Calliden has begun rebranding its rural underwriting agency ARGIS, which it bought out in 2008.

With the launch of its new Farm Extra product next month, Calliden is making good on its promise to reposition ARGIS which previously dealt in other lines, including home insurance – as a farm insurance specialist.

Calliden Group Executive Marketing and Distribution Mike Hooton says the development and launch of the new product demonstrates Calliden’s commitment to brokers operating in the farm insurance market.

“Our new national farm underwriting centre… enables the group to provide a consistent, quality service to our farm insurance brokers nationally,” he said. Calliden will offer all existing policyholders the benefits of the upgraded farm product.

ARGIS has already begun rebranding its domestic portfolio to Calliden and will now make the same transition for its commercial business.

In July Calliden closed ARGIS branches in Albury, Tamworth, Toowoomba and Canberra and centralised the business in Melbourne. Development managers retain a presence in the regions.