Insurance Daily News

MGAA Opens Membership to International MGAs and Insurers

The Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA) has officially expanded its membership criteria to include qualifying managing general agents, insurers, and suppliers located outside the UK and Ireland. This strategic shift follows a consultation with existing members and responds to rising interest from European and US entities seeking entry into the UK and Irish markets.

Under the revised guidelines, international organizations demonstrating a genuine interest in the UK and Irish insurance sectors can apply. Eligible applicants include established MGAs, insurers, market practitioners, and suppliers aiming to build capacity, distribution, or commercial partnerships, as well as firms planning to launch or acquire an MGA in these territories. Admitted members receive access to MGAA networking, market intelligence, events, and community resources.

However, the MGAA specified that its regulatory and compliance guidance will remain strictly dedicated to the UK and Ireland, offering no compliance assistance for foreign legal jurisdictions. International members must independently secure advice regarding UK regulatory standards and local home-market rules before writing business.

The MGAA currently represents over 500 member organizations, with its MGA members managing more than £18.5 billion in collective gross written premium. The expansion builds on a previous post-Brexit adjustment that opened membership to Republic of Ireland entities. Chief executive Mike Keating noted that the initiative aligns with the growing international scope of delegated underwriting and will help build broader cross-border relationships.

The move comes amid significant global interest in the UK market. Data from advisory firm MarshBerry revealed that while specialty targets—such as MGAs and Lloyd's brokers—comprised 28% of UK insurance distribution deals by volume in 2026, they generated over 85% of total deal value, drawing buyers from the US, Japan, and Australia. Meanwhile, outbound expansion continues, illustrated by specialty MGA group Optio establishing an Amsterdam-based transactional risk unit to cover the European Economic Area.

For insurance professionals and delegated authority market participants, this global membership extension provides UK and Irish MGAs with direct exposure to international capacity providers and prospective acquirers, while giving foreign entities a structured entry point into UK market networks.

Why it matters

This change enhances cross-border networking and capacity opportunities for delegated authority specialists operating within the UK and Irish markets.

FAQ

Will the MGAA offer regulatory support for non-UK jurisdictions?
No, the association's regulatory and compliance support will remain focused exclusively on the UK and Ireland.

How much gross written premium do MGAA MGA members write?
MGA members of the MGAA collectively write over £18.5 billion in gross written premium.

What proportion of UK insurance deal value did specialty targets represent in 2026?
According to MarshBerry data, specialty targets accounted for more than 85% of UK insurance distribution deal value in 2026.

Source: Insurance Business UK. See the original source for full details.