Acquisition of IC Insurance

Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings Ltd ('R&Q' or the 'Group') is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to acquire, subject to change of control approval from the PRA and FCA, the entire issued share capital of IC Insurance Limited ('IC Insurance') from its indirect owners AstraZeneca UK Limited and Imperial Chemicals Industries Limited. IC Insurance was formed in 1926 as the UK registered captive insurer for Imperial Chemical Industries. It ceased active underwriting in 1996. Change of control approval is anticipated shortly but could take up to 90 days.

The residual liabilities comprise primarily of US workers' compensation reinsurance of the United Insurance Company Limited pooling facility along with some residual losses from self-insured liabilities and London market underwriting activity. IC Insurance had claim reserves as at 31st December 2014 amounting to £1.9m and shareholder's funds of £22.5m. The consideration payable by R&Q in cash from existing resources and its bank facility with RBS is c. £17.0m.

The company will be managed by R&Q Market Services Ltd with the intention of undertaking a Part VII Transfer of the remaining insurance business to the Group's consolidation vehicle R&Q Insurance (Malta) Limited, subject to the usual regulatory and Court approvals, in due course.

Commenting on today's announcement, Ken Randall, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Randall & Quilter, said: "We are delighted to have entered into an agreement to acquire IC Insurance from AstraZeneca UK Limited and Imperial Chemicals Industries Limited. This is one of a number of current transactions we are assessing where a corporate parent is looking to dispose of their legacy captive prior to the implementation of Solvency II. The advent of Solvency II is generating a number of prospects for the Group across Europe and in general we remain excited about our legacy acquisition pipeline."

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