been stressed. Intangible assets remain recoverable up to a discount rate of 11.2% (for Global Specialty 
Reinsurance) and 21.0% (for Global Specialty Direct).

•  Projected combined ratio – In order to test sensitivity to projected underwriting forecasts, the combined ratio applied during 

testing has been stressed. A 1% increase in combined ratio has been used as a reasonably possible change to the underwriting 
result of our CGUs. Intangible assets remain recoverable under this scenario.

• 

Investment return – In order to test sensitivity of intangible assets to the investment return of CGUs, the Group considered the 
reduction in investment return that would be required in order for an impairment to arise. This testing indicated that forecast 
returns would need to reduce by more than 23% (Global Specialty Reinsurance) and 83% (Global Specialty Direct) before 
an impairment would be required.

130 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

19 

Property, plant and equipment

This Note gives a breakdown of the type of assets in use such as land, buildings, computer equipment, office fixtures and fittings 
and furniture. The value of these assets are reduced according to their useful life by way of depreciation. Depreciation is included 
as an expense in the income statement. An annual assessment of the carrying value of these assets is carried out and, if necessary, 
an impairment charge to the income statement is made.

Cost:
At 1 January 2021
Additions
Additions through acquisitions
Divestiture
Disposals
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2021

At 1 January 2022
Additions
Transfers between asset classes
Assets classified as held for sale
Disposals
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2022

Depreciation:
At 1 January 2021
Charge for the year
Impairments
Divestiture
Disposals
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2021

At 1 January 2022
Charge for the year
Assets classified as held for sale
Disposals
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2022

Carrying amount:
At 31 December 2021
At 31 December 2022

Computers 
and office
 machinery, 
furniture and
 equipment 
$m

Office
refurbishment
$m

25.5
1.2
–
(1.1)
(1.2)
(0.1)

24.3

24.3
–
(0.3)
(1.4)
–
(2.6)

20.0

10.4
2.1
–
(0.1)
(1.2)
(0.3)

10.9

10.9
1.8
(1.3)
–
(1.1)

10.3

13.4
9.7

13.4
0.5
0.1
(0.1)
(8.4)
(0.1)

5.4

5.4
2.0
0.3
(3.2)
(0.1)
(0.3)

4.1

10.9
1.0
–
–
(8.4)
(0.1)

3.4

3.4
0.9
(2.7)
(0.1)
(0.1)

1.4

2.0
2.7

Buildings
$m

Right of
 use assets
$m

Land
$m

–
–
0.4
–
–
(0.1)

0.3

0.3
–
–
–
–
–

0.3

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
0.7
–
–
(0.1)

0.6

0.6
0.1
–
–
–
–

0.7

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–
–

–

0.3
0.3

0.6
0.7

Total
$m

93.6
8.6
1.2
(1.9)
(11.9)
(1.0)

88.6

88.6
2.1
–
(12.0)
(0.8)
(8.6)

69.3

33.1
9.9
0.2
(0.7)
(10.8)
(0.7)

31.0

31.0
8.4
(8.4)
(0.7)
(2.8)

27.5

57.6
41.8

54.7
6.9
–
(0.7)
(2.3)
(0.6)

58.0

58.0
–
–
(7.4)
(0.7)
(5.7)

44.2

11.8
6.8
0.2
(0.6)
(1.2)
(0.3)

16.7

16.7
5.7
(4.4)
(0.6)
(1.6)

15.8

41.3
28.4

The gross cost of property, plant and equipment fully depreciated but still in use is $8.9m (2021: $9.5m). The depreciation charge for 
the year of $8.4m (2021: $9.9m) is included in the ‘Acquisition costs’, ‘Other operating expenses' and ‘Profit/(loss) from discontinued 
operation, net of tax’ lines in the Income Statement. No impairment charge was recognised in 2022 (2021: $0.2m). A dilapidations 
provision of $2.2m (2021: $2.5m) has been set up in respect of the refurbishment of rented property.

Further information on depreciation and capital expenditure by segment is given in Note 5(b).

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

131

 
 
 
financial statements

20  

Deferred acquisition costs

Acquisition costs are costs incurred in underwriting insurance risks and include commissions paid to third parties and some 
internally generated costs such as underwriter salaries. These costs are deferred and are charged to the income statement over 
the duration of the contract. The movement in these deferred costs and releases to the income statement is shown in this Note.

At 1 January
Costs deferred during the year
Amortisation charge for the year

At 31 December

21  

Deferred taxation

2022
$m

321.8
934.7
(879.7)

376.8

2021
$m

247.3
782.8
(708.3)

321.8

This Note describes the tax that may have to be paid in the future. Deferred tax arises from differences in the way that tax 
is calculated for accounting purposes and tax purposes.

The deferred tax asset is attributable to temporary differences arising on the following:

At 1 January 2021
Movements in the year:
Acquisitions
(Charged)/credited to income statement 
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2021

Set-off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to set-off provisions

Net deferred tax asset at 31 December 2021

At 1 January 2022
Movements in the year:
Credited/(charged) to income statement 
Classified as held for sale
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2022

Set-off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to set-off provisions

Net deferred tax asset at 31 December 2022

Intangible
assets
$m

0.6

–
(0.3)
–

0.3

0.3

8.0
(2.1)
–

6.2

Underwriting
$m

60.3

–
(38.5)
–

21.8

21.8

(21.7)
(4.3)
–

(4.2)

Losses
$m

24.7

–
56.4
–

81.1

81.1

8.6
–
–

89.7

Other
$m

9.2

0.5
2.3
(0.1)

11.9

Total
$m

94.9

0.5
19.8
(0.1)

115.1

(67.2)

47.9

11.9

115.1

6.5
(6.6)
(1.0)

10.8

1.4
(13.0)
(1.0)

102.5

(52.4)

50.1

The rate of 25% has been used in the calculation of the UK deferred tax assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2022, with the 
exception of the deferred tax liability in respect of pensions which is recognised at 35%. 

Deferred tax assets, all of which arise in the United Kingdom, are considered recoverable where it is expected that there will be 
future taxable income based on the approved business plans and budgets of the Group, which have also been used for goodwill and 
intangible asset impairment testing. The net deferred tax asset recorded in the year arises from significant catastrophe-related 
activity. The losses can be carried forward indefinitely and have no expiry date. See Note 3.9 for further detail on the estimation 
of deferred tax assets.

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of certain losses carried forward of $48.8m (2021: $nil) and in respect 
of undeclared year of account losses of $316.0m (2021: $285.2m) as it is not considered probable that they can be utilised in the 
foreseeable future. The unused losses can be carried forward indefinitely and have no expiry date. Deferred tax has not been provided 
in respect of the profits of subsidiaries in the Group as tax exemptions, for example the participation exemption, are expected to apply. 

132 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
financial statements

21  

Deferred taxation (continued)

As at 31 December 2022, no deferred tax assets arising on decelerated capital allowances (2021: $0.3m) had been provided for due 
to uncertainty over the timing of their utilisation. 

The deferred tax liability is attributable to temporary differences arising on the following:

At 1 January 2021
Movements in the year:
Acquisitions
(Charged)/credited to income statement 
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive 

income (Note 17(b))
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2021

Set–off of deferred tax assets pursuant to  

set–off provisions

Net deferred tax liability at 31 December 2021

At 1 January 2022
Movements in the year:
Acquisitions
(Charged)/credited to income statement 
Tax relating to components of other comprehensive 

income (Note 17(b))

Classified as held for sale
Foreign exchange effect

At 31 December 2022

Set–off of deferred tax assets pursuant to set–off provisions

Net deferred tax liability at 31 December 2022

Pensions
$m

(17.1)

(16.5)
(0.3)

(6.5)
0.6

(39.8)

Intangible
assets
$m

(26.0)

(2.3)
(5.7)

–
0.2

(33.8)

Underwriting
$m

(8.9)

–
4.6

–
(0.4)

(4.7)

(39.8)

(33.8)

(4.7)

(0.7)
(0.1)

14.3
–
4.1

–
4.6

–
2.3
0.1

–
3.0

–
–
0.2

(22.2)

(26.8)

(1.5)

Other
$m

(3.0)

–
1.2

–
0.1

(1.7)

(1.7)

–
(0.7)

–
–
(1.2)

(3.6)

Total
$m

(55.0)

(18.8)
(0.2)

(6.5)
0.5

(80.0)

67.1
(12.9)

(80.0)

(0.7)
6.8

14.3
2.3
3.2

(54.1)

52.3

(1.8)

Amounts classified as held for sale
The net deferred tax asset as at 31 December 2022 of $60.8m include a net DTA of $10.7m relating to Ambridge. This net recognised 
DTA of $10.7m consists of $2.1m DTA in respect of US intangibles, $(2.3)m DTL in respect of UK intangibles, $4.3m in respect 
of underwriting and $6.6m in respect of other DTAs. 

Scenario modelling and sensitivity of key assumptions
The preparation of the Group’s deferred tax position involves the use of modelling in order to consider recoverability. In particular, 
‘best case’ and ‘worst case’ scenarios were modelled, based on reasonable and conservative assumptions. As part of this process, 
the Group has considered the impact on key assumptions of potential adverse changes in the economic and regulatory environment:

•  Syndicate forecasts – In order to test sensitivity of forecast profits to changes in future market conditions, we have considered the 

impact of pricing changes, reinsurance attachment points and cat margins to the modelled result. In particular, the best case scenario 
was prepared using less conservative assumptions, including a $30m increase in the catastrophe reinsurance attachment point and 
a $65m benefit from risk adjusted rate change. The worst case scenario included more conservative forecast underwriting profits for 
years 2023 to 2025, including an 8.7% increase in attritional net incurred claims and a 10% increase in net commission costs.

• 

Investment return –The forecast investment return is based on the internal model. In order to test sensitivity of deferred tax 
to the forecast investment return, we have modelled potential upside and downside scenarios. by adjusting the investment return 
for years 2023 to 2025 by plus and minus one standard deviation. 

The best case scenario returned a net deferred tax asset of $106.9m, with an unrecognised amount of $36.2m, while the worst case 
scenario resulted in a net deferred tax asset of $5.6m (unrecognised amount: $137.5m).

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

133

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
financial statements

22 

Insurance and reinsurance contracts 

This Note deals with balances carried in respect of insurance contracts (liabilities) and reinsurance contracts (assets). It examines 
the statement of financial position, splitting both insurance and reinsurance balances into their component parts, and explains the 
assumptions applied in arriving at these figures. The Note also shows how claims have developed over a period (before and after 
the effects of reinsurance) of time by setting out the cumulative development at the end of each calendar year in respect of claims 
arising from business written in a particular underwriting year. It ends by analysing the movements in insurance and reinsurance 
contracts during the year.

(a)  Balances on insurance and reinsurance contracts

Gross
Claims reported and loss adjustment expenses
Claims incurred but not reported

Unearned premiums

Total gross liabilities

Recoverable from reinsurers
Claims reported and loss adjustment expenses
Claims incurred but not reported

Unearned premiums

Total reinsurers’ share of liabilities

Net
Claims reported and loss adjustment expenses
Claims incurred but not reported

Unearned premiums

Total net insurance liabilities

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

1,954.3
4,128.5

6,082.8
1,696.2

7,779.0

710.9
1,359.4

2,070.3
416.7

2,487.0

1,243.4
2,769.1

4,012.5
1,279.5

5,292.0

1,815.9
3,325.0

5,140.9
1,392.0

6,532.9

685.7
1,208.7

1,894.4
396.8

2,291.2

1,130.2
2,116.3

3,246.5
995.2

4,241.7

Insurance contracts – assumptions and changes in assumptions

Process used to decide on assumptions required
The risks associated with these insurance liabilities and in particular with casualty insurance liabilities are complex and subject 
to a number of variables that complicate quantitative analysis.

The Group uses several statistical methods to incorporate the various assumptions made in order to estimate the ultimate costs 
of claims. It is typical to consider the attritional claims separately from the large claims, separately from the catastrophe losses.  
The two methods more commonly used are the chain-ladder and the Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods.

Chain-ladder methods may be applied to premiums, paid claims or incurred claims (i.e. paid claims plus case reserve estimates). 
The basic technique involves the analysis of historical claims development factors and the selection of estimated development 
factors based on these historical patterns. The selected development factors are then applied to cumulative claims data for each 
underwriting year, that is not yet fully developed, to produce an estimated ultimate claims cost for each underwriting year.

Chain-ladder techniques are most appropriate for mature classes of business that have a relatively stable development pattern. 
Chain-ladder techniques are less suitable in cases in which the insurer does not have a developed claims history for a particular 
class of business or for underwriting years at early stages of development where the outcome is still highly uncertain.

134 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
 
financial statements

22 

Insurance and reinsurance contracts (continued)

The Bornhuetter-Ferguson method uses a combination of a benchmark or market-based estimate and an estimate based on claims 
experience. The former is based on a measure of exposure such as premiums; the latter is based on the paid or incurred claims 
to date. The two estimates are combined using a formula that gives more weight to the experience-based estimate as time passes. 
This technique is used in situations in which developed claims experience is not available for the projection (recent underwriting 
years or new classes of business).

The choice of selected results for each year of each class of business depends on an assessment of the technique that has been 
most appropriate to observed historical developments. In certain instances, this has meant that different techniques or combination 
of techniques have been selected for the individual underwriting year, or groups of underwriting years within the same 
class of business.

In addition to the above statistical techniques, alternative approaches are often considered for a number of classes of business 
(e.g. casualty treaty) and particular events (e.g. natural catastrophes), therefore alternative methodologies may be employed to add 
additional rigour to the process. For example, losses from a catastrophe are typically formed from reviewing potential exposure 
on a policy by policy basis and taking account of market intelligence to determine Brit’s share of the loss. The estimate of large claims 
ultimate will typically be formed from estimating the number of unreported large claims, using the standard statistical techniques 
described above, and multiplying this with the expected severity of such losses.

In addition to the estimation of claims reserves certain estimates are produced for unearned premiums. For open market business, 
earned premium is calculated at policy level. However, premium derived from delegated underwriting authorities is calculated 
by applying the 144ths method to estimated premiums applied to the master policy. This assumes that attachments to master policies 
arise evenly throughout the period of that master policy.

Reinsurance outwards premiums are earned according to the nature of the cover. 'Losses occurring during' policies are earned 
evenly over the policy period. 'Risks attaching' policies are earned on the same basis as the inwards business being protected. Where 
outward reinsurance is impacted by seasonal claims variability, e.g. catastrophe covers, the earning of the premium is adjusted 
to reflect the seasonality of the claims.

Changes in assumptions
The Group did not change its estimation techniques from the insurance contract assumptions disclosed in this Note during the year.

Claims development tables
The tables below show the development of claims over a period of time on a gross and net of reinsurance basis. 

The claims development tables have been presented on an underwriting year basis.

The tables show the cumulative incurred claims, including both notified and IBNR claims, for each successive underwriting year at the 
end of each year, together with cumulative paid claims at the end of the current year.

They have been grossed up to include 100% of the managed syndicate claims rather than the claims that reflect the Group 
percentage ownership of each syndicate's underwriting capacity during the respective underwriting years. In addition, claims 
in currencies other than US dollars have been retranslated at 31 December 2022 exchange rates.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

135

 
 
financial statements

22 

Insurance and reinsurance contracts (continued)

Ultimate gross claims

Underwriting year

Claims ratio:
At end of 

underwriting 
year

One year later
Two years later
Three years 

later

Four years later
Five years later
Six years later
Seven years 

later

Eight years 

later

Nine years later

Total ultimate 

gross claims at 
31 Dec 2022

2013 and
prior years

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Corporate
 and other
adjustments

Total

69.8%
69.8%
69.8%

69.6%
70.9%
70.3%
69.3%

70.1%
73.6%
73.1%

74.2%
73.7%
72.7%
72.3%

70.5%
71.4%
73.5%

72.4%
70.3%
70.3%
71.0%

89.3%
76.6% 101.8%
85.4% 109.4%
96.3%
89.3% 109.4% 101.6%

88.1% 111.5% 100.0%
89.5% 110.6% 101.7%
91.6% 112.4%
93.8%

75.4%
84.1%
86.2%

86.3%

80.4%
81.0%
83.0%

74.4%
77.7%

77.4%

67.8%

71.1%

71.6%

66.8%
66.6%

71.2%

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

11,641.2

1,070.5

1,026.4

1,397.4

1,734.4

1,631.1

1,445.5

1,480.6

1,632.7

1,793.9

1,321.2 26,174.9

Less 

accumulated 
gross paid 
claims
Unearned 
premium 
portion of 
gross ultimate 
claims

Claims handling 

provision 
and other 
corporate 
adjustments

(11,256.0)

(962.7)

(854.3) (1,143.4) (1,403.4) (1,142.4)

(780.4)

(711.5)

(363.4)

(44.7)

(318.4) (18,980.6)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(48.9)

(784.4)

(314.9) (1,148.2)

5.4

1.6

2.6

3.6

4.5

6.8

8.7

9.7

15.2

9.7

(31.1)

36.7

Total outstanding 
gross claims  
at 31 Dec 2022

390.6

109.4

174.7

257.6

335.5

495.5

673.8

778.8

1,235.6

974.5

656.8

6,082.8

136 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

22 

Insurance and reinsurance contracts (continued)

Ultimate net claims

2013 and
prior years

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Corporate 
and other 
adjustments

Total

75.3%
76.6%
76.3%

76.3%
76.9%
74.9%
73.5%

76.0%
79.3%
78.3%

78.8%
77.4%
77.0%
76.9%

77.6%
80.4%
81.2%

78.9%
76.3%
76.4%
77.4%

83.1% 100.6%
95.8%
90.3% 101.2% 102.4%
91.7% 101.3% 106.9%

91.4% 104.2% 105.1%
92.2% 104.6% 104.9%
94.9% 102.9%
94.3%

82.1%
94.1%
96.7%

96.8%

89.8%
88.8%
87.1%

81.2%
83.0%

81.9%

71.7%

75.7%

77.8%

70.9%
69.8%

75.2%

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

8,624.6

812.0

790.1

898.4

992.3

1,020.2

1,009.3

1,001.3

1,151.1

1,332.2

1,138.6 18,770.1

Underwriting year

Claims ratio:
At end of 

underwriting 
year

One year later
Two years later
Three years 

later

Four years later
Five years later
Six years later
Seven years 

later

Eight years 

later

Nine years later

Total ultimate 
net claims at 
31 Dec 2022

Less 

accumulated 
net paid claims (8,425.6)

(742.7)

(662.5)

(784.6)

(847.8)

(789.8)

(547.0)

(531.0)

(282.5)

(42.8)

(295.0) (13,951.3)

Unearned 
premium 
portion of net 
ultimate claims
Claims handling 
provision, bad 
debt provision 
and other 
corporate 
adjustments

Total 

outstanding 
net claims at 
31 Dec 2022

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(39.7)

(601.5)

(262.9)

(904.1)

5.0

1.6

2.6

3.6

4.5

6.8

8.7

9.7

15.2

9.7

30.4

97.8

204.0

70.9

130.2

117.4

149.0

237.2

471.0

480.0

844.1

697.6

611.1

4,012.5

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

137

 
 
financial statements

22 

Insurance and reinsurance contracts (continued)

The percentages in the gross and net triangles are shown on an ultimate loss basis inclusive of catastrophe losses 
by year of account. 

The 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 years of account include the impact of natural catastrophes which occurred in the 
future calendar years and which attached back to policies incepting in those respective years of account. The 2020 and prior years 
of account will also be impacted by the loss portfolio reinsurance contracts entered into in 2018 and 2021 with RiverStone Managing 
Agency Limited (for and on behalf of Lloyd’s Syndicate 3500).

During 2022, the net aggregate reserve strengthening from prior years amounted to $6.8m, which included a $11.8m release from 
2021 and a $13.4m strengthening from 2020 and prior years from Syndicate 2987, and a strengthening of $5.2m from other group 
entities. By comparison in 2021, the net aggregate reserve releases from prior years amounted to $100.1m, which included a $50.7m 
release from 2020 and a $51.2m release from 2019 and prior years from Syndicate 2987, and a strengthening of $1.8m from other 
group entities.

(b)  Movements in insurance and reinsurance contracts

(i)   Claims and loss adjustment expenses

As at 1 January
Cash paid for claims settled in the year 
Increase in liabilities 
Net foreign exchange differences

As at 31 December

(ii)  Unearned premiums

As at 1 January
Premiums written in the year 
Premiums earned during the year
Net foreign exchange differences

As at 31 December

 31 December 2022
Reinsurance
$m

Gross
$m

5,140.9
(1,481.9)
2,475.2
(51.4)

6,082.8

(1,894.4)
439.9
(650.0)
34.2

(2,070.3)

 31 December 2022
Reinsurance
$m

Gross
$m

1,392.0
3,970.0
(3,666.0)
0.2

1,696.2

(396.8)
(823.6)
799.2
4.5

(416.7)

Net
$m

3,246.5
(1,042.0)
1,825.2
(17.2)

4,012.5

Net
$m

995.2
3,146.4
(2,866.8)
4.7

1,279.5

31 December 2021
Reinsurance
$m

Gross
$m

4,792.7
(1,321.5)
1,724.1
(54.4)

5,140.9

(1,493.0)
437.6
(842.6)
3.6

(1,894.4)

31 December 2021
Reinsurance
$m

Gross
$m

1,020.3
3,238.3
(2,867.9)
1.3

1,392.0

(271.1)
(1,240.0)
1,113.7
0.6

(396.8)

Net
$m

3,299.7
(883.9)
881.5
(50.8)

3,246.5

Net
$m

749.2
1,998.3
(1,754.2)
1.9

995.2

138 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

23 

Employee benefits

This Note explains the pension schemes operated by the Group for its employees. For the Group’s defined benefit schemes (in which 
no further benefits are being accrued), it sets out the amounts carried on the Group statement of financial position, gains and losses 
incurred during the year, amounts paid into the schemes, together with further information about the schemes. For the Group’s 
defined contribution schemes, it sets out the costs incurred during the year.

(a)  Defined benefit pension schemes
The Group has two funded defined benefit pension schemes providing pensions benefits to its members: the Brit Group Services 
Limited Retirement Benefits Scheme (the "Scheme") and the RiverStone Holdings Management Pension and Life Assurance 
Plan (the "Plan").

With effect from 18 August 2021, Brit Insurance Holdings Limited and the Trustees of the Plan (plus other parties) entered into 
an agreement where Brit Insurance Holdings Limited became the Principal Company and assumed the full liabilities and assets of the 
Plan. On initial recognition, the Plan’s surplus was $44.9m on an IAS 19 basis and was recognised as an asset in the statement 
of financial position, along with a corresponding deferred tax liability of $16.5m and a capital contribution of $28.4m. 

The Scheme closed to new entrants on 4 October 2001 and closed to future accrual of benefits on 31 December 2011. The Plan only 
has deferred members and is closed to new entrants. Following closure to future accrual, benefits now increase broadly in line with 
inflation. The weighted average duration to payment of the Scheme’s expected cash flows is 12 years (2021: 16 years) and 14 years 
for the Plan (2021: 18 years).

Both schemes are approved by HMRC for tax purposes. The schemes are operated from separate trusts, which have assets that 
are held separately from the Group. The trusts are managed by Trustees, who are responsible for payment of the benefits and 
management of the schemes’ assets.

The schemes are subject to UK regulations overseen by the Pensions Regulator, which require the Group and Trustees to agree 
a funding strategy and contribution schedule for the schemes every three years. The most recent triennial review of the Scheme 
was undertaken as at 31 July 2021 and identified a funding surplus of £9.1m. The most recent triennial review of the Plan was 
undertaken as at 31 July 2021 and identified a funding surplus of £11.9m. 

Following the 2021 valuation of the Scheme, the Group agreed to continue to pay contributions of £2m pa until 31 July 2024, however 
these are now paid into a holding account. These contributions are payable by Brit Group Services Limited and backed-up by cross-
company guarantees from Brit Insurance Holdings Limited. Following the completion of the 2021 valuation of the Plan, the Group 
agreed to no longer pay deficit reduction contributions and pay £25,000 per month in respect of administrative expenses. As part 
of the transfer of the Plan to the Group, the Plan received a special payment from Fairfax of £8.43 million in 2021.

In December 2022, the Scheme purchased a bulk-annuity (‘buy-in’) policy which matches the benefits due to members. This is  
reflected in the figures below.

If there is a shortfall against the funding target, then the Company and Trustees will agree on deficit contributions to meet this 
deficit over a period. There is a risk to the Company that adverse experience could lead to a requirement for the Company to make 
additional contributions in excess of those above to recover any deficit that arises.

Net amount recognised in the statement of financial position:

Present value of defined benefit obligation
Fair value of scheme assets

Net pension asset

31 December 
2022 
$m
 Scheme

31 December 
2022 
$m
Plan

31 December
 2021
$m
Scheme

31 December
 2021
$m
Plan

(119.0)
143.8

24.8

(102.2)
139.8

37.6

(202.5)
268.0

65.5

(182.3)
230.6

48.3

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

139

 
 
financial statements

23 

Employee benefits (continued)

Changes in the net pension asset recognised in the statement of financial position:

Opening statement of financial position
Acquisition of pension asset
(Expense)/credit to income statement
Foreign exchange effect
Amount recognised outside income statement
Contributions paid

Closing statement of financial position

31 December 
2022 
$m
 Scheme

31 December 
2022 
$m
Plan

31 December
 2021
$m
Scheme

31 December
 2021
$m
Plan

65.5
–
(0.9)
(6.4)
(33.4)
–

24.8

48.3
–
–
(5.4)
(7.5)
2.2

37.6

48.8
–
0.7
(0.7)
16.7
–

65.5

–
44.9
–
(0.6)
2.0
2.0

48.3

A net pension asset is recognised on the statement of financial position as there is an unconditional right of the Group to be refunded 
the surplus in the schemes.

Net credit recognised in the income statement comprised:

Net interest on net defined benefit asset

Past service cost
Running costs

Net (expense)/credit

31 December 
2022 
$m
 Scheme

31 December 
2022 
$m
Plan

31 December
 2021
$m
Scheme

31 December
 2021
$m
Plan

1.1

(2.0)
–

(0.9)

0.9

–
(0.9)

–

0.7

–
–

0.7

0.3

–
(0.3)

–

For the Scheme, the past service cost of $2.0m in 2022 is an estimate for the cost of the Trustee’s decision to award a one-off 
discretionary pension increase of 3% in February 2023 (in addition to the 5% increase under the Rules).

This net (expense)/credit has been recognised in the ‘Other operating expenses’ line in the Income Statement. Contributions to the 
Group’s defined contribution pension arrangements are in addition to those set out in this note and are charged directly to the 
Income Statement.

The allocation of the Scheme’s and Plan’s assets were as follows:

31 December 
2022 
$m
 Scheme

31 December 
2022 
$m
Plan

31 December
 2021
$m
Scheme

31 December
 2021
$m
Plan

–
146.7
–
7.6
–
116.0
(126.5)

143.8

–
112.0
–
27.8
–
–
–

139.8

11.9
176.3
73.1
5.2
1.5
–
–

268.0

130.5
66.9
–
33.2
–
–
–

230.6

Equities
Liability Driven Investment funds (LDI)
Other debt securities
Cash and net current assets
Other scheme assets
Annuity policy
Net current liability in respect of buy-in premium

Fair value of scheme assets

140 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

23 

Employee benefits (continued)

The cash and net current assets of the Scheme include a debtor of $6.0m. In April 2022, the Scheme was the victim of a fraud, 
whereby £6.0m ($7.2m) of the Scheme’s assets were diverted. In August 2022, £1.0m ($1.2m) of this amount was recovered and 
returned to the Scheme. Steps are being taken to recover the remaining sum involved (£5.0m/$6.0m), and the Scheme’s Trustee 
believes that full recovery is virtually certain. The amount is therefore included as a debtor within the Scheme’s net current assets. 
No member will lose out as a result of this fraud. The police have been informed. No further information is provided as to do so would 
prejudice the recovery claims and potentially the police investigation. 

The value of the annuity policy and net current liability in respect of the buy-in policy are based on the contractual values of those items.

All other assets of the Scheme and the Plan have quoted prices in active markets, and they do not invest directly in property 
occupied by the Group or in financial securities issued by the Group.

Investment strategy
The Trustee of each scheme determine the scheme’s investment strategy after taking appropriate advice from their investment 
consultants. The management of the assets is delegated to the investment managers. The Trustee’s investment objectives are 
to ensure that the scheme has adequate resources to meet the members’ entitlements under the Trust Deed and Rules as they 
fall due, and thereafter to minimise long-term costs of the Scheme by maximising the return on the assets. Investment risk for the 
Scheme is managed by investing in low risk assets which are expected to move in a similar way to the benefits. The assets include LDI 
which aims to match a significant part of the schemes’ inflation-linked benefits and therefore help to reduce the Group’s exposure 
to interest and inflation risks. 

Movements in the present value of the defined benefit obligation were as follows:

Opening defined benefit obligation
Acquisition of pension asset 
Interest on defined benefit obligation
Past service cost
Remeasurements due to:
Changes in financial assumptions
Changes in demographic assumptions
Experience on benefit obligations
Foreign exchange effect
Benefits paid

Closing defined benefit obligation

Movements in the fair value of the schemes assets were as follows:

Opening fair value of scheme assets
Acquisition of pension asset
Interest income 
Actual return excluding interest income
Running costs
Foreign exchange effect
Contributions by the employer
Benefits paid

Closing fair value of scheme assets

31 December 
2022 
$m
 Scheme

31 December 
2022 
$m
Plan

31 December
 2021
$m
Scheme

31 December
 2021
$m
Plan

202.5
–
3.5
2.0

(64.3)
(1.6)
6.6
(20.8)
(8.9)

119.0

182.3
–
3.2
–

(64.1)
(1.3)
7.5
(18.7)
(6.7)

102.2

222.2
–
2.8
–

(14.9)
1.5
–
(1.7)
(7.4)

202.5

–
188.3
1.1
–

(5.5)
2.7
1.3
(3.1)
(2.5)

182.3

31 December 
2022 
$m
 Scheme

31 December 
2022 
$m
Plan

31 December
 2021
$m
Scheme

31 December
 2021
$m
Plan

268.0
–
4.6
(92.7)
–
(27.2)
–
(8.9)

143.8

230.6
–
4.1
(65.4)
(0.9)
(24.1)
2.2
(6.7)

139.8

271.0
–
3.5
3.3
–
(2.4)
–
(7.4)

268.0

–
233.2
1.4
0.5
(0.3)
(3.7)
2.0
(2.5)

230.6

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

141

 
 
financial statements

23 

Employee benefits (continued)

The principal actuarial assumptions at the year-end were:

Discount rate
Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation
Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation
Pension increases in payment

31 December 
2022 
$m
 Scheme

4.81% pa
3.35% pa
2.51% pa
3.18% pa

31 December 
2022 
$m
Plan

4.81% pa
3.31% pa
2.68% pa
3.15% pa

31 December
 2021
$m
Scheme

1.92% pa
3.41% pa
2.57% pa
3.29% pa

31 December
 2021
$m
Plan

1.95% pa
3.39% pa
2.78% pa
3.27% pa

Mortality assumptions:
Life expectancy of male aged 60 at statement of financial position date 
Life expectancy of female aged 60 at statement of financial position date 
Life expectancy of male aged 60 retiring in 20 years' time
Life expectancy of female aged 60 retiring in 20 years' time

27.7 years
30.4 years
29.2 years
31.8 years

27.7 years
30.1 years
29.2 years
31.5 years

27.9 years
30.6 years
29.4 years
32.0 years

27.9 years
30.2 years
29.4 years
31.6 years

The assumptions used to determine end-of-year benefit obligations are also used to calculate the following year’s cost.

Sensitivity analysis:

Assumption

Discount rate
Future RPI inflation increases
Future CPI inflation increases
Assumed life expectancy at age 60

Change in assumption

Decrease by 0.5% pa
Increase by 0.5% pa
Increase by 0.5% pa
Increase by 1 year

Change in defined benefit obligation at end of the year

Scheme

Plan

Increase by $7.6m
Increase by $5.4m
Increase by $0.9m
Increase by $4.5m

Increase by $7.4m
Increase by $4.7m
Increase by $0.8m
Increase by $2.5m

The calculations in this section have been carried out using the same method and data as the Group’s pensions and accounting 
figures with each assumption adjusted as shown above. Each assumption has been varied individually and a combination of changes 
in assumptions could produce a different result.

Risks:
The Group is exposed to a number of risks in relation to its defined benefit schemes, the most significant of which are detailed below:

Risk

Investment strategy

Investment returns

Improvements in life expectancy

Inflation

Regulatory

Changes in asset values are not matched by changes in the schemes’ 
defined benefit obligations. For example, if gilt yields rise with no changes 
in corporate bond yields, the net pension asset would reduce.
Future investment returns are lower than anticipated and so additional 
contributions are required from the Group to pay all the benefits 
promised.
Schemes’ members live longer and so benefits are payable for longer than 
anticipated. 
Actual inflation is higher and so benefit payments are higher than 
anticipated.
In future the schemes may have backdated claims or liabilities arising from 
future legislation, emerging practice or court judgments. 

(b)  Brit Group Services Limited – Defined Contribution Personal Pension Plan
Brit Group Services Limited operates a defined contribution group personal pension plan. The assets of the scheme are held 
separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by Brit Group Services Limited to the fund and amounted to $7.6m 
(2021: $7.4m).

At 31 December 2022 no contributions were payable to the fund (2021: nil).

142 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

23 

Employee benefits (continued)

(c)  Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. – 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan
Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. operates a ‘401(k) Safe Harbor Plan’. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those 
of the Group in an independently administered fund.

Due to the movement of staff from Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. to Ambridge USA Service Company Inc., from 1 April 2021 
onwards, any further contributions have been payable by Ambridge USA Service Company Inc. 

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. and Ambridge USA Service Company 
Inc. to the fund and amounted to $1.1m (2021: $0.7m).

During the year ended 31 December 2022, no contributions (2021: $0.2m) of contributions were paid by Brit Insurance Services USA 
Inc and $1.1m (2021: $0.5m) of contributions were paid by Ambridge USA Service Company Inc.

At 31 December 2022 no contributions were payable to the fund (2021: nil).

(d)  Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. – Nonqualified deferred compensation plan
Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. operates a ‘409(a) Nonqualified deferred compensation plan’. The assets of the scheme are not held 
separately from those of the Group. 

Due to the movement of staff from Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. to Ambridge USA Service Company Inc., from 1 April 2021 
onwards, any further pension payments have been payable by Ambridge USA Service Company Inc. 

No pension payments were made by Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. or Ambridge USA Service Company Inc. to the fund 
in 2022 (2021: nil).

(e)  BGS Services (Bermuda) Limited – Registered plan
BGS Services (Bermuda) Limited operates a registered plan for Bermudan employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately 
from those of the Group in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by BGS Services (Bermuda) Limited to the fund and amounted to  
$88.0k (2021: $73.0k).

At 31 December 2022 no contributions were payable to the fund (2021: nil).

(f)  BGS Services (Bermuda) Limited – Unregistered plan
BGS Services (Bermuda) Limited operates an unregistered plan for non-Bermudan employees. The assets of the scheme are held 
separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by BGS Services (Bermuda) Limited to the fund and amounted to  
$nil (2021: $3.5k).

At 31 December 2022 no contributions were payable to the fund (2021: nil).

(g)  Sussex Capital Management Limited – Unregistered plan
Sussex Capital Management Limited operates an unregistered plan for non-Bermudan employees. The assets of the scheme are held 
separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by Sussex Capital Management Limited to the fund and amounted to  
$59.0k (2021: $17.5k).

At 31 December 2022 no contributions were payable to the fund (2021: nil).

(h)  Sussex Capital Management Limited - Registered plan
Sussex Capital Management Limited operates a registered plan for non-Bermudan employees. The assets of the scheme are held 
separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by Sussex Capital Management Limited to the fund and amounted 
to $44.0k (2021: $nil).

At 31 December 2022 no contributions were payable to the fund (2021: nil).

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

143

 
 
financial statements

23 

Employee benefits (continued)

(i)   Ambridge Partners LLC – 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan, Profit sharing plan and trust
Ambridge Partners LLC operates a ‘401(k) Safe Harbor Plan’. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group 
in an independently administered fund. Employees may elect to contribute a percentage of their compensation. Ambridge Partners LLC 
does not match employee contributions. 

(j)   Ambridge Europe Limited – Defined Contribution Personal Pension Plan
Ambridge Europe Limited operates a defined contribution group personal pension plan. The assets of the scheme are held separately 
from those of the Group in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by Ambridge Europe Limited to the fund and amounted to $110.0k 
(2021: $101.0k).

At 31 December 2022, contributions payable to the fund amounted to $25.0k (2021: $23.0k).

(k)  Ambridge long term incentive award 
During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Group operated a variable award scheme in respect of Ambridge.  The total 
cost recorded in the income statement for the year was $1.3m (2021: $3.5m) and the carrying amount of the liability under 
the scheme at 31 December 2022 was $5.0m (2021: $3.7m). The scheme rewards senior employees for performance below 
a target loss ratio for relevant classes of business over a four-year period. The cost of the award is estimated using the financial 
performance of Ambridge over the performance period, as adjusted to reflect the timing of award payments subsequent to the 
performance period.  

(l)   Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited – Registered plan
Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited operates a registered plan for Bermudan employees. The assets of the scheme are held 
separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited to the fund and amounted to  
$31.2k (2021: $21.0k).

At 31 December 2022 no contributions were payable to the fund (2021: nil).

(m) Camargue Underwriting Managers Proprietary Limited – Defined Contribution Personal Pension Plan
Camargue Underwriting Managers Proprietary Limited participates in a defined contribution umbrella pension fund for employees. 
The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund.

The pension cost charge represents contributions paid by Camargue Underwriting Managers Proprietary Limited, following its 
acquisition by the Group on 4 October 2021, to the fund and amounted to $172.1k (2021: $14.0k).

At 31 December 2022 no contributions were payable to the fund (2021: nil).

24 

Financial investments 

This Note summarises the total value of the financial assets of the Group and shows how much has been invested in each class 
of asset. It also explains how each asset is categorised under three different levels of hierarchy, the methods used to value assets 
within each level and assets transferred between levels.

Equity securities
Debt securities
Mortgages and loans
Specialised investment funds

Total 

All financial investments have been designated as held at fair value through profit or loss.

144 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

544.1
3,945.5
34.6
388.2

4,912.4

480.1
3,139.8
38.3
356.8

4,015.0

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

24 

Financial investments (continued)

Basis for determining the fair value hierarchy of financial instruments
The Group has classified the fair value measurements using a fair value hierarchy that reflects the significance of the inputs used 
in making those measurements. The fair value hierarchy comprises the following levels:

(a)   Level one – Valuations based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets;

(b)   Level two – Valuations based on inputs other than quoted prices included within level one that are observable for the asset, 

either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); and

(c)   Level three – Valuations based on inputs for the assets that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

Assets are categorised as level one where fair values determined in whole directly by reference to an active market relate to prices 
which are readily and regularly available from an exchange, dealer, broker, industry group, pricing service or regulatory agency and 
those prices represent actual and regularly occurring market transactions on an arm’s-length basis, i.e. the market is still active.

For assets and liabilities that are recognised at fair value on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have 
occurred between levels in the hierarchy by reassessing categorisation (based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the 
fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period. Fair values for level two and level three assets include:

•  Values provided at the request of the Group by pricing services and which are not publicly available or values provided by external 

parties which are readily available but relate to assets for which the market is not always active; and

•  Assets measured on the basis of valuation techniques including a varying degree of assumptions supported by market 

transactions and observable data.

For all assets not quoted in an active market or for which there is no active market, the availability of financial data can vary and 
is affected by a wide variety of factors, including the type of financial instrument, whether it is new and not yet established in the 
marketplace, and other characteristics specific to each transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on the models or inputs 
that are unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgement. Accordingly, the degree of judgement 
exercised is higher for instruments classified in level three and the classification between level two and level three depends highly 
on the proportion of assumptions used, supported by market transactions and observable data.

Valuation techniques

Level one
Inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments exchanged in active markets (where transactions occur 
with sufficient frequency and volume). The fair values of securities sold short and the majority of the Group’s equities are based 
on published quotes in active markets. These also include government bonds and treasury bills issued in the US and in the UK.

Level two
Inputs include directly or indirectly observable inputs (other than level one inputs) such as quoted prices for similar financial 
instruments exchanged in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar financial instruments exchanged in inactive markets 
and other market observable inputs. 

Level two securities contain certain investments in US and non-US government agency securities, US and non-US corporate debt 
securities and specialised investment funds. US government agency securities are priced using valuations from independent pricing 
vendors who use discounted cash flow models supplemented with market and credit research to gather specific information. Market 
observable inputs for these investments may include broker-dealer quotes, reported trades, issuer spreads and available bids. 
Non-US government agency securities are priced with OTC quotes or broker-dealer quotes. Other market observable inputs include 
benchmark yields and reported trades. Issuer spreads are also available for these types of investments.

Level two common stocks are priced using a combination of independent pricing service providers and internal valuation models that 
rely on directly or indirectly observable inputs. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

145

 
 
financial statements

24 

Financial investments (continued)

Level three
Level three equities include investments in limited partnerships where the fund’s underlying investments are not traded/quoted 
in an active market. In some instances, limited partnerships are classified as level three because they may require at least three 
months’ notice to liquidate. This requirement results in an adjustment to the reported value for illiquidity which is unobservable.

Level three debt instruments include corporate loans with unobservable inputs used in the measurement of financial instruments. 
Management is required to use its own assumptions regarding unobservable inputs as there is little, if any, market activity in these 
instruments or related observable inputs that can be corroborated at the measurement date.

Level three specialised investment funds include securities that are valued using techniques appropriate to each specific investment. 
The valuation techniques include fair value by reference to net asset values (NAVs) adjusted and issued by fund managers based 
on their knowledge of underlying investments and credit spreads of counterparties. In some instances, certain investment 
funds are classified as level three because they may require at least three months’ notice to liquidate. This requirement results 
in an adjustment to the reported value for illiquidity which is unobservable.

Disclosures of fair values in accordance with the fair value hierarchy 

31 December 2022
Equity securities
Debt securities
Mortgages and loans
Specialised investment funds

31 December 2021
Equity securities
Debt securities
Mortgages and loans
Specialised investment funds

Level one
$m

Level two
$m

Level three
$m

Total
$m

351.5
2,210.2
–
–

2,561.7

345.5
2,026.0
–
–

2,371.5

–
1,702.9
–
328.3

2,031.2

–
1,077.3
–
296.3

1,373.6

192.6
32.4
34.6
59.9

319.5

134.6
36.5
38.3
60.5

269.9

544.1
3,945.5
34.6
388.2

4,912.4

480.1
3,139.8
38.3
356.8

4,015.0

All unrealised losses of $131.5m (2021: gains of $63.6m) and realised losses of $75.2m (2021: gains of $59.4m) on financial 
investments held during the year, are presented in ‘Investment return’ in the consolidated income statement.

Transfers between fair value levels 
Fair values are classified as level one when the financial instrument or derivative is actively traded and a quoted price is available. 
In accordance with the Group’s policy if an instrument classified as level one subsequently ceases to be actively traded, 
it is immediately transferred out of level one. In such cases, instruments are classified into level two, unless the measurement of its 
fair value requires the use of significant unobservable inputs, in which case it is classified as level three. All fair value measurements 
above are recurring as they are required to be measured and recognised at the end of each reporting period.

Transfers from level two to level three
There were no transfers in the year. In 2021, there were $50.0m of transfers of Specialised investment funds investments from 
level two to level three due to their inputs becoming unobservable during the year.

146 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
 
 
 
 
financial statements

24 

Financial investments (continued)

Reconciliation of movements in level three financial investments measured at fair value

At 1 January 2021
Transfers from level two to level three
Total gains recognised in the income statement 
Purchases
Sales
Foreign exchange (losses)/gains

At 31 December 2021

Total gains/(losses) recognised in the income statement
Purchases
Sales
Foreign exchange losses

At 31 December 2022

Equity
securities
$m

Debt securities
 $m

Mortgages
 and loans
$m

Specialised 
investment funds 
$m

129.0
–
29.9
9.7
(33.8)
(0.2)

134.6

37.7
36.8
(15.4)
(1.1)

192.6

15.4
–
(1.7)
22.7
–
0.1

36.5

(8.9)
6.0
–
(1.2)

32.4

23.0
–
–
26.1
(9.6)
(1.2)

38.3

–
–
–
(3.7)

34.6

15.2
50.0
(3.7)
–
–
(1.0)

60.5

1.6
2.5
–
(4.7)

59.9

Total
$m

182.6
50.0
24.5
58.5
(43.4)
(2.3)

269.9

30.4
45.3
(15.4)
(10.7)

319.5

Total net gains recognised in the Income Statement under ‘Investment return’ in respect of level three financial investments for the 
period amounted to $30.4m (2021: gains of $24.5m). Included in this balance are $32.2m of unrealised gains (2021: gains of $19.7m) 
attributable to assets still held at the end of the year.

Sensitivity of level three financial investments measured at fair value to changes in key assumptions 
The following table shows the sensitivity of the fair value of level three financial investments to changes in key assumptions.

Equity securities
Debt securities
Mortgages and loans
Specialised investment funds

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Carrying amount
$m

Effect of possible 
alternative 
assumptions (+/-)
$m

Carrying amount
$m

Effect of possible 
alternative 
assumptions (+/-)
$m

192.6
32.4
34.6
59.9

319.5

7.6
1.9
0.8
0.7

134.6
36.5
38.3
60.5

269.9

2.8
(0.6)
(0.3)
1.1

In order to determine reasonably possible alternative assumptions, the Group has monitored the price movements of the securities 
invested on a month by month basis during 2022, or since acquisition if acquired during the year. This has resulted in an average 
expected percentage change in the securities pricing, which forms the basis of this analysis.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

147

 
 
 
 
 
 
financial statements

25 

Derivative contracts 

This Note summarises the total value of the derivative contracts of the Group. It also explains how each derivative contract 
is categorised under three different levels of hierarchy, the valuation methods used to value derivative contracts and amounts 
transferred between levels. At 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021, the options formed part of the investment management 
strategy, while the currency forwards formed part of the foreign exchange management strategy.

The disclosure provided in the tables below include derivatives recorded in the Group’s statement of financial position.

Derivative contract assets

31 December 2022
Currency forwards
Industry loss warranty contracts
Sutton forward contract
Equity warrants

Total

31 December 2021
Currency forwards
Options
Industry loss warranty contracts
Sutton forward contract
Equity warrants

Total

Derivative contract liabilities

31 December 2022
Currency forwards

Total

31 December 2021
Currency forwards
Total return swap

Total

Disclosures of fair values in accordance with the fair value hierarchy

31 December 2022
Derivative contract assets
Derivative contract liabilities

31 December 2021
Derivative contract assets
Derivative contract liabilities

148 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

Gross amounts 
of receivables on 
derivative contract 
assets
$m

Gross amounts 
of payables on 
derivative contract 
assets 
$m

Derivative contract 
assets presented 
in the statement of 
financial position
 $m

601.9
0.1
1.5
2.7

606.2

457.0
0.5
0.1
0.7
4.9

463.2

(595.4)
–
–
–

(595.4)

(448.1)
–
–
–
–

(448.1)

6.5
0.1
1.5
2.7

10.8

8.9
0.5
0.1
0.7
4.9

15.1

Gross amounts
 of payables on 
derivative
 contract
 liabilities
$m

Gross amounts 
of receivables
 on derivative
 contract
 liabilities 
$m

Derivative
 contract liabilities
 presented in the
 statement of
 financial position
$m

(457.8)

(457.8)

(680.7)
(0.3)

(681.0)

447.7

447.7

668.5
–

668.5

Level two
$m

Level three
$m

6.5
(10.1)

8.9
(12.5)

4.3
–

6.2
– 

(10.1)

(10.1)

(12.2)
(0.3)

(12.5)

Total
$m

10.8
(10.1)

15.1
(12.5)

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
 
 
financial statements

25 

Derivative contracts (continued)

Valuation techniques

Level two
The fair value of the vast majority of the Group’s derivative contracts are based primarily on non-binding third-party broker-dealer 
quotes that are prepared using level two inputs. Where third-party broker-dealer quotes are used, typically one quote is obtained 
from a broker-dealer with particular expertise in the instrument being priced.

The valuation technique used to determine the fair value of currency forwards is derived from observable inputs such as active 
foreign-exchange and interest-rate markets that may require adjustments for certain unobservable inputs.

Level three
CPI-linked derivatives are classified as level three and valued using broker-dealer quotes which management has determined 
utilise market observable inputs except for the inflation volatility input which is not market observable. The reasonableness of the 
fair values of CPI-linked derivative contracts are assessed by comparing the fair values received from third-party broker-dealers 
to recent market transactions where available and values determined using third-party pricing software based on the Black-Scholes 
option pricing model for European-style options that incorporates market observable and unobservable inputs such as the current 
value of the relevant CPI underlying the derivative, the inflation swap rate, nominal swap rate and inflation volatility. The fair values 
of CPI-linked derivative contracts are sensitive to assumptions such as market expectations of future rates of inflation and related 
inflation volatilities.

The forward contract that the Group has in respect of its associated undertaking have been classified as level three as the valuation 
of this derivative is derived from unobservable inputs that are linked to EBITDA calculations.

Reconciliation of movements in level three derivative contracts measured at fair value

At 1 January 2021
Purchases
Total gains recognised in the income statement
Foreign exchange losses

At 31 December 2021

Purchases
Total losses recognised in the income statement
Sale proceeds
Foreign exchange losses

At 31 December 2022

Level three 
derivatives
$m

2.3
1.3
4.4
(1.8)

6.2

4.7
(0.1)
(5.0)
(1.5)

4.3

Sensitivity of level three derivatives measured at fair value to changes in key assumptions
The following table shows the sensitivity of the fair value of level three derivatives to changes in key assumptions.

Options
Industry loss warranty contracts
Sutton forward contract
Equity warrants 

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Carrying amount
$m

Effect of possible 
alternative 
assumptions (+/-)
$m

Carrying amount
$m

Effect of possible 
alternative
 assumptions (+/-)
$m

–
0.1
1.5
2.7

–
–
0.4
0.1

0.5
0.1
0.7
4.9

0.1
–
0.1
0.5

In order to determine reasonably possible alternative assumptions, the Group adjusted key unobservable model inputs, including 
inflation volatility inputs and credit risk inputs. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

149

 
 
 
financial statements

26 

Insurance and other receivables

This Note sets out the various categories of amounts which are owed to the Group.

Arising out of direct insurance operations
Arising out of reinsurance operations
Receivables from contracts with customers
Prepayments
Accrued income
Outstanding settlements on investments
Other assets 
Other debtors
Finance lease receivable

Total

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

862.0
764.8
11.0
10.8
21.8
2.4
83.6
46.9
–

735.8
596.1
15.5
11.9
11.6
10.0
81.2
152.7
0.5

1,803.3

1,615.3

Other assets relate to shares purchased to settle share-based payment awards. For further information, refer to Note 35.

The finance lease receivable relates to the sublease agreement entered into by Brit Insurance Services USA Inc. For further 
information, refer to Note 27.

With the exception of the finance lease receivable, the carrying amounts disclosed above reasonably approximate fair values as  
all amounts are receivable within one year of the date of the statement of financial position. In 2022, no finance lease receivable 
is recognised within ‘Insurance and other receivables’ as it has been reclassified to ‘Assets classified as held for sale’. In 2021,  
$0.2m of the finance lease receivable recognised within ‘Insurance and other receivables’ was receivable within one year.

27  

Leases where the Group acts as a lessor

This Note analyses the amounts recorded in respect of leases where the Group acts as a lessor. Additional commentary provides 
qualitative and quantitative information on such activities. Further analysis reconciles undiscounted annual lease payments to the 
finance lease receivable balance at year-end.

During 2021, the Group entered into a sublease in respect of an office building that it leased in 2017. The sublease is for the whole 
of the remaining term of the head lease and, consequently, it has been classified as a finance lease by the Group. 

In 2021, the carrying amount of net investment in the lease increased by $0.5m as a result of the initial recognition, and subsequent 
recognition of finance income, as well as cash received. In 2022, the carrying amount of net investment in the lease decreased 
by $0.2m as a result of recognition of finance income, as well as cash received. The net investment in the lease in respect of this 
sublease is part of the disposal group that has been reclassified to ‘Assets classified as held for sale’. 

The following amounts have been recognised in the consolidated income statement from lease contracts in which the Group 
acts as a lessor:

Finance lease
Loss on initial recognition

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

–

(0.1)

The following table sets out a maturity analysis of lease receivables, showing the undiscounted lease payments to be received after 
the reporting date:

150 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

0.2
0.1
–

0.3

0.3

0.2
0.2
0.1

0.5

0.5

27  

Leases where the Group acts as a lessor (continued)

Less than one year
One to two years
Two to three years

Total undiscounted lease payments receivable

Net investment in the lease

28  

Cash and cash equivalents

This Note analyses the amounts of cash and cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are investment instruments with less than 90 days 
left to maturity when purchased by the Group. Additional analysis which explains where cash and cash equivalents are held and why 
they are being held is also provided.

Cash at bank and on deposit
Cash equivalents

Total 

Less: Cash reclassified as ‘held for sale’

Total ‘Cash and cash equivalents’ as presented on the consolidated statement of financial position

The carrying amounts disclosed above, reasonably approximate fair values.

The source of these amounts can be further analysed as follows:

Classification

Definition

Cash within segregated fund mandates Short-term investment funds, money market funds,  

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

484.3
595.1

1,079.4

(138.1)

941.3

491.3
1,019.0

1,510.3

–

1,510.3

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

Lloyd's trust funds

Self-managed cash

Total

treasury bills or cash held within segregated mandates.

285.3

808.4

Cash within the Lloyd's Overseas Deposits trust funds  
held to meet regulatory requirements.

Highly liquid instruments held to meet ongoing working  
capital requirements.

49.3

72.3

744.8

1,079.4

629.6

1,510.3

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

151

 
 
financial statements

29 

Borrowings

This Note describes the main sources of borrowing available to the Group and the amounts currently borrowed from each 
of those sources.

Maturity

Call

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Effective
interest rate 

Amortised
cost
$m

Fair value
$m

Amortised
cost
$m

Fair value
$m

Non-current
Subordinated debt

Revolving credit facility

2030

2025

–

3.7%

162.4

120.6

182.9

174.5

– Daily non-cumulative 
RFR rate +1.45%

10.0

172.4

10.0

130.6

45.0

227.9

45.0

219.5

As at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021, the fair value of the subordinated debt was determined by reference to trading 
market values on recognised exchanges and was therefore categorised as a level one measurement in the fair value hierarchy. 
The fair value of the subordinated debt, which is denominated in GBP and has a fixed coupon, has fallen during the reporting period 
as a result of the rise in market rates of interest and the strengthening of the US Dollar against Sterling. For further information 
relating to the fair value hierarchy, refer to Note 24.

Subordinated debt
The Group did not take up the option to call the subordinated debt on 9 December 2020. Following this date, the interest rate reset 
to 3.6757%, being the higher of: 

i)  3.4% above the gross redemption yield of the 4.75% Treasury Gilt due 2030 quoted on the reset date; and

ii)  3.4% above the gross redemption yield of the 8% Treasury Stock due 2021 quoted on the reset date.

Revolving credit facility
The Group has a $550.0m (2021: $450.0m) revolving credit facility which expires on 31 December 2025. At 31 December 2022, 
a $100.0m (2021: $130.0m) uncollateralised letter of credit had been utilised. In addition, there was a cash drawing of $10.0m 
(2021: $45.0m).

Other borrowings
Syndicate 2987 entered into an agreement for a $150.0m uncollateralised letter of credit facility on 22 November 2021, which was 
fully utilised at 31 December 2021. This facility expired on 31 December 2022.

As at 31 December 2022, there was a fully utilised uncollateralised $180.0m (2021: $130.0m) letter of credit facility to support the 
business written in Syndicate 1618. This facility expires on 31 December 2026. The facility, which is structured to support Syndicate 
1618 as Ki grows, is linked to the ESG rating of Ki’s ‘Funds at Lloyd’s’ investment portfolios and Syndicate 1618’s assets, with its 
pricing depending on the compliance of Ki’s investment portfolios with ESG targets. This builds on the investment guidelines Ki has 
established for its third-party managers, which incorporate ESG principles and targets, and will help Ki build a sustainable footprint.

As at 31 December 2022, there was a fully utilised $10.0m (2021: $5.0m) letter of credit facility to support Brit Reinsurance 
(Bermuda) Limited. Of this amount, $6.5m (2021: $2.0m) was collateralised. This is an ongoing facility with no fixed expiry date.

152 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

30 

Other financial liabilities

This Note sets out the amount of financial liabilities owing to external investors in respect of structured entities 
consolidated by the Group.

The statement of financial position of the Group includes financial liabilities arising from third-party investments in structured 
entities that are consolidated by the Group.

These financial liabilities have been designated as held at fair value through profit or loss. As at 31 December 2022, the fair value 
of the investments by independent third parties was $92.7m (2021: $95.8m), of which $92.7m (2021: $95.8m) related to other 
financial liabilities owing to investors in collateralised reinsurance arrangements. 

The fair value of these liabilities was determined by reference to the underlying net assets of the vehicles and was therefore 
categorised as level three in the fair value hierarchy. Further information relating to the Group’s approach to fair value measurement 
is available in Note 24.

31 

Insurance and other payables 

This Note sets out the various categories of amounts which are owed by the Group.

Arising out of direct insurance operations
Arising out of reinsurance operations
Other taxes and social security costs
Accruals and deferred income
Lease liabilities
Other creditors

Total

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

46.4
705.1
3.7
102.2
37.3
22.4

917.1

51.5
876.8
3.4
88.5
53.2
110.7

1,184.1

With the exception of lease liabilities, the carrying amounts disclosed above reasonably approximate fair values as all amounts are 
payable within one year of the date of the statement of financial position.

Of the total lease liabilities recognised above, $4.7m is payable within one year (2021: $6.8m). A maturity analysis of the contractual 
undiscounted cash flows is shown below:

Maturity analysis for lease liabilities – contractual undiscounted cash flows
Less than one year
One to five years
More than five years

Total undiscounted lease liabilities

Total lease liabilities included in ‘Insurance and other payables’

Current
Non-current

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

5.7
22.3
13.5

41.5

37.3

4.7
32.6

8.2
29.8
21.4

59.4

53.2

6.8
46.4

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

153

 
 
financial statements

32 

Called up share capital 

This Note sets out the number of shares the Company has in issue and their nominal value.

Ordinary shares:
Allotted, issued and fully paid 

At 1 January 2021
Issue of class A shares
Issue of class B shares

At 31 December 2021

31 December
 2022
 $m

 31 December
 2021
 $m

31 December
 2022 
1p each
 Number

31 December
 2021 
1p each
 Number

10.0

10.0 669,502,094 669,502,094

Share premium
$m

Share capital
$m

Share capital
Number

1,027.9
373.7
31.0

1,432.6

8.6 568,837,653
92,364,532
1.3
8,299,909
0.1

10.0 669,502,094

As at 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022

1,432.6

10.0 669,502,094

92,364,532 shares are class A shares and the remainder are class B shares. The class A and B shares rank pari passu except that 
on a distribution of profits by the Company, the class A shareholders are entitled to a cumulative annual dividend which must be 
settled ahead of any equivalent distribution to class B shareholders.

The number of shares reported is for Brit Limited, the immediate parent of the Brit Group. 

During the current year, no share issuances took place.

As at 31 December 2022, Fairfax owns 86.20% of Brit Limited while the remaining 13.80% is owned by OMERS.

During the prior year, the following issuances by Brit Limited took place:

•  On 06 July 2021, 1,627,907 Class B Ordinary Shares were issued by Brit Limited, each with a nominal value of 1p, for $7.0m. 

Following this share issuance, $7.0m was recorded in the share premium accounts.

•  On 27 August 2021, 92,364,532 Class A Ordinary Shares were issued by Brit Limited, each with a nominal value of 1p, for $375.0m. 

Following this share issuance, $373.7m was recorded in the share premium accounts.

•  On 17 December 2021, 6,672,002 Class B Ordinary Shares were issued by Brit Limited, each with a nominal value of 1p, for $24.1m. 

Following this share issuance, $24.0m was recorded in the share premium accounts.

33 

Dividends 

This Note gives details of the amounts paid to shareholders during 2022 and 2021 by way of dividends.

Dividend paid

 2022 
$/share

0.20

 2021 
$/share

0.66

 2022 
$m

18.7

18.7

 2021
 $m

375.0

375.0

An $18.7m dividend (2021: nil) was paid to the class A shareholders on 27 April 2022 in accordance with the Brit Limited 
shareholders’ agreement at an amount equal to $0.20 per share (2021: nil).

No dividend (2021: $375.0m/$0.66 per share) was paid to the class B shareholders in 2022 in accordance with the Brit Limited 
shareholders’ agreement. 

No dividend was paid to the class B shareholders in respect of the year-ended 31 December 2022 (2021: $nil).

154 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
 
financial statements

34 

Cash flows provided by operating activities 

The tables below show how the profit for the year translates into cash flows generated from operating activities and provide 
a reconciliation of the liabilities arising from financing activities.

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax
Adjustments for:
Realised and unrealised losses/(gains) on investments
Realised and unrealised (gains)/losses on derivatives
Amortisation of intangible assets
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Foreign exchange losses on cash and cash equivalents
Share of gains after tax of associated undertakings
Profit on disposal of subsidiaries
Profit on disposal of associated undertaking
Unrealised gains on shares held for share-based payments
Charges in respect of share-based payment schemes
Interest income
Dividend income
Finance costs on borrowings

Changes in working capital:
Deferred acquisition costs
Insurance and other receivables excluding accrued income
Insurance and reinsurance contracts 
Financial investments
Derivative contracts
Other financial liabilities
Insurance and other payables
Employee benefits
Provisions

Cash flows provided (used in)/by operating activities

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

(107.9)

227.3

206.7
(14.3)
7.2
2.9
18.4
(1.5)
–
–
(20.9)
20.1 
(77.7)
(8.4)
20.1

(55.0)
(318.5)
1,050.3
(1,117.6)
16.2
(3.1)
(238.3)
50.2
(0.2)

(571.3)

(123.0)
15.7
11.7
10.1
1.1
(1.7)
(19.8)
(6.1)
(21.7)
17.3
(47.4)
(11.0)
18.3

(74.5)
(279.7)
192.8
157.3
(12.6)
33.8
599.5
(65.0)
0.1

622.5

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax includes profits and losses arising from both continuing and discontinued operations:

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax

Year ended 31 December 2022
Year ended 31 December 2021

Continuing
 operations
$m

(118.1)
200.3

Discontinued
 operations
$m

10.2
27.0

Total
$m

(107.9)
227.3

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

155

 
 
 
financial statements

34 

Cash flows provided by operating activities (continued) 

Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities

31 December 2022
Long-term borrowings
Subordinated debt
Short-term borrowings
Revolving credit facility

Total liabilities from financing activities

31 December 2021
Long-term borrowings
Subordinated debt
Short-term borrowings
Revolving credit facility

Total liabilities from financing activities

35 

Share-based payments 

Non-cash changes

Year ended 
31 December 
2021 
$m

Cash flows
$m

Foreign exchange 
movement
$m

Other changes 
$m

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

182.9

45.0

227.9

184.6

130.0

314.6

(6.1)

(39.5)

(45.6)

(6.8)

(87.8)

(94.6)

(20.5)

–

(20.5)

(1.7)

–

(1.7)

6.1

4.5

10.6

6.8

2.8

9.6

162.4

10.0

172.4

182.9

45.0

227.9

The Group rewards its employees through various share-based incentive schemes. This Note explains the different schemes 
used to facilitate those share-based payments and the charge recognised in the consolidated income statement in respect 
of these schemes.

The compensation cost recognised in the income statement under IFRS 2 ‘Share-based Payments’ for the Group’s share-based 
payments arrangements are shown below:

Equity-settled plans
Employee Share Ownership Plan
Cash-settled plans
Long Term Incentive Plan

Total

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
 31 December
 2021
$m

1.5

18.6

20.1

1.0

16.3

17.3

The total liability in respect of cash-settled plans at 31 December 2022 was $32.2m (2021: $23.3m). In regard to the Long Term 
Incentive Plan, no gain or loss (2021: nil) is included in the consolidated statement of changes in equity in respect of equity settled 
plans. $4.2m (2021: $3.1m) is included within ‘Other creditors’ and ‘Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held 
for sale’ in respect of national insurance contributions on the share schemes. A further $1.5m (2021: $1.0m) of charges relating 
to the Employee Share Ownership Plan are equity-settled in nature but physically-settled in cash and so were not recorded in the 
consolidated statement of changes in equity. 

(a)  Long Term Incentive Plan (Performance Share Plan replacement)
On the Fairfax acquisition of Brit Limited, the 65% of PSP awards that did not immediately vest were converted by Fairfax into 
awards under this scheme. The cost of the awards was recorded over the vesting period. The options vested in November 2018 and 
there are a further seven years to exercise the options.

156 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
Number of awards

Year ended 
31 December 
2021 
Number of awards

668
(328)

340

741
(73)

668

35 

Share-based payments (continued) 

Reconciliation of movement in the number of awards

Outstanding at 1 January
Exercised

Outstanding at 31 December

In order to settle share-based payment awards, in 2015 the Group purchased $10.7m of preference shares in FFHL Share Option 1 
Corp and that company has purchased shares in Fairfax. Of the purchase, $3.9m related to this scheme and was recorded within 
equity so as to offset the share-based payment charges recorded in equity on exercise of the awards. $0.6m worth of options were 
forfeited prior to the vesting of the scheme and the shares associated with those forfeited awards were awarded as part of the 
cash-settled long term incentive plan. As such, this amount has been reclassified from equity to other assets, resulting in a $0.6m 
increase in the statement of changes in equity in 2021. There were no additional shares purchased for this scheme in 2021 and 2022. 
The remaining 340 shares were exercisable at the year end.

(b)  Long Term Incentive Plan
The Company awards selected employees options to acquire shares in Fairfax at a nil exercise price. Subject to continued service, 
the options vest between two and ten years after the grant date and there are a further five years to exercise the options.

The fair value of the awards are determined by the market price of the underlying shares at the valuation date. The calculation of the 
compensation cost recognised in the income statement in respect of these awards assumes forfeitures due to employee turnover 
of 10% per annum (2021: 10%) prior to vesting, with subsequent adjustments to reflect actual experience.

Reconciliation of movement in the number of awards

Outstanding at 1 January
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited

Outstanding at 31 December

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
Number of awards

Year ended 
31 December 
2021 
Number of awards

153,237
15,851
(15,354)
(4,659)

149,075

118,626
44,967
(3,825)
(6,531)

153,237

The total intrinsic value at the end of the period of liabilities for awards that have been vested, but not exercised, amounted to $2.3m 
(2021: $3.8m). The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the period was $493.23 
(2021: $430.61). The weighted average fair value at date of grant for awards granted during 2022 was $616.48 (2021: $496.50). 

In order to settle share-based payment awards, in 2022 the Group purchased $0.4m (2021: $16.9m) of preference shares in FFHL 
Share Option 1 Corp and that company has purchased shares in Fairfax. This has been recorded within ‘Other Assets’ and ‘Assets 
classified as held for sale’ so as to offset the share-based payment recorded as a liability within ‘Other creditors’ and ‘Liabilities 
directly associated with assets classified as held for sale’ that accrues over the vesting period of the awards.

(c)  Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Under the terms of the ESOP which was established in 2015, eligible employees are given the election to purchase common 
shares in Fairfax in an amount up to 10% of their annual base salary. The Company purchases, on the employee’s behalf, a number 
of Fairfax’s common shares equal in value to 30% of the employee’s contribution. In the event that the Company achieves certain 
performance targets, additional shares are purchased by the Company for the employee’s benefit, to an amount equal in value 
to 20% of the employee’s contribution during that year. In respect of both shares purchased by employees and matched by the 
Company, during the year ended 31 December 2022, the Company purchased a total of 7,631 common shares in Fairfax (2021: 7,997) 
at an average price of $522.72 (2021: $440.14) in respect of this plan. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

157

 
 
financial statements

36 

Consolidated entities

This Note sets out all the entities which are members of the Brit Limited Group and whose results and financial positions are 
consolidated to produce the Group result and financial position.

All subsidiaries of the Company are 100% owned apart from the Group’s special purpose vehicles. For these vehicles, funding 
is provided through preference share capital or other unitised issuances. The Group also holds 55% and 54% investments in The 
Diversified Fund and the Specialty Insurance Fund respectively, which are segregated accounts within Sussex Capital Limited. The 
Group has consolidated all segregated accounts of Sussex Re Limited and protected cells of Sussex Capital UK PCC Limited apart 
from those where the investment therein has been made directly by investors that are external to the Brit Group. 

Ki Member Limited is a Lloyd’s corporate member owned by the RiverStone Group during 2021 and acquired by Brit Limited Group 
on 1 January 2022. Its main activity from 1 January 2021 has been to act as the sole corporate member of Ki Syndicate 1618, the 
results of which generate the majority of the economic returns of Ki Member Limited from 2021 onwards. These returns have been 
fully reinsured into segregated accounts of Sussex Re Limited, in which Ki Financial Limited (KFL), a member of the Brit Group, is the 
sole investor. Consequently, KFL is the principal beneficiary of the economics of Ki Syndicate 1618, Ki Member Limited and the Sussex 
segregated accounts through into which the results of the syndicate are passed to KFL. Accordingly, from 1 January 2021 under the 
provisions of IFRS10, Brit was deemed to control Ki Member Limited and has therefore consolidated it from that date. Any residual 
result in Ki Member Limited was attributable to non-controlling interests until its acquisition by the Group on 1 January 2022. 

As mentioned in Note 2.2, 60.70% of the 2020 year of account result and assets of Syndicate 2988 is included in these consolidated 
financial statements. 57.67% of the 2021 year of account result and assets of Syndicate 2988 is included in these consolidated 
financial statements. 67.98% of the 2022 year of account result and assets of Syndicate 2988 is included in these consolidated 
financial statements.

As at 31 December 2022, the Group holds 20.0% of the share capital of Ki Financial Limited and 51.0% of the voting rights. The entity 
is consolidated in full by the Group. During 2022 and 2021, Brit Limited invested $38m respectively (2022: $6m on 2 September, 
$29m on 2 December, and $3m on 15 December; 2021: $7m on 7 July, and $24m on 7 December).

On 25 March 2021, the Brit Group received a return of its investment in North America Property Insurance Series 2017 Account A-3 
(‘Account A3’) (a segregated account within Versutus Limited that was previously consolidated into Group). As Brit no longer has 
an economic interest in Account A3 it has been deconsolidated.

On 5 February 2021, the Group sold its entire investment in Commonwealth Insurance Company of America. At this point, there was 
a loss of control and, as such, it has been deconsolidated.

On 28 June 2021, the Group sold its entire investment in Scion Underwriting Services Inc. At this point, there was a loss of control 
and, as such, it has been deconsolidated.

The subsidiaries of the Company at 31 December 2022, together with their main function, are listed below by country 
of incorporation. The registered address and principal place of business of each entity is The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall 
Street, London, EC3V 4AB unless otherwise stated. 

158 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

36 

Consolidated entities (continued)

Subsidiary

Principal activity

Registered address and principal place of business

United Kingdom
Brit Insurance Holdings Limited

Brit Syndicates Limited

Brit UW Limited

Intermediate holding company The Leadenhall Building

Lloyd’s managing agent

The Leadenhall Building

Lloyd’s corporate member

The Leadenhall Building

Brit Insurance Services Limited

Service company

The Leadenhall Building

Brit Investment Holdings Limited

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Brit Group Services Limited

Brit Group Finance Limited

Group services company

The Leadenhall Building

Group services company

The Leadenhall Building

BGS Services (Bermuda) Limited

Service company

The Leadenhall Building

Brit Pension Trustee Limited

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Brit Corporate Services Limited

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Brit Corporate Secretaries Limited

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Sussex Capital UK PCC Limited

Special purpose vehicle

The Leadenhall Building

Nameco (No. 1341) Limited

Ambridge Europe Limited

Insurance intermediary

Lloyd’s corporate member

5th Floor, 40 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0BT

Ambridge European Holdings Limited

Service company 

Ki Member Limited (formerly Riverstone 
Corporate Capital 4 Limited)
Ki Financial Limited

Lloyd’s corporate member

Intermediate holding company The Leadenhall Building

c/o PKF Littlejohn 15 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, 
London, E14 4HD
c/o PKF Littlejohn 15 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, 
London, E14 4HD
The Leadenhall Building

Ki Capital Solutions Limited 

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Ki Technology Limited

Ki Member Limited

Ki Group Services Limited

Otto Technology Limited

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Service company (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

Brit Syndicates Trustee Limited

Lloyd’s trustee (Dormant)

The Leadenhall Building

United States of America
Brit Insurance Services USA Inc.

Service company

161 N. Clark Street, Suite 3200, Chicago, IL, 60601

Brit Insurance USA Holdings Inc.

Intermediate holding company

161 N. Clark Street, Suite 3200, Chicago, IL, 60601

Ambridge Partners LLC

Insurance intermediary

251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808

Ambridge Due Diligence Services LLC

Service company (Dormant)

251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808

Ambridge USA Service Company Inc.

Service company

161 N. Clark Street, Suite 3200, Chicago, IL, 60601

Bermuda
Sussex Capital Management Limited

Sussex Capital Limited

Sussex Re Limited

Service company

Special purpose vehicle

Ground Floor Chesney House, The Waterfront, 96 Pitts 
Bay Road, Pembroke, HM 08
Wessex House, 3rd Floor, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 12

Special purpose vehicle

Wessex House, 3rd Floor, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 12

Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited

Insurance company

Ground Floor Chesney House, The Waterfront, 96 Pitts 
Bay Road, Pembroke, HM 08

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

159

 
 
 
 
financial statements

36 

Consolidated entities (continued)

Subsidiary

Principal activity

Registered address and principal place of business

Singapore
Brit Global Specialty Singapore Pte. Ltd.

The Netherlands
Brit Insurance Holdings B.V.

Service company (in liquidation) 138 Market St., #04-03 CapitaGreen, 048946

Former holding company

The Leadenhall Building

Germany
Ambridge Europe GmbH & Co. KG

Insurance intermediary

Ambridge German Holdings GmbH

Service company 

South Africa
Camargue Underwriting Managers 
(Proprietary) Limited
Synergy XOL (Pty) Ltd.

Insurance intermediary

Service company

Phoenix Underwriting Managers (Pty) Ltd. Service company (Dormant)

Grüneburgweg 58 – 62, 60322 Frankfurt 
am Main, Germany
Grüneburgweg 58 – 62, 60322 Frankfurt 
am Main, Germany

Camargue House, 33 Glenhove Road, 
Melrose Estate, 2196
Camargue House, 33 Glenhove Road, 
Melrose Estate, 2196
Camargue House, 33 Glenhove Road, 
Melrose Estate, 2196

37 

Related party transactions and Ultimate Parent Company

The Group has a number of related parties which includes its principal investors and its Directors. Sometimes it transacts business 
with these related parties. This Note sets out those transactions.

The Group carries out a number of transactions with related parties which include, paying management fees, carrying out insurance 
and reinsurance activities with affiliates of the ultimate parent company, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, and trading with its 
associates. All the transactions with related parties are undertaken on an arm’s-length basis.

(a)  Ultimate Parent Company
The ultimate parent company and controlling entity, and the largest group of which the Group is a member, is Fairfax Financial 
Holdings Limited (Fairfax) which is registered in Canada and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The consolidated financial 
statements for Fairfax are publicly available and can be obtained from the Corporate Secretary, 95 Wellington Street West, Suite 
800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2N7 or from the website at www.fairfax.ca.

(b)  Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
In June 2015, Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Limited (HWIC), an affiliate of Fairfax, was appointed as an investment manager 
to a number of Group companies. During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Group incurred and paid investment management 
fees to HWIC of $11.5m (2021: $11.9m).

The Group has historically entered into various reinsurance arrangements with affiliates of Fairfax. 

In respect of insurance and ceded outwards reinsurance activity, the amounts included in the income statement relating to trading 
with affiliates of Fairfax were as follows:

160 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements37 

Related party transactions and Ultimate Parent Company (continued)

Gross premiums written
Less premiums ceded to reinsurers

Premiums written, net of reinsurance

Gross amount of change in provision for unearned premiums
Reinsurers' share of change in provision for unearned premiums
Net change in provision for unearned premiums

Earned premiums, net of reinsurance

Gross claims paid
Reinsurers' share of claims paid

Claims paid, net of reinsurance

Gross change in the provision for claims
Reinsurers' share of change in the provision for claims

Net change in the provision for claims

Commission income
Commission expense

financial statements

Year ended 
31 December
 2022 
$m

Year ended 
31 December
 2021 
$m

20.0
(14.6)

5.4

(1.9)
(1.4)
(3.3)

2.1

(7.0)
3.3

(3.7)

(3.4)
3.2

(0.2)

0.8
(4.6)

16.4
(15.9)

0.5

(1.8)
1.2
(0.6)

(0.1)

(13.5)
6.6

(6.9)

8.1
3.5

11.6

0.8
(0.9)

The amounts included in the statement of financial position outstanding with Fairfax and its affiliates as at 31 December 2022 
were as follows:

Debtors arising out of direct insurance and reinsurance operations:
Insurance premium receivable
Recoverable from reinsurers

Creditors arising out of direct insurance and reinsurance operations:
Payable to reinsurers
Unpaid claims liabilities

Deferred acquisition costs
Gross unearned premiums
Unearned premium recoverable from reinsurers

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended 
31 December 
2021 
$m

5.0
23.5

(7.0)
(43.9)

1.8
(9.2)
3.6

6.3
20.7

(5.3)
(41.1)

0.8
(7.6)
5.0

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

161

 
 
financial statements

37 

Related party transactions and Ultimate Parent Company (continued)

(c)  Business combination

Camargue Underwriting Managers Proprietary Limited
On 4 October 2021, the Brit Group exercised a call option to acquire the remaining 50% of the issued shares of Camargue 
Underwriting Managers Proprietary Limited (Camargue), following the initial acquisition of 50% in August 2016. The acquisition 
was completed on 4 October 2021 for a total purchase consideration of $12.6m – the consideration only consisted of cash. 
Following the transaction, the Brit Group has 100% of the voting equity instruments of Camargue, a leading managing general 
underwriter of a range of specialised insurance products and specialist liability solutions in South Africa and is an important trading 
partner for Brit. 

Prior to 4 October, Brit’s investment in Camargue was recorded as an investment in associated undertaking and valued under equity 
method accounting requirements. As a result, the Brit Group’s share of pre-acquisition year-to-date profits of $0.5m were reported 
within the ‘Share of net profit of associates’ line of the Consolidated Income Statement in 2021. 

For the period of the year where Camargue was an associate of the Group, the amounts in the income statement relating 
to trading with Camargue for the year ended 31 December 2021 included commission for introducing insurance business of $2.1m 
(2020: $2.9m).

In addition, at the acquisition date the investment in associate was derecognised from the balance sheet of the Group and 
remeasured at fair value for the purposes of acquisition accounting under IFRS 3 and subsequent consolidation of Camargue. The 
acquisition-date fair value of the equity interest in Camargue immediately before the acquisition date amounted to $12.6m. This 
process resulted in the recognition of a gain of $6.1m being recorded in the Income Statement (‘Gain on business combination’) for 
the year ending 31 December 2021. Accordingly, Brit’s investment in associated undertakings decreased.

The fair value of assets and liabilities recognised as a result of the acquisition are as follows:

Assets
Acquired intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Deferred tax asset
Financial investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade receivables
Other receivables

Liabilities
Deferred tax liability
Trade payables
Other payables

Net identifiable assets acquired
Add: goodwill

Net assets acquired

As at 4 October
 2021
$m

8.2
1.1
0.5
0.1
6.2
1.0
0.1

17.2

2.3
3.2
2.9

8.4

8.8
16.4

25.2

Acquired intangible assets and goodwill
On acquisition, the Group recognised $0.9m of trade names and $7.3m of distribution channels. The Group also recognised $16.4m 
of goodwill. The quantum of goodwill can be explained by the anticipated forecast revenue growth from the business securing new 
customers as well as new written premium, and unrecognised intangible assets – namely, the industry experience and know-how 
of the assembled workforce. 

The goodwill recognised was not deductible for tax purposes.

162 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
 
financial statements

37 

Related party transactions and Ultimate Parent Company (continued)

Trade receivables
The fair value is determined through the contractual amount receivable less any amounts uncollectible. On acquisition, Camargue 
held trade receivables with a book and fair value of $1.1m, representing contractual receivables of $1.1m. The Brit Group will make 
every effort to collect all contractual receivables, and it consider it unlikely that any of these amounts will be uncollectible.

Trade payables
The fair value is based on the contractual amount required to be settled with insurers in respect of business underwritten on their 
behalf, less any commissions due thereon that are deductible at source.

Revenue and profit contribution
The acquired business contributed $1.8m to revenue and $1.3m to profit for the period from 4 October 2021 to 31 December 2021. 
If the acquisition had occurred on 1 January 2021, the Brit Group revenue would have been $2,015.2m and consolidated profit for the 
period would have been $237.5m.

Acquisition costs
Acquisition costs of $31.5k arose as a result of the transaction. These have been recognised as part of ‘Other operating expenses’ 
in the Income Statement.

(d)  Associated undertaking

Sutton Special Risk Inc
On 2 January 2019, Brit Insurance Holding Limited, acquired 49% of the issued shares of Sutton for a total purchase consideration 
of CAD$17.2m and entered into a forward contract to purchase the remaining 51% in 2024. Sutton is a Canadian MGU, specialising 
in Accident and Health business. 

Trading with Sutton is undertaken on an arm’s-length basis and is settled in cash. The amounts in the income statement relating 
to trading with Sutton for the year ended 31 December 2022 included commission for introducing insurance business of $4.8m 
(2021: $4.2m).

Amounts recorded in the statement of financial position in respect of premium net of commissions due from, and fees payable to, 
Sutton as at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021 were not material.

(e)  Crum and Forster commission agreement
On 1 May 2018, Brit Insurance Services USA, Inc. (BISI) entered into a binding authority agreement with Crum and Forster Specialty 
(C&F), another subsidiary of the Fairfax group. C&F has authorized BISI to bind certain commercial insurance contracts on their 
behalf. BISI earns a commission of up to 13.5% for this business including external broker commission. The agreement will continue 
in perpetuity until BISI or C&F provide written notice of cancellation. During 2022, C&F paid BISI $4.4k (2021: $5.4k) in respect 
of commission. $8.0k was payable at the year-end (2021: $45.2k receivable).

(f)  Bryte Insurance Limited agreement
Prior to the acquisition of Camargue Underwriting Managers Proprietary Limited (Camargue) on 4 October 2021, the entity had 
already entered into an agreement with Bryte Insurance Limited (Bryte), another subsidiary of the Fairfax group. Camargue acts 
as an underwriting managing agent for Bryte, administering insurance policies on their behalf and providing risk management 
services over the lifetime of those policies.

Following the acquisition of Camargue on 4 October 2021, the amounts in the income statement related to trading with Bryte 
were $1.5m (2021: $0.2m) in respect of administration fees and risk management fees. $0.3m was outstanding at the year-end 
(2021: $0.4m).

(g)  Key management compensation
The amount of the emoluments granted in respect of the financial year to the members of the administrative, managerial and 
supervisory bodies by reason of their responsibilities, and any commitments arising or entered into in respect of retirement pension 
for former members of those bodies, are broken down as follows:

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

37 

Related party transactions and Ultimate Parent Company (continued)

Salaries and other short-term employee benefits
Post-employment benefits
Share-based payments
Termination benefits

Total compensation

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

12.9
1.1
9.2
–

23.2

7.9
0.9
11.0
–

19.8

For the purposes of IAS 24, 'Related Party Disclosures', key managers are defined as the Board of Directors and members of the 
Executive Committee which is the primary vehicle for implementing Board decisions in respect of UK-managed operations. 

As at 31 December 2022, $0.4m (2021: $0.4m) was recorded in the statement of financial position in respect of unsecured loans 
to key management personnel. These loans were recognised during 2020, are expected to be settled in cash, carry an annual 
interest charge of 2.25%, and have no fixed maturity date. 

(h) Brit Group Services Limited Retirement Benefits Scheme
On 26 May 2022, Brit Group Services Limited entered into an agreement with the Brit Group Services Limited Retirement Benefits 
Scheme (the “Scheme”) to advance the Scheme a temporary loan to enable it to meet its short-term expense requirements. The 
Scheme shall pay interest at a rate equal to the Sterling Overnight Index Average plus 2.45% per annum. The principal balance on the 
loan was repaid in full on 30 September 2022. 

Amounts recorded in the income statement relate to interest earned on the loan and in 2022, amounted to $23.7k. 
As at 31 December 2022, no amounts were outstanding. 

38  

Discontinued Operation

This Note describes the composition of the discontinued operation and illustrates its impact on the Group in terms of financial 
performance and cash flow information. It also sets out the assets and liabilities of the disposal group classified as held for sale.

(a)  Description
In December 2022, management committed to a plan to collectively sell a number of the Group’s subsidiaries (collectively termed 
‘Ambridge’). The subsidiaries included in the plan are as follows:

•  Brit Insurance USA Holdings Inc.

•  Brit Insurance Services USA, LLC

•  Ambridge US Service Company, Inc.

•  Ambridge Partners LLC

•  Ambridge Diligence Services LLC

•  Ambridge Europe Limited

•  Ambridge European Holdings Limited

•  Ambridge Europe GmbH & Co. KG

•  Ambridge German Holdings GmbH

Accordingly, the Ambridge business has been presented as a disposal group held for sale. The sale is expected to complete in  
Q2 2023. Ambridge undertakes a significant portion of the distribution activity of the Group and has a balance sheet value that 
is material. As such, the results of the Ambridge business have been reported as a discontinued operation in the current and prior 
periods. The discontinued operation includes the elimination of intragroup transactions with continuing operations, along with 
adjustments to reflect how transactions between continuing operations and the discontinued operation will be reflected in continuing 
operations going forward.

164 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements38  

Discontinued Operation (continued)

(b)  Financial performance and cash flow information
The financial performance of Ambridge in the current and prior period was as follows:

Operating Activities
Revenue 
Expenses
Profit before income tax
Income tax expense

Profit after income tax of discontinued operation

Profit/(loss) from discontinued operation, net of tax

Exchange differences on translation of discontinued operation
Total comprehensive income from discontinued operation

financial statements

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

30.7
(20.5)
10.2
11.5

21.7

21.7

(1.9)
19.8

41.9
(14.9)
27.0
(2.4)

24.6

24.6

(0.8)
23.8

No gains or losses arose in respect of the remeasurement of assets or liabilities as held for sale. 

All profits and losses, and other comprehensive income, from the discontinued operation are attributable to the owners of the parent 
in both the current and prior period. In respect of continuing operations, $(106.9)m (2021: $223.9m) of the net result is attributable 
to the owners of the parent, and $(149.0)m (2021: $(235.8)m) of the total comprehensive income are attributable to the owners 
of the parent.

The cash flow information for Ambridge in the current and prior period was as follows:

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities 

Net increase in cash generated by the discontinued operation

Year ended 
31 December 
2022 
$m

Year ended
31 December
 2021
$m

37.8
0.4

38.2

22.2
31.9

54.1

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

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financial statements

38  

Discontinued Operation (continued)

(c)  Assets and liabilities of disposal group classified as held for sale
As at 31 December 2022, the disposal group was stated at the carrying amount of the relevant assets and liabilities, which 
comprised the following:

Assets classified as held for sale:
Goodwill
Distribution channels
Other intangibles
Property, plant and equipment
Current taxation
Deferred taxation
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets of disposal group held for sale

Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale:
Current taxation
Trade and other payables

Total liability of disposal group held for sale

Ambridge
$m

Consolidation 
Adjustment
$m

As presented on
 the consolidated
 statement of
 financial position
$m

45.9
32.1
0.5
3.6
4.5
6.2
133.9
67.8

294.5

4.3
166.8

171.1

–
–
–
–
–
4.5
(37.7)
70.3

37.1

–
(121.5)

(121.5)

45.9
32.1
0.5
3.6
4.5
10.7
96.2
138.1

331.6

4.3
45.3

49.6

The cumulative foreign exchange losses recognised in other comprehensive income in relation to the discontinued operation 
as at 31 December 2022 were $2.4m (2021: $0.5m).

39  

Guarantees and contingent liabilities

This Note explains guarantees issued by Group companies and any contingent liabilities they may be exposed to.

(a)  Lloyd’s
Assets have been pledged, as Funds at Lloyd's, by way of deposits and fixed and floating charges for corporate member companies 
within the Group that participate on Lloyd’s syndicates. The funds are held in trust and can be used to meet claims liabilities should 
syndicates fail to meet their claims liabilities. Each corporate member has its own funds and can only use its funds to meet its own 
claims liabilities.

As at 31 December 2022, the Group’s total Funds at Lloyd’s balance amounted to $1,486.9m (2021: $1,455.4m), of which $280.0m 
(2021: $260.0m) was attributable to letters of credit placed as Funds at Lloyd’s.

(b)  Credit facilities
Revolving credit facility
The Group has a $550.0m (2021: $450.0m) revolving credit facility which expires on 31 December 2025. At 31 December 2022, 
a $100.0m (2021: $130.0m) uncollateralised letter of credit had been utilised. In addition, there was a cash drawing of $10.0m 
(2021: $45.0m).

Other borrowings
Syndicate 2987 entered into an agreement for a $150.0m uncollateralised letter of credit facility on 22 November 2021, which was 
fully utilised at 31 December 2021. This facility expired on 31 December 2022.

As at 31 December 2022, there was a fully utilised uncollateralised $180.0m (2021: $130.0m) letter of credit facility to support the 
business written in Syndicate 1618. This facility expires on 31 December 2026.

As at 31 December 2022, there was a fully utilised $10.0m (2021: $5.0m) letter of credit facility to support Brit Reinsurance 
(Bermuda) Limited. Of this amount, $6.5m (2021: $2.0m) was collateralised. This is an ongoing facility with no fixed expiry date.

166 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

39  

Guarantees and contingent liabilities (continued)

(c)  Taxation 
The Group operates in a wide variety of jurisdictions around the world through its Lloyd’s syndicate and uncertainties therefore exist 
with respect to the interpretation of complex tax laws and practices of those territories. The Group establishes provisions for taxes 
other than current and deferred income tax if there is a present obligation as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow 
of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate of the amount of the 
obligation can be made. This assessment is made based upon various factors which are continually evaluated.

Income taxes are provided for as set out in accounting policy (Note 2.5.11).

40 

Events occurring after the reporting date

This Note sets out how events occurring after the reporting date relate to the financial position and performance of the Group in the 
reporting period.

On 7 January 2023 Brit entered into an agreement to sell Ambridge Group, its Managing General Underwriter operations, 
to Amynta Group. The Company will receive approximately $400 million on closing, comprised principally of cash of $275 million and 
a promissory note of approximately $125 million. An additional $100 million may be receivable, subject to a claw back based on 2023 
performance targets of Ambridge. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory 
approvals, and is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2023. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

167

 
 
financial statements

Index to the Parent Company Financial Statements

Statement of Financial Position  

Statement of Changes in Equity 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

Note 1 

Note 2 

Note 3 

Note 4 

Note 5 

Note 6 

Note 7 

Note 8 

Note 9 

Accounting policies and basis of preparation 

Auditor’s remuneration 

Shares in Group undertakings 

Loans to Group undertakings 

Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year 

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 

Creditors: Amounts falling due after  
more than one year 
Called up share capital 

Directors’ emoluments 

Note 10 

Guarantees and contingent liabilities 

Note 11 

Dividends 

Note 12 

Share-based payments 

Note 13 

Disclosure exemptions 

Note 14 

Ultimate parent company and other  
related undertakings 

170

171

172

172

173

173

174

174

174

175
175

176

176

176

177

177

177

168 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsIntroduction to the Parent Company Financial 
Statements

Statement of Financial Position
The statement of financial position is a summary of assets 
and how the assets have been funded through liabilities and 
equity investment by shareholders.

Statement of Changes in Equity
The statement of changes in equity shows how the various 
lines in the equity section of the Company’s statement 
of financial position have moved during the year.

financial statements

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

169

 
 
financial statements

statement of financial position

At 31 December 2022

Fixed assets
Investments:
Shares in Group undertakings
Loans to Group undertakings

Current assets
Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year
Cash at bank and in hand

Current liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

Net assets

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium
Capital redemption reserve
Capital contribution reserve
Retained earnings

Total equity 

31 December 
2022
$m

31 December 
2021
$m

Note

3
4

5

6

7

8

1,155.2
124.0

1,279.2

526.8
0.2

527.0

1,114.5
139.6

1,254.1

580.6
0.2

580.8

(1.1)

(0.7)

525.9

580.1

1,805.1

1,834.2

(162.4)

1,642.7

(182.9)

1,651.3

10.0
1,432.6
1.0
32.2
166.9

1,642.7

10.0
1,432.6
1.0
28.5
179.2

1,651.3

No individual income statement is presented for the Company, as permitted by Section 408 of the Act. The comprehensive income 
dealt with in the financial statements of the parent company was a $6.4m profit (2021: $1.0m loss).

The accompanying Notes on pages 172 to 177 are an integral part of these financial statements.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 23 February 2023 and were signed on its behalf by:

Martin Thompson 
Group Chief Executive Officer 

Gavin Wilkinson
Group Chief Financial Officer

170 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

 
statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 31 December 2022

1 January 2022
Profit and total comprehensive 

income for the year
Issuance of share capital
Dividend
Contribution from parent in 

relation to the acquisition of the 
Riverstone pension plan

Note

8
11

Called up
 Share
 capital
$m

10.0

Share
 premium
$m

1,432.6

Capital
 redemption
 reserve 
$m

Capital
 contribution
 reserve 
$m

1.0

28.5

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

At 31 December 2022

10.0

1,432.6

1.0

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Note

8
11

1 January 2021
Loss and total comprehensive 

expense for the year
Issuance of share capital
Dividend
Contribution from parent in 

relation to the acquisition of the 
Riverstone pension plan

At 31 December 2021

Called up
 Share
 capital
$m

8.6

–
1.4
–

–

10.0

Share
 premium
$m

1,027.9

–
404.7
–

–

1,432.6

Capital
 redemption
 reserve 
$m

1.0

–
–
–

–

1.0

The accompanying Notes on pages 172 to 177 are an integral part of these financial statements.

–
–
–

3.7

32.2

Capital
 contribution
 reserve 
$m

–

–
–
–

financial statements

Retained
 earnings
$m

179.2

6.4
–
(18.7)

Total
equity 
$m

1,651.3

6.4
–
(18.7)

–

3.7

166.9

1,642.7

Retained
 earnings
$m

555.2

(1.0)
–
(375.0)

Total
equity 
$m

1,592.7

(1.0)
406.1
(375.0)

28.5

28.5

–

28.5

179.2

1,651.3

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

171

 
 
financial statements

notes to the financial statements

1 

Accounting policies and basis of preparation 

This Note provides details of the basis of preparation and accounting policies applied in producing these parent company 
financial statements.

Basis of preparation

1.1  
The Company financial statements present the information about the Company as a separate entity. The Company is incorporated 
and registered in England and Wales with registration number 08821629. The registered office of the Company at the date of this 
report is The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London EC3V 4AB.

The Company has prepared its financial statements in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard ‘FRS 102’, the Financial 
Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and provisions of Section 396 of the Companies Act 
2006. The Company has applied accounting policies consistently to all the years presented, other than where new policies have 
been adopted. 

The financial statements have been compiled on a going concern basis and prepared on a historical cost basis, except for financial 
investments and financial liabilities which have been measured initially at fair value. The Company financial statements are presented 
in US dollars, which is also the functional currency of the Company, and all values are rounded to the nearest $0.1m except where 
otherwise indicated.

1.2  

Accounting policies 

(a)  Investments
Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost less provisions for any impairment.

(b)  Income from fixed asset investments
Dividend income is recognised when the shareholders’ right to receive the payment is established.

(c)  Long-term debt
Long-term debt is recognised initially at transaction price which is the fair value. It is subsequently measured at amortised cost using 
the effective interest rate method, in accordance with section 11 of FRS 102 (Basic Financial Instruments). 

Interest payable is recognised using the effective interest rate method.

(d)  Loans to Group undertakings
Loans to Group undertakings are recognised initially at transaction price which is the fair value, (including transaction costs 
incurred except in the initial measurement of financial liabilities that are measured at fair value through profit or loss) and 
subsequently measured at amortised cost using effective interest rate method, in accordance with section 11 of FRS 102 (Basic 
Financial Instruments).

Interest receivable is recognised using the effective interest rate method.

(e)  Expenses
All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis.

(f)  Foreign currencies
Items included in the financial statements of the Company are measured using the functional currency which is the primary economic 
environment in which the entity operates. The functional currency of the Company is US dollars.

Transactions in foreign currencies other than US dollars are converted at the rate of exchange ruling at the date the transaction 
is processed. Unless otherwise stated, transactions are converted at the average rates of the exchange for the period. Assets 
and liabilities in currencies other than Sterling are converted at the rate of exchange ruling at 31 December of each year. Exchange 
differences arising on conversion are dealt with in the income statement.

172 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

financial statements

1 

Accounting policies and basis of preparation (continued) 

(g)  Deferred taxation
Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences which are differences between taxable profits and total 
comprehensive income that arise from the inclusion of income and expenses in tax assessments in periods different from those 
in which they are recognised in the financial statements, except that: 

•  provision is made for deferred tax that would arise on remittance of the retained earnings of overseas subsidiaries, 

associates and joint ventures only to the extent that, at the statement of financial position date, dividends have been accrued 
as receivable;

•  where there are differences between amounts that can be deducted for tax for assets (other than goodwill) and liabilities 
compared with the amounts that are recognised for those assets and liabilities in a business combination a deferred 
tax asset/liability shall be recognised. The amount attributed to goodwill is adjusted by the amount of the deferred tax 
recognised; and 

•  unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that the Directors consider that 
it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. 

Deferred tax is measured on an undiscounted basis at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which timing 
differences reverse, based on tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the statement of financial position date.

2  

Auditor’s remuneration

This Note sets out the fees paid in respect of the annual audit performed on the Company.

Audit fees borne by the Company amounted to $16,765 (2021: $15,525).

3  

Shares in Group undertakings

This Note explains the direct shareholdings of the Company in other Group entities.

Investment in Brit Insurance Holdings Limited
Investment in Ki Financial Limited
Investment in Ki Member Limited

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December 
2021 
$m

1,054.7
100.0
0.5

1,155.2

1,052.5
62.0
–

1,114.5

During 2021, Brit Limited invested a total of $2.0m into Brit Insurance Holdings Limited (13 September 2021: $0.5m, 
18 October 2021: $0.5m, 16 November 2021: $0.5m, and 15 December 2021: $0.5m). During 2022, Brit Limited invested a total 
of $2.2m into Brit Insurance Holdings Limited (17 January 2022: $0.5m, 17 February 2022: $0.5m, 18 March 2022: $0.5m, 
22 April 2022: $0.4m, 30 June 2022: $0.1m, 30 September 2022: $0.1m, and 29 December 2022: $0.1m). 

On 7 July 2021 and 7 December 2021, Brit Limited invested $7.0m and $24.0m respectively into Ki Financial Limited. During 2022, 
Brit Limited invested a further $38.0m into Ki Financial Limited (2 September 2022: $6.0m, 2 December 2022: $29.0m, and 
15 December 2022: $3.0m).

On 1 January 2022, Brit Limited acquired the share capital of Ki Member Limited for $0.5m.

The subsidiaries of the Company as at 31 December 2022, and their principal activities, are disclosed in the Brit Limited 
consolidated financial statements.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

173

 
 
financial statements

4  

Loans to Group undertakings

This Note sets out moneys lent by the Company to other Group companies.

Loans to Group undertakings

31 December 
2022
$m

31 December 
2021
$m

124.0

139.6

On 8 September 2014, a long-term loan to another Group company was novated to Brit Limited at fair value. The agreement carries 
interest at an annual interest rate of 7.05%. The loan is unsecured, has no fixed date of repayment, and is repayable on demand.

5  

Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year 

This Note sets out moneys owed to the Company that are due before 31 December 2023.

Interest receivable on loans to Group undertakings 
Amounts owed by Group undertakings
Prepayments

Total

31 December 
2022
$m

31 December 
2021 
$m

19.2
506.7
0.9

526.8

32.1
547.7
0.8

580.6

‘Amounts owed by Group undertakings’ are unsecured, interest free, have no fixed date of repayment and are repayable on demand.

6  

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

This Note sets out moneys owed by the Company that are due before 31 December 2023.

Accruals and deferred income
Amounts owed to Group undertakings

Total

31 December 
2022
$m

31 December 
2021 
$m

0.7
0.4

1.1

0.7
–

0.7

‘Amounts owed to Group undertakings’ are unsecured, interest free, have no fixed date of repayment and are repayable on demand.

174 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statementsfinancial statements

7  

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

This Note sets out moneys owed by the Company that are due after 31 December 2023.

Subordinated debt

Maturity

2030

Call

–

Effective
interest rate 

3.7%

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Amortised
cost
$m

162.4

Fair value
$m

120.6

Amortised
cost
$m

182.9

Fair value
$m

174.5

The fair value of the subordinated debt has been determined by reference to trading market values on recognised exchanges and 
is categorised as level one in the fair value hierarchy.

The subordinated debt was novated to the Company from another Group company on 8 September 2014 at fair value. The 
subordinated debt is listed and callable in whole by the Company on 9 December 2020. Following this date, the interest rate reset 
to 3.6757%, being the higher of: 

i)  3.4% above the gross redemption yield of the 4.75% Treasury Gilt due 2030 quoted on the reset date; and

ii)  3.4% above the gross redemption yield of the 8% Treasury Stock due 2021 quoted on the reset date.

8  

Called up share capital

This Note sets out the number of shares in issue and their nominal value.

Ordinary shares:
Allotted, issued and fully paid 

At 1 January 2021
Issue of class A shares
Issue of class B shares

At 31 December 2021

31 December
 2022
 $m

 31 December
 2021
 $m

31 December 
2022
 1p each 
Number

31 December 
2021
 1p each 
Number

10.0

10.0 669,502,094 669,502,094

Share premium
$m

Share capital
$m

Share capital
Number

1,027.9
373.7
31.0

1,432.6

8.6 568,837,653
92,364,532
1.3
8,299,909
0.1

10.0 669,502,094

As at 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022

1,432.6

10.0 669,502,094

For further information in respect of shares currently in issue and related movements in called up share capital during the 
current and prior period, please refer to Note 32 accompanying the Brit Limited Group financial statements. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

175

 
 
 
financial statements

9 

Directors’ emoluments

This Note gives a breakdown of emoluments paid to Directors both in total and in respect of the highest paid Director.

Aggregate remuneration 
Aggregate contributions to money purchase pension schemes

Total 

The Directors’ remuneration disclosed above includes the following amounts paid to the  

highest paid Director:
Aggregate remuneration

Number of Directors with benefits accruing under money purchase pension schemes
Number of Directors who exercised share options
Number of Directors in respect of whose qualifying services, shares were received or  

receivable under long-term incentive schemes

31 December 
2022 
$m

31 December
 2021
$m

10.4
0.1

10.5

10.5
0.1

10.6

5.8

6.2

Number

Number

2
2

2

1
1

2

No shares were received or receivable by the highest paid Director in respect of qualifying services under a long-term incentive 
scheme during 2022 and 2021. Shares were exercised by the highest paid Director during 2022 and 2021.

10  

 Guarantees and contingent liabilities

This Note explains guarantees issued by the Company. The Company has no contingent liabilities.

The Company has access to a $550.0m (2021: $450.0m) revolving credit facility which expires on 31 December 2025. The Company 
and a subsidiary company are both guarantors to the lenders of the revolving credit facility. The Company guarantees amounts 
utilised through cash drawings or issued letters of credit by the other named borrowers.

At 31 December 2022, a $100.0m (2021: $130.0m) uncollateralised letter of credit had been utilised by the Company in respect of this 
facility. In addition, there was a cash drawing of $10.0m (2021: $45.0m).

11 

 Dividends

This Note gives details of the amounts paid to shareholders during 2022 and 2021 by way of dividends.

Dividend paid

 2022 
$/share

0.20

 2021 
$/share

0.66

 2022 
$m

18.7

18.7

 2021
 $m

375.0

375.0

An $18.7m dividend (2021: nil) was paid to the class A shareholders on 27 April 2022 in accordance with the Brit Limited 
shareholders’ agreement at an amount equal to $0.20 per share (2021: nil).

No dividend (2021: $375.0m/$0.66 per share) was paid to the class B shareholders in 2022 in accordance with the Brit Limited 
shareholders’ agreement. 

No dividend was paid to the class B shareholders in respect of the year-ended 31 December 2022 (2021: $nil).

176 
176 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022
Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

notes to the consolidated financial statements 
financial statements

12  

Share-based payments

The Company rewards its employees through various share-based incentive schemes. This Note explains the different schemes used 
to facilitate those share-based payments.

Further detail in respect of the Group’s share-based incentive schemes can be found in Note 35 of the notes accompanying the 
Brit Limited Group consolidated Financial Statements.

13  

Disclosure exemptions

This Note explains the Company’s approach to qualifying exemptions available in FRS 102.

The Company has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions provided by paragraph 1.12 of FRS 102. Accordingly, these financial 
statements do not include the following: 

•  Statement of cash flows;

•  A reconciliation of shares outstanding at the beginning and end of the period; 

•  Specific information relating to financial instruments that is included within equivalent disclosures for the Group; 

•  Specific information relating to share-based payments that is included within equivalent disclosures for the Group; and 

•  Disclosure of key management personnel compensation (included in Note 37 of the Group financial statements).

The Brit Limited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes provide further detail in respect of these areas.

14  

Ultimate parent company and other related undertakings

The ultimate parent company and controlling entity, and the largest group of which the Group is a member, is Fairfax Financial 
Holdings Limited (Fairfax) which is registered in Canada and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The consolidated financial 
statements for Fairfax are publicly available and can be obtained from the Corporate Secretary, 95 Wellington Street West,  
Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2N7 or from the website at www.fairfax.ca.

A subsidiary of the Company holds a significant investment in Sutton Special Risk Inc (‘Sutton’), which is reported in the consolidated 
financial statements of the Group as an associated undertaking. Sutton is registered in Canada with offices at 3 Yonge Street,  
Suite 400, P.O. Box 311, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1G4.

Further information on other related undertakings of the Company can be found in Note 36 Consolidated Entities of the notes to the 
consolidated financial statements.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

177

 
 
additional information

reconciliation of key performance indicators  
to the financial statements

Return on net tangible assets (RoNTA)
Return on net tangible assets (RoNTA) shows the return being generated by our operations compared to the adjusted net tangible 
assets deployed in our business. 

Profit/(loss) for the year after tax attributable to the 

owners of the parent

Add back: Tax adjusted amortisation
Add back: Tax adjusted pension charge/(credit) in 

income statement

Add back: Tax adjusted FX

Return, as adjusted for RoNTA calculation

Adjusted NTA at start of year
Less: Pension asset net of deferred tax at start  

of year

External distributions, share issuances and capital 

contributions

NTA, as adjusted for RoNTA calculation

Comment/financial statements reference

Consolidated income statement
Amortisation of intangibles, adjusted by the tax rate

Defined benefits schemes’ impact on income statement
FX effect for the year, adjusted by the tax rate

See ‘adjusted net tangible assets' section below.
‘Employee benefits’ per Consolidated Statement of 
Financial Position less deferred tax at 35%
Weighted adjustment to reflect distributions and 
shares issued during the year.

2022
$m

2021
$m

(85.2)
9.5

0.7
15.1

248.5
9.5

(0.6)
17.5

(59.9)

274.9

1,740.6

1,436.8

(74.0)

(31.7)

(11.2)

9.6

1,655.4

1,414.7

RoNTA

Return, as adjusted for RoNTA calculation, divided by 
NTA, as adjusted for RoNTA calculation.

(3.6)%

19.4%

Adjusted net tangible assets at the end of each year are calculated as follows: 

Comment/financial statements reference

Total equity attributable to owners of the parent 
Less: Intangible assets 

Consolidated statement of financial position
Consolidated statement of financial position

Less: Intangible assets

Note 38(c): Assets and liabilities of disposal group 
classified as held for sale

Net tangible assets 
Add back deferred tax liability on intangible assets Note 21: Deferred taxation

Add back deferred tax liability on intangible assets Note 21: Deferred taxation 

Adjusted net tangible assets 

2022
$m

2021
$m

1,768.3
(120.0)

1,912.4
(205.3)

(78.5)

1,569.8
20.6

0.2

–

1,707.1
33.5

–

1,590.6

1,740.6

178 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

 
 
additional information

Combined ratio, claims ratios and expense ratios
The combined ratio is our key underwriting metric and measures the profitability of our underwriting. It shows how much of every  
$1 of premium is spent in the total costs of sourcing and underwriting the business and settling claims. A combined ratio under 100% 
indicates underwriting profitability. 

The component parts of the combined ratio are the claims ratio (consisting of the attritional claims ratio, the major loss ratio and  
the reserve release ratio) and the expense ratio (consisting of the commission expense ratio and the operating expense ratio).  
The calculations of each of the ratios are set out below:

Earned premium, net of reinsurance
Adjustment for loss portfolio reinsurance

Note 5: Segmental information
Note 5: Segmental information; note (i) below

Comment/financial statements reference

Adjusted earned premium, net of reinsurance

Attritional claims
Major claims
Reserve releases:
– Resulting from the additional protection
 afforded by the loss portfolio reinsurance 
– Other

Claims incurred, net of reinsurance
Adjustment for loss portfolio reinsurance

Note 5: Segmental information
Note 5: Segmental information; note (i) below 

Acquisition costs – commissions
Acquisition costs – other and Other insurance 

related expenses

Other income
Gains/(losses) on other financial liabilities

Note 5: Segmental information

Note 5: Segmental information
Note 5: Segmental information
Note 5: Segmental information 

Underwriting expenses

Underwriting profit/(loss)

Attritional claims ratio

Major claims ratio

Reserve release ratio

Claims ratio

Commission expense ratio

Operating expense ratio

Expense ratio

Combined ratio

‘Attritional claims’ divided by ‘adjusted earned premium,  
net of reinsurance’.
‘Major claims’ divided by ‘adjusted earned premium,  
net of reinsurance’.
‘Reserve releases’ divided by ‘adjusted earned premium,  
net of reinsurance’.

Sum of the ‘attritional claims ratio’, the ‘major claims ratio’ 
and the ‘reserve release ratio’. 
Note 5: Segmental information

‘Acquisition costs – commissions’ divided by ‘adjusted earned 
premium, net of reinsurance’
‘Acquisition costs – other’, ‘other insurance related expenses, 
‘other income’ and ‘‘gains/(losses) on other financial liabilities’ 
divided by ‘adjusted earned premium, net of reinsurance’

Sum of the ‘commission expense ratio’ and the  
‘operating expense ratio’.
Note 5: Segmental information

Sum of the ‘claims ratio’ and the ‘expense ratio’.
Note 5: Segmental information

2022
$m

2021
$m

2,866.9 
(37.2)

1,754.3
344.1

2,829.7 

2,098.4

(1,479.7)
(338.5)

(657.3)
(324.4)

(0.7)
(6.1)

(1,825.0)
37.2 

35.0
65.1 

(881.6)
(344.1)

(1,787.8)

(1,225.7)

(664.4)

(528.4)

(323.7)
42.9
(1.3)

(946.5)

95.4

(312.8)
56.6
2.5

(782.1)

90.6

51.0%

47.7%

12.0%

15.5%

0.2%

(4.8)%

63.2%

58.4%

23.5%

25.2%

9.9%

12.1%

33.4%

37.3%

96.6%

95.7%

Note (i): This adjustment adds back the premium paid for the loss portfolio reinsurance to premium earned net of reinsurance, with an equal and opposite adjustment to net claims incurred. 
The Directors believe that the ratios when calculated after these adjustments present a more consistent and understandable view of the Group’s performance. 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

179

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
additional information

Investment return 
We assess the performance of our investment portfolio by comparing the return generated by our invested assets, net of external 
investment related expenses, against the value of those invested assets. 

Share of net profit of associates 
Return on financial investments and cash  

and cash equivalents 

Return on investment related derivatives 

Return on invested assets 

Investment in associated undertaking
Financial investments 
Derivative contracts (investment related) 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Invested assets 

Opening invested assets 
Closing invested assets
Average invested assets 

Investment return (%) 

Comment/financial statements reference

Consolidated income statement

Note 6: Investment return
Note 7: Return on derivative contracts 

Note 15: Investment in associated undertaking
Note 24: Financial investments 
Note 25: Derivative contracts 
Note 28: Cash and cash equivalents 
Note 38(c): Assets and liabilities of disposal group classified 
as held for sale 

Return on invested assets divided by average  
invested assets 

2022
$m

1.5

(134.4)
0.8

(132.1)

15.2
4,912.4
4.3
941.3

2021
$m

1.7

167.2
3.0

171.9

15.0
4,015.0
5.9
1,510.3

138.1

–

6,011.3

5,546.2

5,546.2
6,011.3
5,778.8

4,857.1
5,546.2
5,201.7

(2.3)%

3.3%

Capital ratio
The capital ratio measures the strength of our statement of financial position by comparing our available capital resources to the 
capital we need to hold to meet our management entity capital requirements. 

Adjusted net tangible assets 
Subordinated debt 

Letters of credit/contingent funding

Total available capital resources
Management entity capital requirements 

Excess of resources over management entity 

capital requirements

Capital ratio 

Comment/financial statements reference

Calculated earlier in this section
Note 29: Borrowings

Under our capital policy we have identified a maximum of 
$300.0m (2021: $250.0m) of our revolving credit facility to 
form part of our capital resources; In addition, for 2021,  
we also identified the owners of the parent’s share of the 
letter of credit held to support Ki’s underwriting. 

The capital required by an entity for business strategy and 
regulatory requirements.

2022
$m

2021
$m

1,590.6
162.4

1,740.6 
182.9 

300.0

276.0 

2,053.0

2,199.5 

(1,343.2)

(1,581.6)

709.8

617.9 

Total available capital resources divided by management 
entity capital requirements.

152.8%

139.1%

180 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

reconciliation of key performance indicators to the financial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Information

Risk adjusted rate change: 
The risk adjusted rate change (RARC) shows whether premium rates are increasing, reflecting a hardening market, 
or decreasing, reflecting a softening market. A hardening market is one indicator of increasing profitability. 

The data reflects internal estimates by Brit’s underwriters, based on available year-on-year underlying renewal data after 
allowing for changes to terms and conditions. Generally, no adjustment is made to the figures to reflect the impact of inflation 
beyond the level of inflation in the underlying exposure measure used in pricing.

By its nature, this metric cannot be reconciled to the financial statements.

Retention rate
The retention rate shows the proportion of our business that renews, on a premium weighted basis, compared to the 
previous year.

By its nature, this metric cannot be reconciled to the financial statements.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

181

 
 
glossary

company information

Directors
Mr Gordon Campbell – Chair
Mr Matthew Wilson – Executive Director (resigned 
15 November 2022)
Mr Martin Thompson* – Group Chief Executive Officer (resigned 
8 September 2022; reappointed 10 November 2022)
Mr Gavin Wilkinson – Group Chief Financial Officer
Mr Mark Allan – Executive Director
Mr Andrew Barnard – Non–executive Director 
Mr Ken Miner – Non–executive Director 
Ms Andrea Welsch – Non–executive Director

Company Secretary
Mr Tim Harmer

Registered Office
The Leadenhall Building
122 Leadenhall Street
London 
England
EC3V 4AB
UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3857 0000

Website
www.britinsurance.com
The Company website provides information about Brit Limited 
including information on the business, annual reports, half yearly 
reports and announcements to the London Stock Exchange.

Registered Number
08821629

Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
7 More London Riverside
London
SE1 2RT

* Mr Thompson was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer on 31 October 2022.  
His appointment is subject to regulatory approval.

182 
182 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022
Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

glossary of terms

glossary

A
Acquisition costs: Costs incurred in the course of writing 
business and issuing policies including commissions paid 
to intermediaries and related internal expenses such 
as underwriter related costs.

Adjusted net tangible assets or adjusted NTA: Total equity, 
less intangible assets net of the deferred tax liability on those 
intangible assets, less non-controlling interest. 

Aggregate exposure: The expected maximum total 
of claims that could be incurred by an insurer in respect 
of any event or series of similar events. Also see ‘realistic 
disaster scenarios’.

Asset allocation: The allocation of our investments across 
different kinds of asset classes, such as equities, bonds, and 
cash, in order to achieve a balance between return and risk.

Attritional claims/losses: Common claims/losses, as opposed 
to major or catastrophe losses, incurred from ordinary 
insurance and/or reinsurance operations.

Attritional claims ratio: Attritional claims incurred net 
of reinsurance divided by adjusted earned premiums net 
of reinsurance.

Available capital resources: Adjusted net tangible assets, 
subordinated debt and letters of credit/contingent funding. 

B
BGSB: Brit Global Specialty Bermuda, the business of the 
Group operating in Bermuda.

BGSU: Brit Global Specialty USA, the business of the Group 
operating in the United States, of which BISI is the managing 
general agent.

Binder business: Business conducted by a coverholder acting 
under a binding authority.

Binding authority: See ‘delegated underwriting authority’.

BISI: Brit Insurance Services USA, Inc., a company 
incorporated in Illinois, USA.

Brit Re: Brit Reinsurance (Bermuda) Limited.

BMA: Bermuda Monetary Authority, the integrated regulator 
of financial services in Bermuda, established under the 
Bermuda Monetary Authority Act 1969. 

Broker: An intermediary who negotiates contracts 
of insurance or reinsurance, receiving a commission for 
placement and other services rendered.

C
Camargue: Camargue Underwriting Managers (Proprietary) 
Limited, a South African coverholder 100% owned by Brit.

Capital ratio: Total available capital resources divided 
by management entity capital requirements.

Capital resources: Total equity attributable to owners of the 
parent, less intangible assets net of related plus subordinated 
debt, plus deferred tax, plus a proportion (as agreed from time 
to time) of our revolving credit facilities.

Captive: An entity that provides risk-mitigation services for 
other entities within the same Group only.

Catastrophe or Cat: Perils including earthquakes, hurricanes, 
hailstorms, severe winter weather, floods, fires, tornadoes, 
explosions and other natural or man-made disasters. 
Catastrophe losses may also arise from acts of war, acts 
of terrorism and political instability.

Claims: Moneys demanded by an insured for indemnity under 
an insurance contract.

Claims development triangles: Tabulations of claims 
development data, set out with underwriting years along one 
axis and calendar years of development along the other.

Claims incurred: Claims arising from events that have 
occurred, regardless of whether or not they have been 
reported to the insurer.

Claims ratio: The sum of the attritional claims ratio, the major 
claims ratio and the reserve release ratio.

Combined ratio (CoR): The sum of the claims ratio and the 
expense ratio.

Commission expense ratio: Commission costs divided 
by adjusted earned premiums net of reinsurance.

Constant FX rates: An increase or decrease in figures 
between two years after eliminating the effect of foreign 
exchange rate movements.

Corporate member: A company providing the capital to support 
the underwriting activity of a syndicate at Lloyd’s. Brit’s 
corporate members are Brit UW Limited, Nameco  
(No. 1341) Limited and Ki Member Limited. 

Coverholder: An entity authorised by an insurer to enter into 
a contract of insurance on its behalf.

D
Deferred acquisition costs or DAC: Costs incurred for 
the acquisition or renewal of insurance policies which are 
capitalised and amortised over the term of those policies.

Delegated underwriting authority: An authority granted 
by an underwriter to an agent (known as a coverholder) 
whereby that agent is entitled to accept, within certain 
limits, insurance business on behalf of the underwriter. The 
coverholder has full power to commit the underwriter within 
the terms of the authority.

Dollar ($): Refers to the US dollar.

E
Earned premium: That proportion of a premium which relates 
to the portion of a risk which has expired during a given period.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

183

 
 
glossary

ESOS: The energy savings opportunity scheme or ESOS, 
is a mandatory government initiative to promote energy 
efficiency in large businesses. 

Excess and Surplus or E&S: A generic US regulatory 
classification referring to insurance coverage not ordinarily 
written by insurers fully admitted in various states. The E&S 
lines of business is largely unregulated as to rate and form but 
insurers must be authorised to write such business in a state 
by the local regulator.

Excess of loss or XL: A type of reinsurance that covers 
specified losses incurred by the reinsured party in excess 
of a stated amount (the excess) up to a higher amount of limit, 
for example $5m excess of $1m. Such coverage can operate 
on a per loss basis or an aggregate basis.

Executive Committee or EC: A committee at Brit consisting 
of the senior management and the Group CEO.

Expense ratio: The sum of the commission expense ratio and 
the operating expense ratio.

F
FCA: The UK Financial Conduct Authority, established pursuant 
to the Financial Services Act 2012 and responsible for, among 
other things, the conduct regulation of all firms authorised and 
regulated under FSMA and the prudential regulation of firms 
which are not regulated by the PRA.

First Dollar: An insurance policy written with low excess and 
deductible, and written in the admitted market.

Funds at Lloyd’s or FAL: Funds held in trust at Lloyd’s 
to support a Lloyd’s underwriter’s underwriting activities.

G
Gearing ratio: Calculated as total borrowings (subordinated 
debt, revolving credit facility cash drawdowns and 
uncollateralised drawn letters of credit) divided by adjusted net 
tangible assets and subordinated debt.

Gross written premium or gross premiums written or GWP: 
Amounts payable by the insured, including any brokerage 
or commission deducted by intermediaries but excluding any 
taxes or duties levied on the premium.

H
Hardening or hard market: An insurance market where 
prevalent prices are high, with more restrictive terms and 
conditions offered by insurers.

HMRC: His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

I
ILS or Insurance-linked securities: ILSs are essentially 
financial instruments which are sold to investors whose value 
is affected by an insured loss event. 

184 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

Incurred but not reported or IBNR: Claims incurred but 
not reported, including claims which are incurred but not 
enough reported (i.e. where the amount of the notification 
is insufficient).

International Accounting Standards or IAS: See ‘International 
Financial Reporting Standards’.

International Financial Reporting Standards or IFRS: 
Accounting and reporting Standards established by the 
International Accounting Standards Board, as adopted 
in the UK. UK listed entities have reported on an IFRS 
basis since 2005.

Invested assets: Financial investments, investment 
in associated undertaking, cash and cash equivalents and 
investment related derivatives.

Investment related derivatives: Includes options and interest 
rate swaps. Excludes currency forwards.

Investment return percentage: Investment return expressed 
as a percentage of average invested assets.

L
Lead underwriter or lead: A lead underwriter (usually 
a specialist in the field of the insurance concerned) is the first 
underwriter to take a portion of a risk, quote an appropriate 
rate of premium and set terms and conditions.

Letter of credit or LoC: A written undertaking by a financial 
institution to provide funding if required.

LIBOR: The daily London Interbank Offered Rate set by the 
British Banking Association.

Line size: The proportion of an insurance or reinsurance risk 
that is accepted by an underwriter or which an underwriter 
is willing to accept.

Lloyd’s Brussels (LBS): The insurance company of Lloyd’s 
located in Brussels, authorised and regulated by the National 
Bank of Belgium, which writes all non-life risks from the 
European Economic Area. 

Lloyd’s China Platform: The branch of Lloyd’s in Shanghai in the 
People’s Republic of China operated through Lloyd’s Insurance 
Company (China) Limited, on which certain Lloyd’s syndicates 
have representation.

Lloyd’s of London: The Society of Lloyd’s and Corporation 
of Lloyd’s created and governed by the Lloyd’s Acts 1871-
1982, including the Council of Lloyd’s (and its delegates and 
other persons through whom the Council may act), as the 
context may require.

London Market: The London insurance market, which includes 
the Lloyd’s market.

Long-tail: The term used to describe business where the 
difference between the timing of the average premium 
receipt and the timing of the average claim payment 
is over three years.

glossary of termsglossary

M
Major claims or Major losses: Major claims are defined 
as claims which are initially assessed as having the potential 
to exceed $15.0m (net of reinsurance and allowing for 
reinstatements), incurred from natural or man-made 
catastrophes, or from large single risk loss events.

Major claims ratio: Claims incurred from major loss events 
net of reinsurance divided by adjusted earned premiums net 
of reinsurance.

Management entity capital requirement: The capital 
required by an entity for business strategy and 
regulatory requirements.

N
Net earned premium or NEP: The net written premium 
adjusted by the change in net unearned premium (i.e. 
the premium for which insurance exposure has yet to be 
incurred) for a year.

Net tangible assets or NTA: The total assets of a company, 
minus any intangible assets, less all liabilities.

Net written premiums or NWP: Gross premiums written 
during a specified period less outwards reinsurance 
premiums ceded. 

Non-controlling interest: The equity in a subsidiary not 
attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent.

O
Operating expense ratio: Other acquisition costs, other 
insurance related expenses, gains/losses on other financial 
liabilities and other income divided by adjusted earned 
premiums net of reinsurance.

Outstanding claims: Claims which have been notified at the 
reporting date but not settled.

Own risk and solvency assessment or ORSA: The name given 
to the entirety of the processes and procedures employed 
by an insurer to identify, assess, monitor, manage and 
report the short and long-term risks it faces or may face 
and to determine the capital necessary to ensure that the 
insurer’s overall solvency needs are met at all times.

P
PRA: The UK Prudential Regulation Authority established 
pursuant to the Financial Services Act 2012 and responsible 
for the prudential regulation and supervision of banks, 
building societies, credit unions, insurers and major 
investment firms.

Protected cell company or PCC: A company that has been 
separated into legally distinct portions or cells. The revenue 
streams, assets and liabilities of each cell are kept separate 
from all other cells. Each cell has its own separate portion 
of the PCC’s overall share capital, allowing shareholders 
to maintain sole ownership of an entire cell.

Q
Quota share or QS: A type of reinsurance which provides 
that the reassured shall cede to the reinsurer a specified 
percentage of all the premiums that it receives in respect 
of a given section or of all of its underwriting account for 
a given period in return for which the reinsurer is obliged 
to pay the same percentage of any claims and specified 
expenses arising on the reinsured business.

R
Rate change: See risk adjusted rate change.

Realistic Disaster Scenarios or RDS: Specific scenarios 
which the Group uses to test its ability to settle claims arising 
from certain types of disaster. 

Reinsurance: The transfer of some or all of an insurance 
risk to another insurer. The company transferring the risk 
is called the ‘ceding company’ and the company assuming the 
risk is called the ‘assuming company’ or the ‘reinsurer’.

Representative office: An office established 
by Brit to conduct marketing and other non-transactional 
operations overseas.

Reserves: Outstanding claims and claims incurred 
but not reported.

Reserve releases: The amount of the reserves at the 
end of the previous period determined as being excess 
to requirements at the end of the current period.

Reserve release ratio: Reserve releases divided by adjusted 
earned premiums net of reinsurance.

Retention rate: The ratio, in percent, of the value 
of premiums relating to risks written in one year renewed 
in the following year. The data used is risk adjusted  
(i.e. it allows for changes to terms and conditions).

Risk adjusted rate change: Change in premium rates 
during the year expressed as a percentage of opening 
premium rates. The data reflects internal estimates by Brit’s 
underwriters, based on available year-on-year underlying 
renewal data after allowing for changes to terms and 
conditions. Generally, no adjustment is made to the figures 
to reflect the impact of inflation beyond the level of inflation 
in the underlying exposure measure used in pricing.

Risk management framework or RMF: The Group’s own 
internal framework for risk management.

Return on net tangible assets (RoNTA): Profit/(loss) for 
the year after tax attributable to the owners of Brit Limited 
(adjusted for amortisation net of tax, defined benefit pension 
scheme’s charges/credits net of tax, and foreign exchange 
movements net of tax), divided by total equity attributable 
to the owners of Brit Limited at start of year (less intangible 
assets net of deferred tax, and pension asset net of deferred 
tax), adjusted on a time weighted basis for any distributions 
and shares issued during the year.

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022 

185

 
 
Total invested assets: See ‘invested assets’.

Total operating expenses: These represent all expenses 
incurred by the Group, excluding commission costs. 

Treaty: A reinsurance contract pursuant to which the 
reinsurer is obliged to accept, within agreed limits, all risks 
underwritten by the reinsured within specified classes 
of business in a given time period.

U
Ultimate claims: The total forecast claims expected to arise 
from a policy or class of business. Ultimate claims include those 
losses paid, those notified and IBNR.

Underlying operating expenses: Calculated as Total operating 
expenses less project costs and other timing differences. 
Underlying operating expenses include bonus costs. 

Underwriting capacity: The maximum premium income which 
a Lloyd’s syndicate is permitted to underwrite. A capacity 
figure is assigned to each underwriting year and the relevant 
premium income is defined as gross written premiums less 
commission payable.

Underwriting profit: Operating profit generated by our 
underwriting segments less investment return.

Unearned premium reserve or UPR: The portion of premium 
income written in the calendar year that is attributable 
to periods after the reporting date. It is accounted for 
as unearned premiums in the underwriting provisions.

Unrealised gains or Unrealised losses: Gains or losses that 
are yet to be crystallised in the form of a cash movement from 
disposals of invested assets. 

glossary

Running yield: The income return, expressed either 
as a percentage or a monetary amount, on invested assets.

S
Service companies: Subsidiary companies set up to operate 
a binding authority on behalf of the Syndicate to write business 
from non-Lloyd’s brokers or direct from policymakers.

Short-tail: The term used to describe business where the 
difference between the timing of the average premium 
receipt and the timing of the average claim payment 
is under three years.

Softening or soft market: An insurance market where 
prevalent prices are low, and terms and conditions offered 
by insurers are less restrictive.

Solvency capital requirement or SCR: The higher of the two 
capital levels required by Solvency II. The SCR is the prudent 
amount of assets to be held in excess of liabilities and functions 
as an early warning mechanism if it is breached. The SCR 
is calculated using either the standard formula or an approved 
internal model.

Solvency matched: The matching of the currencies of the 
Group’s liabilities and management entity capital requirements 
with the currencies of the assets held by the Group.

Solvency II: A combination of several EU Directives that codify 
and harmonise EU insurance regulation, primarily concerning 
the amount of capital that EU insurance companies must 
hold to reduce the risk of insolvency. Principal components 
are Directive 2009/138/EC on the taking-up and pursuit 
of the business of insurance and reinsurance and Directive 
2012/23/EU on the financial position of insurance undertakings. 
Solvency II came into force in all EU member states 
on 1 January 2016.

Strategic asset allocation or SAA: The Group’s strategic asset 
allocation defines the overall Group investment strategy and 
reflects entity-level considerations and governance matters. 
See ‘asset allocation’.

Syndicate: A group of underwriting members of Lloyd’s 
or a single corporate member managed as a unit to underwrite 
insurance business at Lloyd’s to which a particular 
syndicate number is assigned by or with the authority 
of Lloyd’s of London. 

T
Tail: See ‘short-tail’ and ‘long-tail’.

Technical price: The price for the risk which is expected 
to produce the long-term required return on capital 
for the Group.

The Company: Brit Limited.

The Group: Brit Limited and its subsidiaries.

The Syndicate: Brit Syndicate 2987, Brit Syndicate 2988 or  
Ki Syndicate 1618.

186 

Brit Limited  Annual Report 2022

glossary of termsglossary

Brit Limited
The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 4AB, UK
www.britinsurance.com