Robertson Low

What Robertson Low does

Robertson Low is a wholesale insurance broker operating on a broker-to-broker model, providing Irish insurance brokers with access to Lloyd's of London and the broader London Market. Headquartered in Kill, Co. Kildare, Ireland, with a London office, the firm positions itself as Ireland's first incorporated Lloyd's broker, an institutional status derived from its regulatory licensing with the Central Bank of Ireland and the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Founded in 2000, Robertson Low sources specialist risk transfer capacity from A-rated Irish, UK, and international insurers on behalf of retail brokers who lack direct access to these markets, spanning 18+ product lines including Professional Indemny (via ProfessionProtect), Trade Credit, and BusinessProtect.

The firm's product surface combines traditional wholesale placement with in-house underwriting capability through RL Underwriting, launched in November 2021 to underwrite the Protect Suite of products. Robertson Low Online, the firm's digital quote-and-bind platform, enables broker partners to obtain indicative terms and bind standard product lines electronically, supplementing the relationship-led broking model with self-service transactional infrastructure. Recent product expansion has extended into Transport & Logistics Insurance (2024) and Sport & Leisure Insurance, broadening the addressable risk pool.

Robertson Low's revenue mechanics are commission-based, drawing on insurer commissions (e.g., 20% cited on Professional Indemnity), broker fees, and profit-share arrangements with capacity providers. Since 2022 the firm has operated as part of Howden Broking Group, having been acquired by Aston Lark in 2019, merged with Wright in 2021, and consolidated into Howden following Howden's acquisition of Aston Lark. The group-level relationship provides access to global distribution and capital infrastructure, while Robinson Low focuses on wholesale broking and in-house underwriting for the Irish and London Market wholesale channel.

Name

Robertson Low

Legal name

Howden Insurance (Ireland) Limited

Website

https://robertsonlow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Robertson Low is Ireland's first incorporated Lloyd's broker, operating a wholesale insurance broking model that provides Irish retail brokers with access to Lloyd's of London and the London Market across 18+ product lines including Professional Indemnity, Trade Credit, and Business Insurance. The firm, headquartered in Kill, Co. Kildare, operates as part of Howden Broking Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Wholesale Insurance Brokerage (Excess & Surplus Lines) (FSAEADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Insurance Brokerage (Marine, Aviation, Cyber, Professional Lines) (FSAEADAJ), Professional Liability (E&O) (FSAJAGAC)

Keywords

• Wholesale insurance brokerage
• Lloyd's broker services
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Commercial combined insurance
• Broker-to-broker placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commission: Robertson Low earns commission from insurers for placing business. This includes single commission (paid shortly after sale based on premium) and trail commission (ongoing payments throughout policy life). Commission rates vary by product type including general insurance, life/pensions, and investments.
2. Broker Fees and Administration Charges: Fees for arranging, amending or renewing policies. Personal Insurance max €250 (min €50), Commercial Insurance max 25% of premium (min €300), Health Insurance €100 (min €50). Hourly rates also apply for complex accounts.
3. Profit Share Arrangements: May participate in profit-share arrangements with certain product providers, earning additional commission beyond standard rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Robertson Low operates as Ireland's first incorporated Lloyd's broker, providing wholesale insurance brokerage services to insurance brokers across Ireland. The firm places business into Lloyd's and London Markets on behalf of broker partners, offering access to specialist capacity for complex and high-value risks. It distributes a portfolio of approximately 18 insurance product lines — including Professional Indemnity, Cyber, Liability, Contractors, Hospitality/Leisure/Retail, Marine, Fleet, D&O, Surety Bonds, Medical Malpractice, and Transport & Logistics — supplemented by in-house underwriting facilities (ProfessionProtect, TradeProtect, BusinessProtect) and the Robertson Low Online digital quote-and-bind platform.

Product overview

Robertson Low is Ireland's first incorporated Lloyd's broker operating as a wholesale insurance intermediary. The company offers a portfolio of insurance products across multiple categories including property, liability, professional risks, and specialty lines. The core offering consists of 18 distinct insurance products covering Contractors, Hospitality/Leisure/Retail, Sports & Leisure, Professional Indemnity, Cyber, Liability, Petrol Station, High Value Home, Property Owners, Directors & Officers, Surety Bonds, Marine, Fleet, Medical Malpractice, Transport & Logistics, and Excess of Loss insurance. Digital distribution is handled through Robertson Low Online (quote and bind platform) and three Protect-branded products: ProfessionProtect (Professional Indemnity for construction professionals), TradeProtect (liability for tradespeople), and BusinessProtect (commercial combined for hospitality/retail). The company also offers RL Underwriting for in-house underwriting services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ProfessionProtect: Professional Indemnity product offering comprehensive cover for Architects, Engineers and Design & Construct professionals, underwritten in-house with 20% commission
• TradeProtect
• BusinessProtect
• RL Underwriting
• Robertson Low Online

Products and services

• Robertson Low Online Online quote and bind system providing real-time quotes, instant binding, and immediate cover for brokers' clients across Professional Indemnity, Cyber Liability, Public and Products Liability, Employers Liability, Property, and Directors & Officers insurance.
• ProfessionProtect In-house underwritten Professional Indemnity product covering Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Design & Construct professionals; supports primary and excess layers with 20% broker commission and quicker turnaround times.
• TradeProtect Public/products liability and employers' liability cover designed for general tradespeople and contractors, with over 70 trades on the underwriting appetite list.
• BusinessProtect Commercial Combined insurance product covering property damage, business interruption, public/products liability, employers' liability, and money cover for hospitality and retail sectors.
• Contractors Insurance Bespoke insurance solutions for construction companies covering fencing, flooring, insulation, carpentry and other construction trade risks.
• Contractors All Risk Insurance Insurance providing cover for clients carrying out Building and Civil Engineering Projects, designed for builders and the construction trade.
• Hospitality, Leisure & Retail Insurance Insurance policies for boutique hotels, pubs, and a wide range of retail businesses covering the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors.
• Sports & Leisure Insurance Insurance products tailored to protect the assets of clubs, organisations and sports centres with experienced insurers who understand the risks in the sports and leisure industry.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance protecting against litigation from clients who have suffered financial loss due to professional advice or services; prepared for professional practice protection.
• Cyber Insurance Insurance keeping client businesses on stable financial footing should a significant security event occur, covering the financial impact of cybercrime.
• Liability Insurance Access to a range of leading insurance providers for relevant liability insurance solutions for clients.
• Petrol Station Insurance Insurance policies for single petrol stations through to multi-site operators.
• High Value Home Insurance Policies specifically designed to cover clients with higher-value homes and contents, from art to jewellery.
• Property Owners/Landlords Insurance Specialist landlord cover protecting against damage or losses to rental property.
• Directors & Officers Insurance Financial protection and peace of mind for directors and decision-makers, protecting against the cost of damages.
• Surety Bonds Cost-effective solutions enabling clients to negotiate favourable contractual terms without tying up bank or cash facilities.
• Marine Insurance Marine insurance solutions for SMEs and larger complex organizations, arranging cover to suit requirements.
• Fleet Insurance Motor Fleet insurance for organisations whose fleet of vehicles is a significant investment and key part of ensuring efficient operations.
• Medical Malpractice Insurance Cover in all areas of healthcare from complementary therapists and beauty salons to dentists, first aiders and virtual care providers.
• Transport & Logistics Insurance Tailored insurance coverage for transport and logistics businesses including liability and property protection, with capability spanning haulage, transit liability, trailers, property and marine cargo.
• Excess of Loss Insurance Top-up liability cover, also known as Excess Layer insurance, providing additional cover on top of a main liability policy for higher limit placement.
• RL Underwriting Dedicated in-house underwriting service offering A-rated insurance products, flexible cover and broker service through a specialist underwriting team.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quick turnaround and decision-making through relationships and underwriter expertise
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lloyd's of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobertson Low is Ireland's first incorporated Lloyd's broker, providing broker partners with access to Lloyd's and London Markets. The company maintains relationships with Lloyd's for placing complex insurance risks.
• A-rated insurerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobertson Low deals exclusively with 'A' rated insurers only. The company works with various A-rated insurers offering exclusive facilities including Professional Indemnity, Contractors, and Petrol Station insurance products.
• Wright Insurance BrokersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn May 2021, Robertson Low Insurances Limited and Wright Group Brokers Limited completed their merger, rebranding to Aston Lark Europe Limited, trading as Aston Lark Ireland. The Robertson Low brand name was retained.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Price Forbes: Independent Lloyd's and London Market broker now part of the Howden group, focused on specialty and complex risks. Directly comparable wholesale Lloyd's broker model and now a sister entity within Howden.
• Arachas: Ireland's largest insurance broker with broad multi-line offering including commercial, personal, and specialty lines. Comparable as a major Irish broker competing for the same retail broker and direct customer relationships, with similar Lloyd's and London Market access.
• Miller Insurance Services: London-based specialist insurance broker with deep Lloyd's and London Market relationships, serving complex and specialty risks. Highly comparable as a wholesale Lloyd's broker model serving intermediary partners across construction, hospitality and professional lines.
• O'Leary Insurance Group: Irish insurance broker offering commercial, personal, and corporate insurance with access to Lloyd's markets. Directly comparable in the Irish wholesale/retail broker landscape and competing for similar broker placement business.
• Tysers: UK-based Lloyd's and London Market wholesale broker, also part of Howden Group. Directly comparable wholesale broker model operating in similar specialty lines including construction, hospitality and transport.

Emerging players

• Beazley: Lloyd's specialty insurer with strong cyber, professional indemnity and marine offerings. Comparable as a Lloyd's carrier whose direct broker relationships partially overlap with the placements Robertson Low intermediates.
• CFC Underwriting: Specialist Lloyd's-focused insurer/MGA with strong cyber and professional lines focus, increasingly offering direct broker digital portals. Comparable as a specialty Lloyd's player whose direct-to-broker model could disintermediate wholesale intermediaries like Robertson Low.

Broad incumbents

• Aon Ireland: Global insurance and reinsurance broker with substantial Irish operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same large commercial and specialty Irish broker placements.
• Howden Group Holdings: Parent of Robertson Low (via Howden Insurance (Ireland) Limited) and one of the largest international insurance broking groups. Comparable as the parent ecosystem in which Robertson Low operates, providing scale, products, and Lloyd's access.
• Marsh: Global insurance broker and risk advisor with extensive Lloyd's access and Irish presence (Marsh Ireland). Comparable as a larger incumbent operating across the same risk categories with much greater geographic and product breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/robertson-low

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Robertson Low