The art of Underwriting - some origin of Insurance - Lloyds of London

Do you know Mark William Calaway known for his smacks or the ‘Lutine bell’ which has no connection to Calaway !

We transact Insurance business and call ourselves variously Insurers, Assurers, Underwriters, Risk Managers and so on.  Insurance primarily is a form of risk management protecting against uncertain losses. In a way it is the equitable transfer of a risk of a loss from one entity to another, in exchange of payment.   Insurance Company is the one selling insurance.  The rate determined for undertaking the risk is known as premium.  Risk management, the practice of appraising and controlling risk has evolved over the centuries as a specialized field of study and practice. 

Insurance is a  contract whereby one person, the Insurer – promises and undertakes in exchange of consideration to indemnify the policy holder in the event of a loss or damage occurring due to certain specified perils.  There are sound theories of ‘law of large numbers’ and the like. 

The man at the helm, who evaluates, analyses and determines whether the proposed risk should be accepted, if so on what terms and conditions and at what rates is known as Underwriter – a person or a firm which assumes financial risks.  The term comes from the tradition of Lloyds of London, a historical Insurer who has been in business for centuries.  The term ‘underwriting’ literally would mean writing below the bottom line. Whether there would be any pleasure by assuming a risk on behalf of somebody else ?   

Underwriter is not a term dedicated to Insurance industry alone.   The present day world revolves around analysis of data and studying patterns – in days of yore, it was more of perception and gut feeling.    Modern day Insurance  Underwriters  use sophisticated computer software and empirical statistics to  analyze the risks associated and decide on acceptance, terms and rates.  It is considered a science, aided strongly by actuaries.   Actuaries mathematically evaluate the likelihood of events and quantify the contingent outcomes and actuarial science is a discipline that applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess the risk.  Economists often become the target of cartoons and it is often said that if all them were to sit together, conclusion would never be reached. 

 making an entry in Lloyd's register

Underwriting involves measuring risk exposure and determine to write (or not to) the business and keep the Company in business by operating profitably.    Risks have to be classified objectively, identifying and analyzing the risks involved, exposure to the perils, the practicability of administration and managing costs. Underwriters on their wisdom may either decline a risk or accept the risk with additional premium and enhanced conditions, restricted coverage.  They may take the risk in its entirety or retain a small portion and re-transfer the risk to somebody else.  Underwriting as a modern sense of acceptance of a risk of insurance is in vogue for centuries – it is from the notion of signing marine policy lending support by a guarantee of money.

Lloyds originating from the coffee house of Edward Lloyd from 1688, used to provide insurance for ocean-going ships taking responsibility  upon collecting premium  for the inherent risks associated with  sailing and even had a stake in the profit of the voyage.  It is believed that the brokers used to sign directly under the listed risks,  perhaps leading to the term  “underwriter”.  In the days of Lloyds, the information of the risk was traded on a slip created for that purpose.  The brokers would sign acknowledging acceptance of the risk and providing coverage by collecting appropriate premium. 

the Lutine bell at Lloyds 

Today, Lloyds of London is a big market – it is not a Company.  Uberrimae fidei (meaning utmost good faith in Latin) is the motto of Lloyd's.  The Lutine Bell weighs 106 pounds and measures 18 inches in dia.  It has been rung to herald important announcements at Lloyds – one stroke for bad news and two for good.  The bell was carried on board the French frigate which surrendered to the British in 1793.  Lloyds history has it that HMS Lutine carrying gold and silver bullion sank off the Dutch coast.  The cargo was valued at a whopping GBP 1M and the claim was settled in full by Lloyd’s underwriters.  In 1859, the wreck yielded the most important treasure – the ship’s bell.  It was hung in Lloyd’s Underwriting room at the Royal Exchange and was rung when news of overdue ships arrived.  The ringing of the bell is now limited to ceremonial occasions but was rung specially after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

Mark William Calaway  is better known as Undertaker – an  American professional wrestler.  He has  two contrasting gimmicks: "the Deadman", an undead occult like figure, and "the American Bad Ass", a biker.  Undertaker otherwise would refer to funeral director, a professional involved in the business of funeral rites. 

Regards – S. Sampathkumar.