When you trade or invest across borders, your balance sheet is at risk. In commodities, where pre-payment is common as a means of financing production and guaranteeing long-term supply, non-payment or non-delivery can have a devastating commercial effect. We help you protect yourself against these sorts of risks with our political and credit risk insurance team.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Political and Credit Risks

Get in touch (opens a new window)

We focus on the risks associated with cross-border trades and investments

When you trade or invest across borders, your balance sheet is at risk. In commodities, where pre-payment is common as a means of financing production and guaranteeing long-term supply, non-payment or non-delivery can have a devastating commercial effect. We help you protect yourself against these sorts of risks.

We also help you manage political risk. Foreign government actions like war, trade embargoes and expropriation can affect your bottom line, costing you tens or hundreds of millions. They can even cause you to write off your investment completely. The longer your trade or investment agreement, the greater the uncertainty – and the more you need cover.

We arrange insurance coverage that protects you against political and counterparty risks in trade transactions. We work with commodity traders and the banks that finance them, as well as with equity investors who have subsidiaries or physical assets abroad. Clients include the leading banks, construction companies, international commodities traders,  industrial companies, miners, oil producers and exporters.

What we cover

We’re more than an insurance broker – we’re a partner helping you protect your balance sheet.   We investigate the insurance market to find counterparties who’ll take on your political and trade credit risks at a premium you’re comfortable with.

We’ll advocate for you and negotiate hard on your behalf. As well as this, we’ll:

  • Analyse your risk and identify areas where a government action may threaten your investment

  • Study your contracts and recommend changes if needed to make them insurable

  • Suggest ways to structure your risk to reassure underwriters, such as obtaining collateral or guaranties

  • Get underwriters more closely involved with you and your risk to develop a true partnership

  • Advise you on the best way to manage your risk, not just the best insurance to buy

Our Political & Credit Risk Insurance Team

Placeholder image

Russell Winter

Partner
russell.winter@lockton.com
+44 207 933 2149

Placeholder image

Peter Hornsby

Partner
peter.hornsby@lockton.com
+44 207 933 2190

News and Insights

The demand for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow for both private and commercial users. As such, there is an increasing need to provide additional infrastructure to enable convenient, rapid, and safe charging of EVs for staff and the public. Recent experience has demonstrated fires involving EVs can burn for an extended period of time and present significant challenges when attempting final extinguishment. Property protection principles should be considered in the design and location of EV charging points to help limit the effects of fire to property, business, and environment.  Mitigating the fire risk from charging electric vehicles

Commercial property: preparing for increased squatters risk

Colder winter months can increase the likelihood of properties being occupied by squatters. Although the practice has been illegal in residential properties since 2012, commercial properties remain exposed. Squatting can lead to significant financial consequences for landlords and property owners, including higher insurance costs, or an inability to secure cover.

By taking steps to prevent squatters gaining access to properties, owners and landlords can keep their assets safe, and reassure insurers as to their exposure. Colder winter months can increase the likelihood of properties being occupied by squatters. Although the practice has been illegal in residential properties since 2012, commercial properties remain exposed. Squatting can lead to significant financial consequences for landlords and property owners, including higher insurance costs, or an inability to secure cover.

By taking steps to prevent squatters gaining access to properties, owners and landlords can keep their assets safe, and reassure insurers as to their exposure.

Lockton appoints Clarissa Franks to lead UK P&C Retail business

Lockton, the world’s largest independent insurance broker, today announced the appointment of Clarissa Franks as Head of UK P&C Retail. Clarissa will report into the European CEO, EJ Hentenaar, and work with Tony Hardy, Head of UK P&C, to transfer over the Retail area of his responsibilities, ensuring a seamless succession for clients. Clarissa will play a key role in Lockton UK’S continued growth, reinforcing its solutions led approach for clients, and will be responsible for accelerating the expansion of the UK Retail Division when she takes up her new role in November. Lockton, the world’s largest independent insurance broker, today announced the appointment of Clarissa Franks as Head of UK P&C Retail. Clarissa will report into the European CEO, EJ Hentenaar, and work with Tony Hardy, Head of UK P&C, to transfer over the Retail area of his responsibilities, ensuring a seamless succession for clients. Clarissa will play a key role in Lockton UK’S continued growth, reinforcing its solutions led approach for clients, and will be responsible for accelerating the expansion of the UK Retail Division when she takes up her new role in November.

Addressing insurer concerns regarding modular construction

An increasing number of construction companies are turning to modular construction to take advantage of potential efficiencies and cost savings. However, insurers do have some concerns about this technology that need to be addressed to ensure there is appropriate insurance cover in place for such projects.  An increasing number of construction companies are turning to modular construction to take advantage of potential efficiencies and cost savings. However, insurers do have some concerns about this technology that need to be addressed to ensure there is appropriate insurance cover in place for such projects.
See all news and insights

We're here to help

We bring creative thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit to the insurance business and are uniquely positioned to help you succeed.

Talk to our team