Lloyd's USA Bermuda Ethos LLOYD'S ASCOT UK TAX STRATEGY At Ascot, our culture is built on acting ethically, responsibly and with the integrity to do the right thing. These principles provide the strong bedrock for how we conduct our own affairs across the Group. Approach to Tax Risk Management and Governance The Ascot tax strategy aligns to the UK Group’s wider risk and control framework. Responsibility for the tax strategy, the supporting governance framework and management of tax risk ultimately sits with the UK Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Day-to-day responsibility for each area of tax compliance sits with the Head of Tax, with support provided by the wider in house finance team. All decisions are taken at an appropriate level and authority delegated where appropriate. Where required, in-house tax expertise is supplemented by the use of local tax advisors. Any concerns or key risks identified would be escalated to the Company’s executive management committee, in the first instance. Further escalation to the Board would take place, if deemed appropriate. We regularly review our resourcing, regarding tax matters, both internally and externally. Level of Tax Risk We Are Prepared to Take We look to manage tax risk in a similar way to any area of operational risk across the business and have a low tolerance towards tax risk. Ascot is exposed to a variety of tax risks. These can be grouped under the following headings: Tax compliance and reporting risks, which cover risks associated with compliance failures such as submission of late or inaccurate returns. Operational risks, where finance or operational systems and processes are not sufficiently robust to support tax compliance and reporting requirements. Transactional risks, which arise where transactions are carried out or actions are taken without appropriate consideration of the potential tax consequences or where advice taken is not correctly implemented. Reputational risk looks beyond financial risks to the wider impact tax risk may have on our relationships with our stakeholders, including shareholders, clients, tax authorities and the general public. The Ascot Finance team works with the Group’s business functions to provide advice and guidance to ensure that we are compliant with tax guidelines. This would include receiving external advice, where necessary. The Finance team includes experienced individuals with a mix of industry and business knowledge who are supported by PWC, as Ascot’s tax advisors. In addition, they provide advice to the Group on tax-related issues, undertake or assist with tax filings, manage relationships with HMRC and assist with various forms of tax and financial reporting. Internal controls and escalation procedures are put in place with the aim of identifying, quantifying and managing key risks. Where appropriate, we look to engage with HMRC to disclose and resolve issues, risks and uncertain tax positions. The subjective nature of many tax rules does however mean that it is often impossible to mitigate all known tax risks. We would not look to follow an interpretation of tax legislation, which does not meet with our risk appetite and requirement to remain tax compliant. Approach Towards Dealing With HMRC At Ascot, our culture is built on acting ethically, responsibly and with the integrity to do the right thing. Ascot is committed to working with HMRC and any other relevant tax authorities in an open, timely and courteous manner. This Tax Strategy is aligned with the HMRC Framework for Cooperative Compliance in the UK, “Improving Large Business Tax Compliance”. In particular, Ascot commits to: adopt open and collaborative professional relationships at all times with HMRC; engage in full, open and early dialogue with HMRC to discuss tax planning, strategy, risks and significant transactions; make fair, accurate and timely disclosure in correspondence and returns, and respond to queries and information requests in a timely fashion; seek to resolve issues with HMRC in real time and before returns are filed if possible, and where disagreements arise, work with HMRC to resolve issues by agreement (where possible); be open and transparent about decision-making, governance and tax planning; reasonably believe that transactions are structured to give a tax result which is not contrary to the economic consequences as expressed in the legislation; and interpret the relevant laws in a reasonable way, and ensure transactions are structured consistently with a co-operative relationship Attitude Towards Tax Planning Ascot recognises that it has a responsibility to pay an appropriate amount of tax, in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We aim to balance this with our responsibility to our shareholders to structure our affairs in an efficient manner. Accordingly, we may utilise tax incentives or opportunities for obtaining tax efficiencies where these: are not considered to carry significant reputational risk or significant risk of damaging our relationship with HMRC, are aligned with the intended policy objectives of the government which introduced the incentives, and are aligned with our business or operational objectives. External advice may be sought in relation to tax planning or areas of complexity or uncertainty to support the Group in complying with its tax strategy. APPENDIX – List of Companies (Ascot UK) Ascot Underwriting Group Limited Ascot Underwriting Holdings Limited Ascot Corporate Name Limited Ascot Employees Corporate Member Limited Ascot Underwriting Limited Ascot Insurance Services Limited Ascot Insurance Holdings Limited Last updated on: 3 January 2021 QUICK LINKS CONTACT CAREERS CLAIMS OUR AFFILIATES AMFED ETHOS SPECIALTY LEGAL ASCOT UK TAX STRATEGY ANTI-SLAVERY STATEMENT BOARD DIVERSITY POLICY CONNECT LINKEDIN © ASCOT GROUP 2021 TERMS & CONDITIONS COOKIE & PRIVACY POLICY