Topic Mergers and Aqcuisitions
Busy month in M&A for BrokerLink, Westland
September 14, 2022 by Jason ContantBrokerLink and Westland Insurance Group announced a series of brokerage M&A deals in September, including the acquisitions of a total of four brokerages and one employee benefits firm between them. BrokerLink announced the acquisition of J.W. Davis Insurance Brokers and…
Post-demutualization: Definity’s plans for the future
September 13, 2022 by Jason ContantDefinity Financial Corporation is maintaining its goal of becoming a Top 5 insurance company through a combination of organic growth and M&A activity, Definity president and CEO Rowan Saunders suggested during a recent financial services conference. “One of the drivers…
Canada’s largest P&C insurers growing larger: AM Best
September 12, 2022 by Jason ContantCanada’s Top 10 property and casualty insurers control almost three-quarters of the marketplace, with the remaining participants competing for the balance of available premium, ratings agency AM Best said during an industry event Friday. The Top 10 P&C carriers control…
What’s new in the latest brokerage M&A deals
September 9, 2022 by Jason ContantAn Ontario-based insurance group with a mutual insurer as strategic partner has acquired Stan Darling Insurance, a local brokerage with four offices, in a deal announced Wednesday. The insurance group is led by Kevin McKinnon and its strategic partner, The…
Behind the scenes of an aggressive brokerage consolidator
August 19, 2022 by Jason ContantSynex Business Performance plans to end this year with more than $1 billion in premium, a far cry from its humble beginnings of $3 million in premium just seven years ago. Currently, the Quebec City-based holding company has about $800…
Navacord enters new province with latest M&A deal
August 18, 2022 by Jason ContantNavacord Corp. has entered into a new province with the acquisition of Winnipeg-based ONYX Financial Group. ONYX’s portfolio encompasses benefits consulting and wealth management services, “and they have fortified a well-known presence within Manitoba and [northwestern] Ontario because of their…
Hub acquisition targets credit insurance, risk management
August 12, 2022 by Jason ContantHub International has strengthened its credit insurance and risk management capabilities by acquiring Ottawa-based Jaimac Risk Management Inc. Chicago-based global brokerage Hub announced the acquisition Friday. Jaimac is an independent insurance brokerage specializing in risk management and credit insurance for…
Navacord makes its largest deal of the year
August 10, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoNavacord Corp. has completed its 20th and largest M&A deal of the year following its partnership with Insurance Store, effective Aug. 1, 2022. Headquartered in Windsor, Insurance Store has five offices across Ontario in Barrie, Collingwood, Chatham, and Woodstock,…
The latest commercial brokerage to snap up an employment benefits firm
August 4, 2022 by David GambrillIn 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…
Is specialization the best route to broker independence?
July 27, 2022 by Jason ContantA 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…
What Navacord’s 15th deal of the year brought into the fold
July 26, 2022 by Jason ContantNavacord Corp. has completed its 15th M&A deal of the year, this one involving a large commercial brokerage known for its risk management expertise with automotive dealerships. Navacord’s latest partnership is with Ottawa-based Binks Insurance Brokers Limited. Founded in 1918,…
Does it matter how brokers define independence?
July 25, 2022 by Jason ContantWhat’s the best way for a P&C broker to maintain its independence? Depends who you ask. Back in April, Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario president Joseph Carnevale told Canadian Underwriter that independence is linked to the broker value proposition to…