Consolidation
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.
Analysis: Managing general agents - Gaining momentum or overheating?
Within insurance, it’s managing general agents seeing all the deals, attracting the money and the talent. The potential for big profits and lower costs drives the sector forward, but will the sector gather yet more momentum or will it overheat?
This week in Post: Carnival spooks
This week, some Post colleagues and I attended CFC Underwriting's annual Halloween party. The theme this year was carnival, and accordingly, the party was full of clowns, fortune tellers and more than the odd Joker.
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.
Interview: Steven Wallace, McLarens
Newly appointed managing director for UK & Ireland Steven Wallace discusses expansion plans, consolidation within the market and Brexit
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.
Gauntlet’s appointed representative network enters Wales
Gauntlet Group’s network Gauntlet Enterprise has picked up its first Welsh appointed representatives.
Analysis: What do recent market exits mean for insurtechs targeting millennials?
Three insurtechs have pulled out of the insurance market so far this year, raising questions around the efficacy of selling insurance to millennials and whether more of these firms will fall.
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.
Interview: Paul Greensmith, Axa XL
Having been through one merger already Axa XL’s UK CEO Paul Greensmith, took the most recent change in his stride. But he explains to Jen Frost that, even though his part of the business is now part of the behemoth Axa, it will retain its agility,…
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.
Editor's comment: Broker rebellion?
May is upon us and that means that thousands of insurance brokers are preparing for the annual camp out in Manchester to hear what their trade body the British Insurance Brokers’ Association is doing for them, plans to do for them and how insurers can…
Interview: Michael Rea, Gallagher
With Gallagher re-entering the M&A game after a four year hiatus, Michael Rea spoke to Harry Curtis about what makes a good deal, how consolidation is changing, why restrictive covenants need to be upheld and the Ardonagh court case
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.
Analysis: Iprism moving beyond Gable
Managing general agent Iprism's latest accounts show profits dived and tens of millions of pounds was wiped off the valuation of the company, following the demise of former unrated insurer partner Gable.
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.