Canadian Underwriter

Topic
Mergers and Aqcuisitions


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News AnnouncementsBrokersEmploymentInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

The latest commercial brokerage to snap up an employment benefits firm

August 4, 2022 by David Gambrill

In keeping with the trend of Canadian commercial insurance brokerages offering expanded financial services, Westland Insurance Group yesterday acquired one of Ontario’s largest employee benefits consulting groups, The Winch Group. The Winch Group is a full-service brokerage specializing in employee

News BrokersInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesMergers and Aqcuisitions

Intact provides update on RSA integration

July 29, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

A year after RSA Insurance Group plc was acquired by Intact Financial Corporation, nearly all personal lines broker policies, and commercial lines small business and fleet policies in Canada, have been converted to Intact systems, the insurer reported. “I’m pleased

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News BrokersCommercial LinesInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

Is specialization the best route to broker independence?

July 27, 2022 Jason Contant

A bevy of challenges, including M&A frenzy, rapidly evolving technology, automation and directs, has spurred some independent brokerages to focus on specialization. And some are even divesting of personal lines. “From a client perspective, it’s great to have a broker

Male office worker looking at view through window of modern office over city.
News AnnouncementsInsuranceMergers and AqcuisitionsReinsurance

Reinsurer makes executive changes after M&A deal closes

July 13, 2022 by David Gambrill

PartnerRe Ltd. made a few executive-level shuffles Wednesday, marking the close of a December 2021 deal in which Covéa agreed to buy Partner Re from Exor for $9 billion in cash. Thierry Derez, CEO of Covéa Group, is replacing Brian

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News BrokersInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesMergers and Aqcuisitions

Two ways brokers can tame the market-consolidation juggernaut

June 28, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Building relationships across the industry and offering consistency can help brokers overcome a slew of future challenges, including quickening market consolidation, an impending recession, diminished capacity and the hard market, say broker executives. “In order to be able to meet

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News BrokersInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesMergers and Aqcuisitions

How much of the industry will change hands in five years: Intact exec

June 22, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Canada’s largest insurer thinks 15% of insurers will undergo ownership changes in the next five years. “We predict that about 15% of the existing market shares will change hands in the next five years,” said Louis Gagnon, CEO of Intact

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News BrokersInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

Three key issues facing the broker channel

June 21, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Expect the quickening pace of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity to present a big challenge — or advantage — to brokers, Joseph Carnevale, president at Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario, said at the Young Brokers Conference.   The Insurance Broker

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News BrokersInsuranceMergers and Aqcuisitions

Where M&A strategies are leading brokerages, big or small

June 6, 2022 Jason Contant

Large Canadian P&C brokerages continue to make national expansion a component of their acquisition strategies. National brokerage Navacord partnered with Abatis Risk Management (Abatis Gestion de Risques inc.) in March, which was Navacord’s first partnership in Quebec, according to Navacord

Stressed out broker drinking too much coffee.
News BrokersCommercial LinesInsuranceLegalMergers and Aqcuisitions

How brokers can help small business clients replace escrow agreements

May 31, 2022 Jason Contant

M&A insurance can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) avoid the need for an escrow agreement, but many small business owners aren’t aware of this possible solution. Escrow agreements are commonly found in M&A deals in the SME segment (deals

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News BrokersMergers and Aqcuisitions

Westland expands reach into Ontario with recent acquisitions

May 27, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Westland Insurance Group Ltd. has broadened its place in commercial and personal lines with the recent acquisition of two Ontario-based brokerages: MCR Insurance in Aurora and Walter Roberts Insurance in Richmond Hill.  Ontario is an area of strategic importance, Westland

Gathering the data for underwriting a risk.
News BrokersCommercial LinesEmploymentInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesMergers and AqcuisitionsMGAsRisk

Where have all the good underwriters gone?

May 12, 2022 Gloria Cilliers

For years, insurers have poached commercial underwriters from one another amid M&A activity, an aging population and hard/soft markets. But that’s left the industry with less seasoned talent and slower investment in acquisition, training and retention. “Suddenly, more so than

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News BrokersCommercial LinesInsuranceMergers and AqcuisitionsTechnology

Legacy systems create IT talent crunch for the industry

May 6, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

The industry’s heavy reliance on outdated legacy systems may be holding it back from modernizing, panellists note during a Canadian Underwriter webinar — and this could be a problem for attracting IT talent.  “Legacy platforms are a big challenge for