Underwriting agency Connect Liability Solutions has today been renamed Newline Australia Insurance to align it with the global brand.

The Melbourne-based company writes business on behalf of Newline Syndicate 1218 at Lloyd’s. 

Newline is based in London and writes business in more than 80 countries, with underwriting centres in London, Singapore and Melbourne. It is owned by US reinsurer Odyssey Re.

The parent company bought the Connect business in 2007. It specialises in public and product liability, professional indemnity, directors' and officers', errors and omissions, financial institutions, medical malpractice, life sciences and clinical trials cover.

A Newline Australia spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au the rebranding aligns the local business with its parent’s global underwriting expertise.

“The change of name to Newline Australia has provided key brokers with clarity around who we are, what we do and our ownership structure,” he said.

The spokesman says the initial response to the name change has been positive, which reflects the parent company’s standing in the local market.