James Hallam acquires to boost expansion plans

London-based broker acquires Essex-based broker

Broker James Hallam has acquired independent broker Peter W Edwards & Co as part of continuing expansion plans.

Peter Edwards’ is based in Wickford, Essex and is a corporate and personal lines broker with specialist scheme areas in film production and shoe repairers. Commission income in 2008 was £539,000. There are 12 staff employed who will remain in the Wickford offices.

Peter Edwards, the major shareholder and director of Peter W Edwards & Co Ltd, said: “I am delighted to join forces with James Hallam. When we decided to sell I looked long and hard at the type of organisation which best suited our service culture and which could help us develop our specialist areas of business. Unlike some of the consolidators, who were simply focusing on the book of business, James Hallam spent a lot of time with my team in order to understand our business and how we wanted to grow it.”

James Hallam is a subsidiary of Alan Turner, which owns several insurance broking subsidiaries plus an Underwriting agency, Touchstone Underwriting. The Group has offices in the City of London, Watford, South Woodford, and now Wickford.

Paul Anscombe, managing director of James Hallam, said: “Peter Edwards is an exciting purchase for our Group. We see a major opportunity for truly independent medium sized insurance brokers who focus on client service and excellent insurer relationships. Whilst we do not wish to be owned by or funded by insurers, we do want to build upon the close working relationships with our main carriers and recognise the value that they place upon the independent broker market. Peter Edwards is a traditional service oriented broker and, in an era of unprecedented consolidation of our market, clients are increasingly seeking a return to these core service values.”