Consolidators
This Month: Best insurance employers to the fore
From November last year to January 2020 Post gave insurance employees the chance to nominate and rate their employers on topics ranging from management to diversity and work/life balance along with whether they would recommend the company to a friend.
Analysis: Broker M&A pace picks up again
Acquisitions in the UK distribution space rose 13% last year, according to research by Imas Corporate Finance. Post investigates what is driving the increase in consolidation and the challenges buyers are facing in their traditional hunting grounds
PE driving market consolidation but private ownership still dominates
Exclusive: Private equity houses and PE backed firms were behind more than 50% of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions activity last year in the £5m plus category, Imas Corporate Finance has calculated.
M&A volume grows in 2019 but mid-sized targets scarce
Exclusive: The number of UK insurance distribution mergers and acquisitions rose from 82 in 2018 to 93 last year, driven by a surge in deals valued under £5m, industry specialists Imas Corporate Finance has revealed.
Innovu Group buys equestrian specialist Wexford Insurances in Ireland
Sheridan Insurances owner Innovu Group has bought Wexford Insurance Group in Ireland for an undisclosed sum.
Weald makes first acquisition since joining Ethos Broking
Weald Insurance, one of Ethos Broking’s ‘powerhouse’ hubs in the South East, has acquired Sussex-based Cronin Underwood.
Google powered products a 'no brainer': Applied Systems CEO
Applied Systems sees the UK as “research and development lab” for new technology and ideas following its success incorporating front end quote and buy into its Epic platform in the territory.
GRP explores option of partial sale
A partial sale of Global Risk Partners could be on the sale, as the consolidator and its private equity backer explore their options.
Aston Lark buys first Manchester broker
Aston Lark has bought Manchester-based commercial lines broker Buckland Harvester.
This week: Winners and lasers
Nothing says team building quite like stumbling around a dark maze, falling headfirst into mirrors and haphazardly shooting lasers at your colleagues. Or so the democratic vote we held a few weeks earlier decreed.
PIB u-turns on pledge to keep childcare broker brand
PIB will now integrate childcare broker Albany Childcare into Morton Michel, despite pledging at the time of purchase it would keep the brand.
GRP acquires online enterprise risk management firm
Essex-based risk management specialist Health and Safety Click has been bought by consolidator GRP.
Gauntlet’s appointed representative network enters Wales
Gauntlet Group’s network Gauntlet Enterprise has picked up its first Welsh appointed representatives.
Nexus buys MGA Plus Risk Limited
Nexus has acquired financial and professional lines managing general agent Plus Risk Limited.
GRP's County Group buys Stoke broker
GRP-owned County Group has acquired Stoke-based broker Eric Rawlins & Company, which specialises in contractors, property owners, business and fleet risks.
GRP broker acquires Thomas Cook
GRP-owned broker Sagars has bought Lancashire-based engineering and entertainment broker Thomas Cook & Son.
PIB to increase GWP to £900m with Cobra acquisition
PIB will see its gross written premium grow from £550m to £900m with the acquisition of Cobra.
Fourth acquisition in two weeks caps off recent cluster of GRP broker buys
Exclusive: Higos, GRP’s hub business in the South West, has acquired The Insurance Group for an undisclosed sum.
Analysis: Consolidators look to Europe for acquisitions as UK competition grows
The UK has seen a wave of consolidation in regional broking over the past few years, making competition for viable targets a challenge. In response, several consolidators are starting to look to Ireland and Europe as a potential area of expansion.
Uptick in start-up broker applications leads Marsh Networks to develop fresh offerings
Exclusive: Marsh Networks has seen an increase in the number of start-up brokers expressing interest in joining, leading it to create two packages to attract them to its networks.
Interview: Amanda Blanc, Zurich
Amanda Blanc’s move from Axa to Zurich was perhaps the most talked about people move of 2018. The Association of British Insurers chair spoke to Jen Frost about her plans for the business in the coming year
Marsh looks to further €1.1bn of debt to fund JLT acquisition
Marsh is raising €1.1bn (£942m) through a senior notes offering, in addition to the $5bn (£3.8bn) it has previously announced.
Aviva small broker community not ‘anti-network’
Aviva's small broker community is not a threat to networks or spurred on by consolidation in the regional market, said the company's managing director of intermediaries Phil Bayles.
Brokerbility targets younger brokers to boost membership numbers
Independent broking network Brokerbility is targeting brokers with younger management teams in a bid to avoid clashing with consolidators, managing director Ian Stutz told Post.