Pen Underwriting extends long-term strategic partnership with Zurich in newly expanded multi-year specialist fleet capacity deal
Published On : 11 Dec 2025
Pen Underwriting today announces the extension of its decades-long strategic collaboration with Zurich in the UK, with a newly expanded and enhanced multi-year capacity deal in support of Pen’s wider specialist fleet insurance offerings.
Building on a partnership of consistent motor fleet capacity provision for the hazardous goods, tankers and environmental industries that dates back more than 35 years, the new agreement has been significantly broadened. As of 1 January 2026, Zurich will now support Pen’s broader fleet risks portfolio, including its specialism in the passenger transport field of bus, coach and minibus risks. The deal will also enable Pen to offer terms on new fleet risks from existing customers where a relationship exists in other product areas.
Collectively, the agreement will see Zurich provide capacity for Pen to write in excess of £350m in premium over the next five years with a focus on sustainable growth and further expansion of the portfolio to support other industries that have specialist fleet risks that would benefit from Pen’s underwriting expertise.
In addition to providing insurance solutions for a broader range of fleet risks, the new multi-year capacity deal will see enhanced levels of delegated underwriting and claims authority. These measures are designed to further improve speed of response, broker service and customer outcomes.
Previously, the agreement with Zurich was focused on providing capacity for Pen’s tailored offerings for motor fleets specifically in the hazardous goods, tankers and environmental industries – such as companies working in fuels & oil, chemicals, lubricants, LPG, liquid & hazardous waste and industrial cleaning as well as non-hazardous tanker operators. Core aspects of Pen’s offering include risk management and loss mitigation expertise, direct access to experienced technical underwriters and embedded extras, including 24/7 emergency spill response.
Bringing all Pen’s UK fleet specialisms into one capacity arrangement will ensure the same consistent approach to underwriting and claims handling can be applied and ensure more brokers can secure quotes for a broader range of client risks.
Pen has a similar long-term capacity arrangement with Zurich in the Republic of Ireland in support of the same sectors.
Adam Shefras, Managing Director of Hazardous Goods & Environmental Industries at Pen Underwriting, said: “Not only are we absolutely delighted to secure Zurich’s ongoing capacity commitment in support of hazardous and other bulk liquid fleet risks across the UK, but to be broadening out that partnership to encompass Pen’s other key fleet specialisms. The bus, coach and minibus sector is another highly specialist market, with limited participating insurers, where Pen offers long-held underwriting expertise, which we can now bring to more brokers and more clients.
“Pen’s longevity in these trades, combined with our lasting strategic collaboration with Zurich and high levels of underwriting and claims authority, means we are ideally placed to provide sustainable solutions and responsive service in sectors that have the potential for complex and catastrophic claims.”
Gordon Wilmott, Head of Public Services & Pen at Zurich Municipal, said: “We are delighted to be working with Pen Underwriting in an expanded capacity – building on our long-standing successful partnership. The passion and expertise shown by Pen to ensure the best outcomes for brokers and customers is something we particularly value and we look forward to achieving further success together.”
