Keyword
mergers and acquisitions
Aon to acquire NFP in major brokerage merger
December 20, 2023 Philip PoradoAon expanded its worldwide property and casualty insurance market presence by today acquiring NFP — a leading middle market P&C broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager and retirement plan advisor. Aon will acquire NFP for an estimated $13.4 billion at closing.…
What a buyers’ market means for brokerage M&A
December 1, 2023 David GambrillHow can consolidators afford to buy brokerages when interest rates on bank loans to finance deals have steeply increased? Firms that are actively engaged in brokerage buying and selling told CU they have become more selective. “We are getting a…
Merger creates scale for two Ontario brokerages
November 28, 2023 by David GambrillSelectpath Insurance, a Navacord brokerage, has partnered with Myers Insurance to enlarge the southwestern Ontario presence of each brokerage. Headquartered in Wallaceburg, Ont., and with an office in Corunna, Myers Insurance is a second-generation multi-lines brokerage run by president Jim…
These red flags may waive a brokerage buyer off a deal
November 24, 2023 David GambrillRising interest rates are changing the brokerage M&A environment and giving sellers a shorter timeline to produce the projected earnings. And chances are, if they haven’t produced reliable returns already, the buyers may balk on a purchase, said Yan Charbonneau,…
Will rising interest rates kill brokerage M&A?
November 20, 2023 David GambrillReports of the death of brokerage mergers and acquisitions in an era of higher interest rates have been greatly exaggerated. Back in early 2023, Canadian Underwriter’s National Broker Survey noticed a curious phenomenon: brokers’ interest in M&A growth had dipped…
Accelerant scoops up Omega Insurance Holdings
October 27, 2023 by David GambrillAccelerant Holdings U.K. Ltd. has officially entered the Canadian property and casualty insurance market, closing the deal to acquire Omega Insurance Holdings Inc. from Till Capital Corporation. Accelerant will pay Till Capital approximately $13 million Cdn in exchange for all…
What consolidators look at before buying a brokerage
October 16, 2023 Jason ContantBuyers of Canadian P&C brokerages are becoming more selective in their M&A targets, with an increased focus on future profitability, Vancouver-based advisory firm Smythe LLP told Canadian Underwriter. Purchasers are still quoting high revenue multiples and prices aren’t necessarily decreasing,…
Will fewer mergers reduce reps and warranties insurance pricing?
June 7, 2023 Jason ContantPricing in the representations and warranties (R&W) insurance market has softened relative to the hard market conditions experienced from the start of 2021 into the first half of 2022, industry professionals told CU. R&W insurance protects against financial loss arising…
Fifty shades of broker independence
May 26, 2023 by David GambrillIn a world dominated by growth via mergers and acquisitions, Canadian brokerages are operating under a variety of ownership models, making the modern concept of “broker independence” very nuanced, panellists observed Thursday in a Live with CU panel discussion. “I…
Navacord announces its biggest deal yet
May 24, 2023 by David GambrillNavacord has invested heavily into its wealth management and group benefits capabilities, acquiring RWAM Insurance Administrators Inc and Programmed Insurance Brokers (PIB) Inc. “As Navacord’s largest transaction to date, the partnerships with RWAM and Programmed Insurance Brokers Inc. underscore Navacord’s…
This holding company’s first foray into Canadian P&C insurance
December 8, 2022 by David GambrillThe Jim Pattison Group, a holding company that does $14-billion in business, has become a minority investor in Alberta-based brokerage HighStreet Insurance Group. The strategic investment marks the entry of the holding company into the Canadian P&C insurance space. Terms…
Do digitally efficient brokerages make better acquisition targets?
December 2, 2022 Alyssa DiSabatinoBrokerage owners shouldn’t just invest in digitization for its own sake, says one financial advisor. They should do it to make a purchase and integration easier for consolidators. Consolidators don’t necessarily expect small brokerages to digitize before acquisition, said Alex…