Frequently Asked Questions

Australian credit-insurance solutions are often shaped by a small number of local insurers, familiar policy structures and established underwriting practices. This can leave clients with fewer choices than may be available in the wider international market.

Zenith takes a different approach:

1. We start with the client’s transaction—not a standard insurance product.

We first examine the underlying risk, financing objective and commercial requirements before deciding what structure or market may be appropriate.

2. We bring a wider market perspective.

Experience across Australia, London, Singapore and Asia-Pacific helps us distinguish between a genuine market limitation and a solution that is simply outside normal local practice.

This may include:

• single-risk, lending, project-finance and structured transactions;
• cancellable or non-cancellable limits;
• alternative tenors and waiting periods;
• bespoke policy wording and risk-sharing arrangements;
• financing and credit-enhancement applications;
• local and overseas underwriting capacity.

3. We help clients negotiate from a stronger position.

An overseas placement is not always necessary. A better understanding of international market practice may enable the client and its broker to challenge assumptions, improve the underwriting presentation and negotiate a more suitable outcome with the local underwriter.

4. Clients choose and pay only for the support they require.

Rather than automatically applying one broad package of services, Zenith can separate an engagement into defined components, such as:

• credit assessment;
• policy review;
• transaction structuring;
• market analysis;
• underwriting presentation;
• second opinion;
• negotiation support;
• broker or MGA specialist assistance.

The client retains discretion over which components to use. This modular, scope-based structure can be significantly more cost-effective than paying for a broader ongoing service arrangement where every element may not be required.

Where insurance placement or another regulated financial service is required, Zenith can work with an appropriately licensed broker or authorised provider.

Our objective is to give clients genuine choice, stronger negotiating leverage and access to solutions that are not limited by conventional local market practice.

Yes. Zenith can work with a suitable broker where the transaction requires specialist expertise, broader market access or more intensive engagement with underwriters.

In those situations, the client can leverage Zenith’s experience to help shape the transaction, develop the underwriting strategy and lead the commercial discussions, while the placement is completed through the appropriate licensed broking arrangement.

Zenith operates principally as a specialist credit and political-risk advisory consultancy. We do not act as an insurance broker unless, and only to the extent that, the relevant service is provided through an appropriately authorised arrangement.

Our role may include analysing the underlying risk, reviewing policy structures, assessing market options, preparing a transaction for presentation and helping the client understand the commercial implications.

Where an engagement requires insurance placement, regulated financial-product advice, arranging cover or another regulated financial service, Zenith can collaborate with an appropriately licensed Australian broker or refer the matter to a suitable authorised provider. The respective responsibilities of Zenith, the broker and the client will be clarified before work begins.

Zenith does not generally impose a single packaged service where the client may require only part of the support.

An engagement can be divided into clearly defined components, with separate deliverables and fees. Depending on the assignment, the client may choose support for:

• a single credit report or underwriting opinion;
• an independent policy review;
• a particular transaction;
• market and structure analysis;
• negotiation preparation;
• financing-related assessment;
• ongoing specialist support.

The scope, timetable and fee for each selected component are agreed before work begins.

This allows the client to retain control over both the service and the cost. For a focused or transaction-specific assignment, the resulting fee can be materially lower than the cost of a broader ongoing arrangement.

The comparison is not based solely on price. The purpose is to provide concentrated specialist value while avoiding charges for services the client does not require.

Yes. Zenith offers an initial consultation of up to one hour on a complimentary and no-obligation basis.

The purpose is to understand the issue, determine whether Zenith can add meaningful value and identify the most appropriate next step.

If there is a suitable basis to proceed, we will agree the scope, deliverables, timetable and fee before commencing paid work. There is no obligation to continue, and constructive feedback is always appreciated.

No assignment is automatically too small.

Zenith can assist with a narrowly defined question, one buyer or transaction, a policy review, a credit report or a limited second opinion. This gives clients the flexibility to obtain specialist assistance only where it is needed, without entering a broad ongoing arrangement.

Part of our objective may also be to strengthen the client’s internal capability. After gaining sufficient knowledge and experience, a client may be able to manage more routine aspects internally and use brokers or specialist advisers only for renewals, complex transactions, claims or unusual market issues.

The appropriate level of involvement will depend on the complexity of the matter and any applicable licensing requirements.

Zenith brings experience across Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, together with a wider Asia-Pacific perspective.

This can be particularly relevant where a matter involves:

• an overseas buyer, borrower, project or investment;
• cross-border trade or financing;
• political, sovereign or transfer risk;
• international insurers, brokers or underwriting markets;
• differences between local and overseas market practices.

We can communicate in English and Cantonese and have practical familiarity with Chinese-speaking business environments. Where additional local legal, regulatory or technical expertise is required, we can help identify an appropriate specialist.

Surety is not currently a core day-to-day service of Zenith.

We can nevertheless provide an initial orientation, help clarify the nature of the requirement and, where appropriate, introduce the client to a suitably experienced surety broker, underwriter or adviser.

A preliminary referral can be made without charge. Any subsequent work undertaken by the referred provider will be subject to that provider’s own terms and fees.

Zenith can provide general information about the claims process, assist in identifying and organising relevant credit and transaction records, and support coordination between the client, broker, insurer and other professional advisers.

Where claim-specific recommendations, coverage interpretation, claims preparation, representation, negotiation or claims handling and settling services are required, Zenith will work through an appropriately authorised arrangement or involve a suitably licensed claims specialist or qualified legal adviser.

Any claims-related assistance does not guarantee acceptance or payment and remains subject to the wording, conditions and exclusions of the relevant policy.

Credit and political-risk insurance is an exceptionally broad field. It can encompass trade credit, structured credit, project and asset finance, sovereign and political risks, policy wording, legal interpretation, underwriting, claims and multiple international markets.

For that reason, Zenith does not claim universal expertise across every aspect of the market.

Our value lies in decades of practical experience, commercial judgement, knowledge of how different markets operate and the ability to recognise when additional specialist input is required. Where a matter falls outside our direct experience, we will say so and seek to involve an appropriately qualified specialist.

Clients should expect careful analysis, access to a strong professional network and candid advice—not an exaggerated claim that one person can know every part of this highly specialised field.