Investment

RNS Number : 4010O

B.P. Marsh & Partners PLC

27 May 2015

 

Date:                 27^th May 2015

On behalf of:     B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc ("B.P. Marsh", the "Company" or the "Group")        

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

Investment

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc (AIM:  BPM), the niche venture capital provider to early stage financial services businesses, is pleased to announce that it has subscribed for a 35% Cumulative Preferred Ordinary shareholding in Bulwark Investment Holdings (PTY) Ltd ("Bulwark").

The new venture, alongside the Group's existing South African partners, Bastion Reinsurance Brokerage (PTY) Ltd ("Bastion Re"), is the holding company for various Managing General Agents ("MGAs") in South Africa.

Funded via a £0.5m loan facility from the Company, Bulwark has drawn down upon £0.15m to support the establishment of two new Managing General Agents, Preferred Liability Underwriting Managers (PTY) Limited ("Preferred") and Mid-Market Risk Acceptances (PTY) Limited ("MMRA").

Preferred specialises in Commercial General Liability insurance across the corporate and commercial sector. The Chief Underwriting Officer of Preferred is Dianne Kirk, an experienced practitioner with over 30 years' experience in this sector. 

MMRA specialises in Property Insurance across the middle market and SME Sector in South Africa. The Chief Underwriting Officer of MMRA is David Whitmill. David has over 25 years of experience in the Property Insurance sector in South Africa.

Commenting on this transaction, Brian Marsh OBE, Chairman of the Company, stated "We are very pleased to be working with our existing South African partners to expand our position in South Africa."

Commenting on this transaction, Lance Brogden, Bulwark's CEO stated: "I am delighted to be building upon our exciting and solid partnership with B.P. Marsh. We see great potential for Bulwark in developing into a major MGA platform in South Africa".

Dan Topping, who has been appointed to the Board of Bulwark as the Company's nominee director, commenting on this investment stated: "This investment follows the Group's trusted modus operandi in supporting strong and capable management teams in developing fast growing insurance intermediaries, especially in such a vertically integrated manner as between Bastion Re and Bulwark, via the development of this underwriting platform."

For further information:

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

www.bpmarsh.co.uk

Brian Marsh OBE                                                                                 [phone]

Nominated Adviser & Broker

Panmure Gordon

Fred Walsh / Charles Leigh-Pemberton / Atholl Tweedie                  [phone]

About B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

B.P. Marsh's current portfolio contains thirteen companies. More detailed descriptions of the portfolio can be found at www.bpmarsh.co.uk.

Since formation over 20 years ago, the Company has assembled a management team with considerable experience both in the financial services sector and in managing private equity investments. Many of the directors have worked with each other in previous roles, and all have worked with each other for at least five years.

Prior to Brian Marsh's involvement in the Company, he spent many years in insurance broking and underwriting in Lloyd's as well as the London and overseas market. He has over 30 years' experience in building, buying and selling financial services businesses, particularly in the insurance sector.

Jonathan Newman is a Chartered Management Accountant and is the Group Director of Finance and has over 17 years' experience in the financial services industry. Jonathan advises investee companies and has a number of non-executive appointments over three investee companies and evaluates new investment opportunities.

Daniel Topping is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (MCSI) and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ACIS), having graduated from the University of Durham in 2005. Dan joined B.P. Marsh in February 2007 having started his career at an accountancy firm. In 2011 he was appointed as a director of B.P. Marsh and currently has a number of non-executive appointments over seven investee companies and evaluates new investment opportunities.

Camilla Kenyon was appointed as Head of Investor Relations at B.P. Marsh in February 2009, having four years' prior experience with the Company. Camilla has a number of non-executive appointments over two investee companies, is Chair of the New Business Committee and is a Member of the Investor Relations Society.

Alice Foulk joined B.P. Marsh in September 2011 having started her career at a leading Life Assurance company. In 2014 she took over as Executive Assistant to the Chairman, running the Chairman's Office and in December 2014 was appointed interim Head of New Business.  

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