Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
CCV acquires again
Cullum Capital Ventures has acquired Hertfordshire-based brokers Humbergrove and Humbergrove UK.
Moorhouse eyes bargains, ditches organic-only plan
Broking group Moorhouse has made a u-turn on its traditional organic growth strategy and is looking to acquire an insurance broker with up to £5m gross written premium.
Cooper Gay closer to IPO after US deal
A successful merger of Cooper Gay and Swett & Crawford to create a $3.5bn (£2.4bn) independent broking giant would give the combined entity the critical mass to become a decent sized public company it has been claimed.
Cooper Gay in merger talks to create $3.5bn independent broking giant
London-based independent wholesale, reinsurance and specialist retail insurance broker Cooper Gay and US wholesale broker Swett & Crawford have confirmed they are in advanced deal discussions to create what they claim would be the world's largest…
Marsh sells risk consultancy Kroll to Altegrity
International screening and security solutions business Altegrity is to acquire risk consulting firm Kroll from US giant Marsh & McLennan in an all-cash transaction valued at $1.13bn.
Plum announces raft of changes
Plum Underwriting has announced a raft of changes to the business as part of 'aggressive' growth plans, first announced in March.
Zurich in Asia-Pacific swoop
Zurich has signed an agreement to acquire 80% of PT Mayapada Life, a Indonesian life insurer focused on the distribution of group and individual life and health plans.
Moorhouse eyes £5m GWP broker acquisition
Welsh broker Moorhouse has outlined a plan to complement its organic growth with the acquisition of an insurance broker up to £5m gross written premium.
German giant linked with Quinn bid
German insurance giant Talanx has become the latest name linked with a bid for Quinn Insurance.
Bridle completes purchase of AHS Insurance
Engineering intermediary Bridle Insurance has acquired Welsh broker Associated Householders Services.
Generali named as suitor for AIA
Generali may be interested in buying the AIG Asian unit, according to Italian newspaper reports.
Broker Hastings gets major capital injection from Lloyds TSB
Personal lines specialist Hastings Direct has become the latest broker to receive third-party capital after agreeing to a £20m cash injection from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.
Interview: Safe Harbor
Katherine Blackler talks to John Berger, former chief executive officer at Harbor Point, who, since his company's merger with Max Capital, has become vice-chairman of the board of directors and CEO of the new entity's reinsurance arm.
Bermuda: Island of the giants
In the wake of the deal between Max Capital and Harbor Point, Seb Kafetz looks at whether bigger is really better in Bermuda.
Rethink: Destruction, predictions and a general election
Our roundup of readers' opinions reveals that rates are steady, though we may yet see the market turn this year.
Review follows £60m Capita deal
Capita has outlined plans to retain the staff of Premier Medical Group following its £60m acquisition of the company last week.
Pru AIA bid collapse to cost insurer £450m
Prudential has said the collapse of its $35.5bn takeover of AIG’s Asian unit will cost it about £450m ($660m).
PwC: 2010 M&A “hot beds” starting to emerge
The first quarter of 2010 has been “unremarkable” for European financial services activity but “hot beds” of activity are starting to emerge, PricewaterhouseCoopers has claimed.
Bluefin completes Gilbert Insurance Brokers purchase
Insurance broker Bluefin has announced the acquisition of St Albans-based intermediary Gilbert Insurance Brokers.
Invicta buys four more books as spending spree continues
Invicta Insurance Services has made four further acquisitions, following its swoops for Williams Insurance Services and Lowe Insurance earlier this year.
SCM talks set for full purchase of Axis
SCM Insurance Services will enter discussions with Axis Claims Pro to consider the purchase of its international arm "within a month".
Editor's comment: M&A activity is steady, with some green shoots
This year has seen only a steady drip of merger and acquisition activity, rather than a flurry, something that was noted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers in its European Financial Services M&A Insight published yesterday.
BMS sets growth strategy of doubling in size by 2015
London market broker BMS is set to make a number of acquisitions and team hires as part of plans to double its business by 2015.
US giant Gallaghers unveils second UK swoop in months
US broking giant Arthur J Gallagher has announced the acquisition of London-based Risk & Reward Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.