The following definitions are intended for general guidance only. They do not override or qualify any definition that appears in any byelaw or regulation, in any contract or in any other document. Where a word is shown in italics it is separately defined in the glossary. 

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Back years

See prior years.

Bailee

A person who holds the property of another person (the bailor) under a contract or agreement according to which the property held is to be returned to the bailor or delivered somewhere to his order. A bailee for reward is paid for his services.

Basis (of insurance) clause

A clause that makes the declarations contained in an insurance proposal form the “basis” of any contract of insurance that is made in consequence of the completion of that form. Such declarations are thereby converted into warranties with the result that if one of them is found to be untrue then the insurer may disclaim all liability under the relevant contract from the date of the breach, regardless as to whether the false declaration was material to the underwriting of the contract or causative of any loss.
Basis of insurance clauses are not normally found in personal lines insurance contracts sold in the United Kingdom and, where they appear in other contracts, they may be qualified by the inclusion of a term in the proposal form that the declarations made in that document are true to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person making the declarations.

Beyond economic repair

Where the cost of repairing the insured property, e.g. a car, exceeds the market value of that property. In such circumstances the insurer will pay the insured the market value of the insured property at the date of loss, subject to the terms of the policy (assuming the insurer is not under any obligation to provide a replacement).

Binding authority

An agreement between a managing agent and a coverholder under which the managing agent delegates to the coverholder its authority to enter into contracts of insurance to be underwritten by members of a syndicate managed by the managing agent.
A number of managing agents may agree to participate in the same binding authority on a percentage basis so that each syndicate takes a proportion of the premiums and pays the same proportion of the claims arising under the agreement.

Box

Each syndicate has a box in the underwriting room at Lloyd’s from which business may be transacted with Lloyd’s brokers. Each box comprises a couple of opposite facing benches and desks at which the underwriters employed by the managing agent of the syndicate sit plus some loose stools for the visiting Lloyd’s brokers to sit on. Most boxes have computer terminals as well as access to other information technology.

Bordereaux

A list of premiums payable and claims paid or due which is prepared by a coverholder for a managing agent or by a reassured for its reinsurer. Bordereaux are commonly produced on a monthly or quarterly basis. They breakdown block premium payments that are made to underwriters and detail claim payments made on behalf of or due from underwriters.

Broker

There are two types of broker involved in arranging insurance and reinsurance at Lloyd’s: insurance brokers and reinsurance brokers. Some brokers act both as insurance brokers and reinsurance brokers.

Brokerage

The commission that is payable to a broker for placing an insurance or reinsurance contract with an insurer or a reinsurer. Compare fee for service.
Although brokerage is payable by the insured as part of the gross premium the amount of brokerage is agreed by the insurer. The insured may request his broker to state the amount of his brokerage on a given placement. Similar considerations apply to reassureds under reinsurances.
Sometimes the term brokerage may be used to refer the business of a broker.

Business process reform

An initiative to increase the speed and efficiency with which business is transacted at Lloyd’s and also to reduce of the cost of doing business at Lloyd’s. It includes the promotion of contract certainty.

Buy back

In the context of general insurance this refers to the purchase of cover in respect of an otherwise excluded peril by means of the payment of additional premium.

Byelaws

The primary rules made by the Council of Lloyd’s regarding the conduct of insurance business at Lloyd’s.