Signature Risk Partners acquires South Western Insurance Group’s golf insurance practice

Toronto-based Signature Risk Partners Inc. has announced that it has purchased the commercial golf club insurance program business from South Western Insurance Group Limited, which has offices in Toronto, Quebec and Vancouver.

Signature announced the acquisition this week, noting that it was effective from Dec. 31, 2015. The combined golf club insurance businesses will have a leading presence in Canada and allow Signature to continue to provide insurance coverage to golf and country clubs through its Signature Golf commercial packages.

Connie Vaccaro will join Ashley Chinner at Signature to oversee this combined portfolio, Signature said in a media release. Chinner, a former professional golfer, has been underwriting golf clubs in Canada for 12 years and Vaccaro has been underwriting golf clubs for over 30 years. “Having worked together in the past, together they will ensure a smooth and seamless transition for the South Western Group Golf insurance customers and allow Signature to continue to deliver the outstanding customer service that our partner brokers have come to expect,” the release said.

“We are delighted to announce this compelling combination, which positions us strongly to provide more – and even better – risk management solutions for leading Canadian golf & country clubs while enhancing our opportunities to better serve our insurance broker partners,” said Signature president and CEO James Grant in the release. “Specifically, the combination will add immediate scale which will create a more efficient and more capable platform by bringing our two infrastructures together.”

South Western Group CEO John Barclay added that with three levels of specialized golf coverage available, Signature Golf provides the “perfect fit” for existing golf customers. “This transaction will allow us to concentrate on our core industry-focused commercial programs and give us peace of mind knowing that our valued golf relationships are being properly looked after, Barclay said. “We know that this is the right fit for our golf course customers and we will work very hard to ensure a smooth and easy transition over to Signature Golf.”

Signature Risk Partners is an independent Managing General Agent (MGA) providing specialty commercial property & casualty insurance solutions to golf & country clubs, wineries, craft breweries and offers a stand-alone umbrella package to insurance brokers across Canada.

South Western Insurance Group is a wholesale insurance intermediary/MGA offering a broad range of insurance solutions for specialty, niche program and hard-to-place business.