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Acturis Launch Aims to Save UK Commercial Lines Insurance Industry £1 Billion a Year

20 April 2001

Sir Brian Pitman speaking at the launch of insurance technology solution provider Acturis today called on the commercial lines insurance industry to reduce the £1 billion wasted each year through inefficient transaction handling.

Sir Brian, Chairman of Acturis and former Chairman of Lloyds TSB, stated: "The commercial lines insurance industry is currently fragmented and extremely inefficient. With large amounts of duplication, manual processes, errors and incompatible systems absorbing 34% of all premiums, it’s no wonder that the commercial lines sector is struggling to make a profit".

He continued: "Both brokers and insurers must act quickly to reduce costs and improve service levels and profitability. The possible cost savings are becoming too great for customers and shareholders to ignore".

Acturis' analysis of the commercial lines insurance process identified some shocking statistics:

• 50% of documents sent to the broker by the insurer are incorrect and need to be resent
• Of those documents resent by the insurer, 30% remain incorrect
• Over 35% of client documents take well over 100 days from the time they are first received by the broker to the time they are
  issued to the client
• Only 8% of business is done electronically, the balance being sent to insurers by post or fax

According to Theo Duchen, co-CEO of Acturis: "Efficiency and client service are currently taking a back seat in the insurance business. The industry is notoriously inefficient and there is severe duplication between the broker and other parties in the chain. Acturis aims to provide brokers with the tools to improve efficiency, saving the industry millions of pounds each year".

Acturis, which originated from a project called 'Riskline', will provide brokers with a web-based technology platform to support administration and to give access to innovative, new services which in turn foster growth and make broker operations more efficient. The solution consists of several key connected components:

• Acturis Broker Trading Platform– a core back office system provided on an Application Service Provider (ASP) basis for daily
  operations, This core system is the product of many years of development and over £10m of investment
• Acturis Innovator– a mechanism to quickly create new products and services for brokers
• Acturis Connected Environment – an on-line environment to facilitate the passing of data and the exchange of
  structured risk information between brokers and insurers electronically. Connectivity with other industry facilities, such as
  Polaris for personal lines, is also contained in this component
• Acturis Information Provider– an advanced management information system providing all partners with critical business
  information
• Acturis Task Manager– a task management system supporting the various work processes within a brokerage, including the
  provision of the key productivity measures and service level information required to effectively manage the business

David McDonald, co CEO of Acturis, said: "Acturis will offer brokers more than a system, as technology alone will only reinforce existing inefficiencies. The Acturis solution is made up of approximately one third technology, one third process redesign and one third product and service innovation".

He continued: "Acturis have adopted a 'partnership' approach with several leading businesses. Acturis partners such as, Bland Bankart, Smart and Cook, AXA, Independent, Norwich Union, Nedcor and TCS have all played a key role in the development of the solution. That way, we make sure that our solution addresses the real industry needs right from the start".

According to Philip Bland, Chairman of Bland Bankart: "There is an overwhelming need for change within the industry, and working with Acturis provides the breath of fresh air called for. Their innovative thinking and practical approach is exactly what we require to prepare our businesses for the future".

In addition, Paul Meehan, CEO of Smart and Cook, commented that: "Brokers will gain tremendous benefits from the new technology that Acturis provide. These benefits include the reduction of costs, elimination of errors, and improved customer service. Implementing the Acturis solution at Smart and Cook is expected to significantly increase our profitability".

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

Acturis originated from a project called Riskline founded by Theo Duchen and David McDonald, two ex McKinsey partners who co-led its UK insurance and e-commerce practices respectively. They are supported by a blue-chip team recruited from companies such as McKinsey & Co, Accenture, Arthur Andersen, and Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.


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