On 20 October 2026, DLA Piper’s global insurance team delivered two webinars exploring opportunities, regulatory considerations and growth strategies in the global managing general agent (MGA) market. Speakers joined live from the Netherlands, France, the UK, Italy, the US, Australia and Hong Kong, offering practical perspectives on establishing and scaling MGA models across borders, with Ann-Marie Coleman sharing the Australian perspective.
Key takeaways for Asia-Pacific with a focus on Australia:
- Local requirements matter. MGA models need to account for the regulatory, licensing and capacity arrangements in each market. In Australia, they should consider their own licensing position and the carrier’s regulatory position together, as both are fundamental to a successful model. The MGA is directly regulated and generally needs an AFSL, or may act as an authorised representative, with the right authorisations. For a viable partnership (other than for bespoke risks), the carrier likely needs to be APRA-regulated or writing through Lloyd’s. If the carrier is APRA-regulated, its CPS 230 obligations also flow down to the MGA through contractual, governance and operational-risk requirements.
- Australia offers distinct opportunities. MGAs with differentiated underwriting knowledge, distribution channels or data can meet growing demand. Australia is a strong market in its own right but may also form part of a broader regional strategy (eg a successful Australian model may support expansion into New Zealand).
- Preparation strengthens partnerships. MGAs need a clear proposition, operating model and risk controls. Licensing should be designed around the operating model, not the other way round. As well as demonstrating a strong commercial case and product-market fit, being able to show carriers a sound risk management framework builds their confidence and may help secure more balanced contractual terms and oversight.
- Regulatory frameworks should support the commercial case. A licence is only the entry ticket; success still depends on sustainable capacity, a workable distribution model and a product that meets a genuine market need. Obtaining a licence is only one part of the process and ongoing regulatory requirements will depend on the MGA’s product or distribution (eg in Australia, whether that is retail or wholesale business) and what flows down from the carrier’s own regulatory obligations. When choosing a market, MGAs should prioritise where the commercial proposition is the strongest and then make sure that market’s regulatory framework can support their operating model.
Thank you to DLA Piper for sharing these resources.
