Skip to main content
Whether you're a project owner, contractor, or part of the broader construction industry, you can count on us for expert advice, programme placement, and claims services globally. Our dedicated Global Construction Practice offers bespoke, targeted insurance solutions across multiple sectors. This includes real estate development (Industrial, Warehousing and Logistics, Residential, and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation), mining, energy, ports and terminals, as well as power, renewables, and transport infrastructure.
What is Surety?
Put simply, when one company (Principal) enters into a contract to supply another company (Beneficiary) with a product or service, it is to the benefit of the Beneficiary/Employer to have a Guarantor to that contract. If, for any reason, the Principal cannot fulfil its obligations, the Beneficiary is protected up to the maximum bond amount.
By providing a Surety Bond, it helps to show that the business is in a financially sound position and enables business dealings by fulfilling the Beneficiary's security requirement. If something goes wrong and the Principal defaults on their obligations, the Beneficiary can recover their losses up to the maximum bond amount from the Guarantor via the bond.
Benefits of using a Surety vs a Bank
Surety Bonds are an often necessary security arrangement, but they can also be an aid to growth:
A Surety Bond can operate alongside and does not impact your traditional banking lines of credit
Surety Bonds are intended to act on an unsecured basis, rather than taking security over a company’s assets
Sureties have a zero cash/collateral approach providing cash flow advantages
Sureties can provide alternative wordings that have the ability to provide greater protection to the Principal of the underlying contract conditions
Having bonds issued via a Surety rather than a Bank allows you to enhance liquidity by freeing up funds for working capital, and tender with confidence for additional contracts. As an alternative to Bank Guarantees, Surety Bonds often have lower base rates and no (non)utilisation or line fees.
Discover our complete bond capabilities
Unlock the full scope of our Surety Bond expertise across every sector. Click to explore the breadth of solutions available through Lockton PL Ferrari.
Find out moreWhy Lockton Surety
An effective bonding program for the future of your business.
We tailor our service to you, assessing your specific requirements and creating a package with built in flexibility and optimisation to free up your working capital, enhance your liquidity, and allow you to move forward with new projects.
Zero Fees
That’s right, we earn our fee from the surety providers, not you.
All the bond capacity you need
We manage the relationship with the surety providers. Our surety practice really is all about letting you get on with running your business.
Surety people for Surety needs
Our dedicated team brings a unique set of skills providing the ability to pre-underwrite and structure bonds whilst ensuring a first class service.
Global Network
Through our wider Lockton network and regulated Surety providers, we will collaborate to tailor your bonding lines with a suitable Surety panel that works for you.
Surety Team
Latest insights and events
Surety FAQs
Is Surety insurance?
No, surety is not insurance.
Although surety bonds are often issued by insurance companies (Sureties), they can also be issued by banks (as a bank guarantee). Surety is a tri-partite agreement between the Bonded Principal that purchases the bond in favour of the Employer (effectively the insured) which is issued by the Guarantor (the insurance company or bank) whereas insurance is a bi-partite agreement between the Insured and the Insurer. It is important to note that unlike with insurance, there is no transfer of risk with surety, as the Bonded Principal is still required to fulfil their obligation.
What is a Surety?
In the insurance sector, a surety is an insurance company. At Lockton we have access to all regulated global and UK surety providers either through our London office or our wider global network.
What surety bonds can Lockton offer?
The surety market considers there to be two broad categories of bonds: Contract Surety and Commercial Surety. At Lockton, we place bonds within both categories and can cover all bond types within these. For example, a common surety bond is a performance bond (predominantly focused on the construction sector), however we can also issue bonds such as deferred consideration bonds which are common amongst companies making large acquisitions. Commercial bond types relate more to the replacements of (Standby) Letters of Credit ((LOC) / SBLC / SLOC).