History of Continental Underwriters, Ltd.

History

CUL Companies (CUL) was founded in 1970 by H. Elder Brown, Sr., in his hometown of New Orleans, LA. "Senior" understood that marine insurance accounts for only one tenth of one percent of the world’s insurance market. With this knowledge, he launched CUL to assist local agents with the marketing and placement of marine and energy insurance accounts.

H. Elder Brown, Jr. joined his father in the operations of CUL in January, 1974, and became President in 1987. Elder is closely involved in every aspect of the day-to-day operations of the company.

Holding to the highest standards of service since the company’s inception, CUL is characterized by continuous, stable growth. It is now one of the largest, if not the largest, marine agency of its type in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico - the most competitive marine insurance market in the world.

To the best of anyone’s knowledge within the company, there is no other purely marine broker that writes more insurance in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico than CUL. The company is expanding in several other markets including the eastern United States, inland American rivers, the United Kingdom, and Central and South America.

Typical clients of CUL are serious, sophisticated marine buyers, many of whom have more than ten years in the maritime industry. A number of clients are second and third generation vessel owners. They have good records, strong staffs, are well capitalized and maintain their equipment in superior condition. Many CUL clients, through hard work, innovation and dogged determination, have advanced from rank-and-file positions into management or ownership of their companies.

CUL executives represent the company within the Louisiana Surplus Lines Association and the Professional Insurance Association of Louisiana.