As financial institutions seek new ways to optimise capital under evolving regulatory requirements, trade credit insurer Atradius has expanded its offering through new Lloyd’s syndicates, a dedicated global banking team and a broader range of specialist risk solutions.
Trade credit insurance is increasingly used by many banks to enhance their levels of capital relief, to lower the risk-weighting of their exposures, and to comply with Basel III regulations. In recognition of the increasing demand for robust products and services from financial institutions, Atradius has strengthened its proposition with additional insurance capacity, enhanced product capabilities and a more dedicated client structure.
New Lloyd’s syndicates add AA-rated capacity
A key development has been the launch of new Lloyd’s syndicates, giving European banks access to additional AA-rated insurance capacity.
Robbert Bozelie, director of the Atradius Credit Specialties unit, says: “Following the launch of our Lloyd’s syndicates, we have enhanced our financial institutions offering by giving customers access to highly rated insurance capacity, with broader coverage of asset classes across multiple markets. This has been welcomed by the market and several banking customers are already benefitting.”
Alexandrina Eliseeva, senior manager, business development at Atradius Financial Institutions Global, says the changes come as banks increasingly seek additional sources of capital relief under Basel III.
“Basel III means that many banks need to find additional or enhanced sources of capital relief to ensure they achieve the liquidity coverage ratios required by the tightening regulations in their jurisdictions. We are finding that banks are seeing a significant uplift in their capital relief by leveraging our insurance policies.”
Dedicated global team for multinational banks
Alongside the Lloyd’s initiative, Atradius has established Financial Institutions Global, a dedicated team focused on the needs of multinational banks.
Pieter Postmus, who heads the new team, explains: “The development of Financial Institutions Global and the expansion of our offering to banks has grown out of our conversations with brokers and customers. We have listened to the needs of the market and evolved our solutions accordingly.
Robbert Bozelie, Atradius Credit Specialties
“We have enhanced our financial institutions offering by giving customers access to highly rated insurance capacity, with broader coverage of asset classes across multiple markets.”
“As financing requirements become more complex, we remain committed to helping financial institutions access the expertise, capacity and solutions they need to support future growth, working alongside them with consistency, transparency and partnership.”
The team sits within Atradius Global, the specialist multinational business, giving banks a single point of access to bespoke policy structures and coordinated cross-border support.
Broader specialist risk capabilities
The new team complements Atradius’ long-established Credit Specialties unit, which provides bespoke solutions for financial institutions across trade, structured and corporate lending.
Historically focused on trade-related risks, the business has expanded its offering to include non-trade assets such as revolving credit facilities, alongside existing capabilities spanning single risk, excess of loss, long-tenor transactions and specialist sectors including aviation finance.
Credit Specialties operates from underwriting hubs across continental Europe, London, Singapore and the US, combining underwriting, legal structuring, policy wording and credit risk mitigation expertise.
Atradius’ Global FI team. From left to right: Ben Wiemer, Jonna Härkin, Nane Amirkhanyan, Alexandrina Eliseeva, Pieter Postmus.
A single global approach
Although organised into specialist business lines, Atradius clients continue to access a single global platform. Specialist underwriting teams work alongside local country organisations, combining international structuring expertise with established relationships across banks and brokers.
Sabine Lombard, Atradius Credit Specialties
Sabine Lombard, Credit Specialties regional manager for France and Southern Europe, says this collaborative approach is one of the insurer’s key differentiators: “As one Atradius, we can provide clients with a comprehensive suite of solutions, ranging from surety and traditional credit insurance to more innovative and tailor-made solutions within Credit Specialties.”
She adds that Atradius’ proprietary buyer database provides underwriters with visibility across millions of companies worldwide, supporting faster credit decisions and underwriting confidence on short-term private buyer risks.
For Postmus, the expansion of Atradius’ financial institutions proposition is intended to strengthen – not replace – the relationship-led approach on which the business has been built.
“With us, it is not just transactional, it’s also personal,” he says.
“We value the relationships we build with brokers and financial institutions, often over many years. Our focus is on supporting our customers to create positive outcomes. Our customers and the brokers we work with often tell us they appreciate the transparency we bring. That’s central to the way we work and is something we will retain amid all of our developments and growth.”
About Atradius Global
Atradius Global is the specialist unit for multinationals, recognising the unique needs of large players that have footprints which span continents and regulatory requirements.
About Credit Specialties
Credit Specialties is Atradius’ specialist team for structured trade, commodity and non-trade credit risk solutions, serving corporates and financial institutions globally. The team delivers tailored policy wordings, non-cancellable cover and specialist underwriting expertise to support trade flows, working capital and business growth across international markets.
