Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
Alan & Thomas grows footprint with Dorchester acquisition
Alan & Thomas has bought Casterbridge Insurance in Dorchester, the broker's second acquisition in the area in two months.
Ironshore boosts Japan Lloyd's M&A team
P&C insurer Ironshore has appointed former lawyer Steven Harwood as Ironshore's Lloyd's syndicate Pembroke's dedicated underwriter in Tokyo.
Ryan Direct Group snaps up Assurant Intermediary
Doncaster-based Ryan Direct Group is acquiring the entire share capital of Assurant Intermediary along with its 55 000 policies and £20m of gross written premiums for its home and protection books.
Suspension of Xchanging merger could trigger commercial costs
The suspension of Xchanging’s merger with Agencyport could be costly for the firm, according to John Milligan, partner in EU and competition law at Clyde & Co.
Scale not an issue for Aon as UK boss Christian targets acquisitions
Aon has the investment and inclination to make a substantial UK acquisition, providing the culture of target businesses aligns with the broking giant’s own operational philosophy.
Jelf purchases Midlands broker Cronin & Co
Jelf has completed a deal to purchase Barnt Green-based intermediary Cronin & Co Corporate Insurance Brokers, adding to the consolidator’s presence in the Midlands.
Solvency II and shareholder pressure to blame for international business sales
DLG’s sale of Italian and German businesses follows similar deals by other firms
Henderson grows Peterborough footprint with acquisition
Henderson Insurance Brokers has acquired Peterborough-based Richard Kiddle Insurance Brokers.
Helios sees H1 GWP boost through acquisitions
Helios Underwriting has attributed its increase in underwriting capacity to £21.3m for the six months ended 31 June 2014 to the acquisition of three businesses in the period.
Russian roundup: Q3 2014
Paul Koshik takes a look at events in the Russian insurance market during the last quarter
DLG to sell international businesses to Spain's Mapfre
Direct Line Insurance Group has agreed to sell its Italian and German businesses to Spanish insurer Mapfre for €550m (£430.5m).
Gallagher 'agreed terms' with fifty companies, claims Ross
Arthur J Gallagher has walked away from many more acquisitions than it has completed, according to Arthur J Gallagher International boss David Ross.
Mapfre reported to have bid €500m for DLG's Italian and German units
Direct Line Group is believed to have been offered €500m (£393.2m) by Spanish insurer Mapfre for its Italian and German operations.
Charles Taylor to buy Isle of Man life insurer
Charles Taylor has entered an agreement to acquire Nordea Life & Pensions, an Isle of Man life insurer, from Nordea Life and Pensions S.A., Luxembourg.
The Policy Shop cashes out with sale to Markerstudy
Markerstudy has bolstered its gross written premium by £20m with the acquisition of personal lines broker The Policy Shop.
US claims giant to buy VRS Vericlaim, Ellis May parent
VRS Vericlaim and Ellis May are to be acquired by US claims specialist Sedgwick in a deal expected to close within 60 days.
RSA completes sale of Polish Link 4 business
RSA has completed the sale of Link4 Towarzystwo Ubezpieczen Spolka Akcyjna, its business in Poland, to Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen, after receiving formal regulatory approval.
Insurance M&A heating up again after three-year slide
The volume of mergers and acquisitions in the insurance industry rose in the first half of 2014 for the first time since 2011, with 192 transactions worldwide compared to 162 in the same period a year ago.
RG Ford team kept in Chelmsford following Bluefin acquisition
Bluefin has acquired Chelmsford-based broker RG Ford Insurance Brokers for an undisclosed sum.
Green boosts GWP by £2m with twin purchase
Green Insurance Group has completed a double swoop for SME and personal lines Sussex-based brokers T&L Financial and Mayman Financial Services.
Quindell wins uncontested Gotham City libel case
Quindell has announced victory in a libel case against Gotham City after the latter failed to defend claims a research note was defamatory.
Hiscox bolsters events offering with Event Assured acquisition
Hiscox has reached an agreement with Applewell to acquire events insurance provider Event Assured.
Acturis buys German software provider NAFI
Acturis Group has acquired German motor insurance software provider NAFI creating an international group with £40m annual revenues.
Axa bidding for Polish insurance unit, claim reports
Axa has offered between 500m PLN (£94m) and 600m PLN (£113m) for the insurance arm of MBank in Poland, according to reports.