SURA
SURA is an Australian group of ten specialist underwriting agencies (a subsidiary of ASX-listed AUB Group) that develops purpose-built insurance products for niche verticals and distributes them exclusively through brokers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersNorth Sydney, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SURA does
SURA is a group of ten specialist underwriting agencies operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AUB Group Limited (ASX:AUB), headquartered in North Sydney, Australia. Founded in 2005, the company employs over 200 industry professionals across offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Adelaide, and develops purpose-built insurance policies from the ground up for niche industry verticals — including construction, engineering, labour hire, complex liability, life sciences, motor dealers, professional risks, technology, strata, bloodstock, and bus & coach. Each agency maintains dedicated specialist underwriters, with several teams carrying combined experience exceeding 100 years, and operates under binding-authority agreements with capacity providers including Lloyd's and Berkley.
The group's core product is proprietary, vertically-specialised policy wordings that capture exposures standard insurers typically miss. Distribution is exclusively through insurance brokers across Australia, supported by regional Market Day events, industry association memberships (ANZIIF, NIBA, UAC, CQIB), and dedicated National Distribution Managers. Minimum premiums start at approximately A$1,000 plus charges for products such as Cyber and Life Sciences, with maximum liability limits up to A$20 million on several lines. Recent offensive moves include the September 2024 launch of SURA Life Sciences and the November 2024 launch of SURA Cyber, each headed by a named Managing Director and supported by proprietary policy wordings, 24/7 cyber incident response, and capacity extensions from existing partners.
The business model is specialist insurance underwriting: SURA designs policy wordings, prices and binds risk on behalf of capacity providers under binding authority, distributes through brokers, and retains a commission plus underwriting-margin share of gross written premium. Revenue mechanics depend on premium volume, loss ratios, and the economic split negotiated with each capacity partner. The end customer base spans Australian SMEs and mid-market businesses across more than ten specialty verticals, with 10 purpose-built agencies providing multi-vertical diversification of underwriting risk and broker distribution.
SURA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SURA
- Legal name
- SURA Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://sura.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- SURA is an Australian group of ten specialist underwriting agencies (a subsidiary of ASX-listed AUB Group) that develops purpose-built insurance products for niche verticals and distributes them exclusively through brokers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SURA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Insurance Underwriting
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Carriers (5241), Other Insurance Related Activities (52429)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Insurance Carriers, Nec (6399)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Management Liability (D&O/EPL/Fiduciary) (FSAJAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Professional Liability (E&O) (FSAJAGAC), Professional Umbrella / Excess (E&O/D&O Wrap) (FSAJANAH)
Keywords
Where SURA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices6 records
Markets served
SURA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Insurance Underwriting Premiums: SURA operates as an underwriting agency generating revenue through insurance premiums. They develop and underwrite specialist insurance products, collecting premiums from policyholders via their broker network and retaining a portion as underwriting profit.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Life Sciences Insurance - Minimum premiums starting at $1,000 plus charges with limits up to $20 million |
| Subscription | Annual | Cyber Insurance - Minimum premiums starting at $1,000 with limits up to $5 million |
| Subscription | Annual | Professional Risks - $5M PI limit (higher limits considered) |
| Subscription | Annual | Liability Insurance - Maximum limit of liability up to $20,000,000 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
SURA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SURA is a group of specialist underwriting agencies that develop purpose-built insurance products from the ground up to suit niche industry segments. Operating through approximately 10 agencies covering construction, cyber, engineering, labour hire, liability, life sciences, motor dealers, professional risks, technology, strata, bloodstock, film and entertainment, and bus and coach sectors, SURA underwrites and distributes these specialist insurance policies exclusively through the Australian insurance broker network.
Product overview
SURA is a group of 10 specialist underwriting agencies operating under the AUB Group, offering purpose-built insurance products developed from the ground up to suit specialist industry needs. The portfolio includes SURA Construction, SURA Cyber, SURA Engineering, SURA Labour Hire, SURA Liability, SURA Life Sciences, SURA Motor Dealers, SURA Professional Risks, SURA Technology Risks, and Bloodstock Insurance Australia as core products. Additional sub-brands include Cinesure Global for film and entertainment, and Longitude, Rubix, and Strata Unit Underwriters for strata insurance. The company also includes Australian Bus & Coach Underwriting. Each agency specializes in specific insurance products or industry sectors with in-depth industry knowledge, specialist underwriting expertise, and dedicated claims service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SURA Construction
- SURA Cyber
- SURA Engineering
- SURA Labour Hire
- SURA Liability
- SURA Life Sciences
- SURA Motor Dealers
- SURA Professional Risks
- SURA Technology Risks
- Bloodstock Insurance Australia
- Australian Bus & Coach
- Cinesure Global
- Longitude
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 years combined experience in Professional Risks team
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SURA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SURA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SURA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- ANZIIF (Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance)supportingANZIIF is the leading membership, education, training and professional development organisation for the insurance and finance industry in the Asia-Pacific region. SURA is a Corporate Supporter, participating in industry-relevant, not-for-profit projects.
- CQIB (Council of Queensland Brokers)supportingCQIB represents over 60 Queensland firms employing nearly 400 staff and placing in excess of $500,000,000 in annual premiums. The charter is to maintain professionalism through sharing of knowledge, information and ideas.
- NIBA (National Insurance Brokers Association)supportingNIBA is Australia's peak body of the insurance broking profession and administers the Insurance Brokers Code of Practice which all members must adhere to.
- UAC (Underwriting Agencies Council)supportingUAC serves its members' interests through professional development events, broker expos, sector-specific marketing campaigns, and advocacy with government and industry bodies. UAC has more than 100 agency members.
- 360 Underwriting Solutionscore360 Underwriting Solutions is an Australian owned underwriting agency group providing specialist insurance solutions exclusively through brokers. Australian Bus and Coach Underwriting is part of the 360 Group and operates as a purpose-built underwriter for bus and coach owners and operators, leading the market since 1979.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SURA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hollard Insurance Australia: Hollard is Australia's largest underwriting agency group, partnering with brokers to deliver specialist insurance products. Comparable to SURA because both operate as multi-line underwriting agency groups distributing exclusively through brokers with purpose-built specialist products across multiple verticals.
- Dual Australia: Dual is an international underwriting agency (MGA) operating in Australia with specialty lines including professional indemnity, cyber, and financial lines. Comparable to SURA because both operate as MGAs distributing specialty insurance exclusively through brokers.
- Pacific International Insurance: Pacific International is an Australian underwriting agency offering specialty commercial lines through brokers. Comparable to SURA because both operate as specialist underwriting agencies in Australia distributing through the broker channel with similar specialty line focus.
Broad incumbents
- Steadfast Group: Steadfast (ASX:SDF) is Australia's largest broker network and also operates underwriting agencies. Comparable to SURA because both distribute specialist insurance through broker networks in Australia, though Steadfast is a broader broker-led platform while SURA is a pure underwriting agency group within AUB.
- Allianz Australia: Allianz is a major direct insurer in Australia with broad commercial lines including liability, engineering, and motor. Comparable to SURA because Allianz writes many of the same specialty lines (Professional Indemnity, Engineering, Motor) but as a large generalist carrier rather than a focused underwriting agency.
- CGU Insurance (IAG): CGU, part of IAG, is a major Australian commercial insurer offering liability, engineering, and construction insurance through brokers. Comparable to SURA because both serve the Australian broker channel for similar specialty commercial lines, but CGU is a much larger established carrier versus SURA's focused underwriting agency model.
- QBE Insurance Australia: QBE is a major Australian-headquartered global insurer offering specialty and commercial lines through brokers. Comparable to SURA because both write specialty commercial lines through Australian brokers, though QBE retains risk directly as a global carrier rather than acting purely as an underwriting agency.
- Chubb Insurance Australia: Chubb is a global specialty insurer with significant Australian operations across professional indemnity, cyber, D&O, and life sciences. Comparable to SURA because both target the same Australian specialty commercial segments (Cyber, Professional Indemnity, Life Sciences), but Chubb is a global carrier while SURA is a local underwriting agency.
- AIG Australia: AIG is a major global insurer with Australian specialty lines including Professional Indemnity, D&O, Cyber, and Management Liability. Comparable to SURA because both serve Australian brokers writing specialty professional and management liability business, though AIG is a global carrier versus SURA's focused underwriting agency model.
- Vero Insurance (Suncorp): Vero, part of Suncorp, is an Australian commercial insurer offering professional indemnity, liability, and engineering lines through brokers. Comparable to SURA because both write specialty commercial lines for Australian brokers, though Vero is a direct carrier within a broader banking/insurance group.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SURA social profiles
Digital presenceSURA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SURA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
SURA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries15 records
SURA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SURA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SURA
What does SURA do?
SURA is a group of specialist underwriting agencies that develop purpose-built insurance products from the ground up to suit niche industry segments. Operating through approximately 10 agencies covering construction, cyber, engineering, labour hire, liability, life sciences, motor dealers, professional risks, technology, strata, bloodstock, film and entertainment, and bus and coach sectors, SURA underwrites and distributes these specialist insurance policies exclusively through the Australian insurance broker network.
Is SURA a public or private company?
SURA is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SURA founded?
SURA was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is SURA based?
SURA is headquartered in North Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does SURA make money?
One revenue line is on record: insurance Underwriting Premiums.
Who are SURA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hollard Insurance Australia, Dual Australia and Pacific International Insurance. Broad incumbents are Steadfast Group, Allianz Australia, CGU Insurance (IAG), QBE Insurance Australia, Chubb Insurance Australia, AIG Australia and Vero Insurance (Suncorp).
Does SURA have an API?
No public API is recorded for SURA.
What industry is SURA in?
SURA's product category is Specialty Insurance Underwriting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAJAGAD, Management Liability (D&O/EPL/Fiduciary), with a secondary code of FSAJAGAC, Professional Liability (E&O). Its NAICS code is 524210 and its SIC code is 6411.