— In an industry where the only certainty is uncertainty, KEU Underwriting Managers is celebrating a milestone built on resilience, specialist expertise and a long-standing commitment to the creative sector. This year marks 25 years of KEU providing the dedicated underwriting support that enables the South African film and television industry to dream bigger and go further.
To mark this quarter-century, KEU has announced a partnership with Greenpop to plant 25 indigenous trees in Platbos Forest, Africa’s southernmost forest. The initiative reflects KEU’s commitment to the long-term sustainability of the South African landscapes that provide the backdrop to the world-class productions it protects.
Left: Iola Edmayr, Executive Director, KEU Underwriting Managers / Right: Denise Hattingh, Managing Director, KEU Underwriting Managers
Founded in 2001 by Managing Director Denise Hattingh, KEU Underwriting Managers emerged at a pivotal moment for the South African insurance market. As traditional insurers withdrew from the high-risk entertainment sector, KEU stepped in to provide the specialist knowledge needed to keep productions moving. Over 25 years, the company has grown from a niche firm into a key player in the national creative economy.
“Twenty-five years in this industry has taught us that you cannot have a thriving creative sector without a healthy foundation,” says Hattingh. “By planting these trees, we are doing more than marking time; we are putting down roots for the next generation. Just as we provide the certainty needed for a production to grow from a script to a global success, we want to help restore the environments that make South African filmmaking so distinctive.”
The South African film industry has become a significant global player, with foreign investment projected to exceed R5.2 billion by late 2025. KEU has played an important role in this development. By offering a wide range of short-term insurance solutions, including Film and Commercial Producers’ Indemnity, Equipment All Risks, and Event Liability, KEU provides the financial security that encourages major international studios to choose South Africa, ensuring that unforeseen delays, weather-related cancellations, or equipment failures do not derail multi-million-rand productions.
For KEU, the insurance broker remains central to the story. The company works exclusively through a network of professional brokers, equipping them with the tools and digital platforms needed to place complex risks efficiently.
“In an increasingly global insurance marketplace, our proximity to the risk and our understanding of the local landscape allow us to respond with an agility that offshore markets cannot match,” says Hattingh. “Our brokers know that when a crisis hits a set at two o’clock in the morning, they have a partner on the ground who understands the high-stakes reality of production.”
The partnership with Greenpop is a direct response to the growing importance of environmental, social, and governance criteria among global financiers and streaming platforms. By planting 25 trees in Platbos Forest, a unique ecosystem combining coastal and mountainous biomes, KEU is contributing to a reforestation effort that has already planted more than 150,000 trees.
Recent data indicate that for every R1.00 spent on film production, an additional R2.50 is generated in the local economy, supporting the hospitality, transport and catering sectors and creating thousands of jobs. In the past year alone, KEU’s commitment to efficient claims handling included settling an R11 million claim for a Netflix production, reinforcing its reputation as a reliable partner in moments of crisis.
“Our message to the global community is clear: South Africa is open for business, it is committed to sustainability, and it is backed by world-class local expertise,” concludes Hattingh. “With the right protection in place, there is no limit to the stories South Africa can tell.”
About KEU Underwriting Managers: Founded in 2001, KEU Underwriting Managers is a leading specialist film and entertainment underwriting manager in South Africa. Working exclusively through a network of professional insurance brokers, KEU provides niche insurance solutions and risk management expertise designed to protect the investments of filmmakers and event organisers across the continent. www.keu.co.za
About Greenpop: Greenpop is an award-winning social enterprise on a mission to restore ecosystems and increase green spaces through reforestation and urban greening projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. www.greenpop.org.
Source: KEU Underwriting Managers
Contact Info:
Name: Delarey van Dyk
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Organization: Republic Digital Consultancy
Phone: 087 550 0630
Website: https://keu.co.za/
Release ID: 89189828
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