Asta confirms that the formation of a new Managing Agency at Lloyd’s by W R Berkley will see the Syndicate successfully complete its turnkey journey and achieve the mutual objective within the three year plan initially set out.

WR Berkley has announced this morning that it has now received approval from Lloyd’s and the Financial Services Authority to establish a managing agent on 1 June.

Asta’s chief executive, Stephen Cane, said: “We are delighted for W R Berkley and I am also pleased that the expertise and commitment of our own Managing Agency team played a key role that has enabled them to go it alone in 2012. We are confident that WRB leaves us in very good shape and that they will continue to make a valuable contribution to the Lloyd’s franchise.”

Notes for Editors

Asta is the new name of the UK businesses of the Whittington Group, which were sold at the beginning of 2012 to a consortium of investors consisting of Paraline, Skuld and Tawa.

Asta Capital Limited is the parent company of:

• Asta Insurance Markets Limited (formerly Whittington Insurance Markets Limited)
• Asta Managing Agency Limited (formerly Whittington Capital Management Limited)
• Asta Insurance Services Limited (formerly Whittington Insurance Services Limited)
• Asta Management Services Limited (formerly Whittington Management Services Limited)

Whittington remains the trading name of the former parent company, which continues to operate from its offices in Singapore.

Asta Managing Agency Limited: is an approved Lloyd’s managing agent and is responsible for five syndicates: Ariel (formerly Arrow) s.1910; Sirius s.1945; Channel s.2015; Dale s.2525 and Doré s.2526.

Asta Insurance Services Limited: provides insurance services to the corporate market and includes the run-off management of HIH (UK).

For more information visit www.asta-uk.com

Enquiries:

Michael Gaughan
Tel: 020 7623 2368
Mob: 07796 140963
E-mail: Michael.Gaughan@fwdpr.co.uk

Alexandra Thompson
Tel: 020 7623 2368
Mob: 07798 898277
E-mail: Alexandra.Thompson@fwdpr.co.uk