Canadian Underwriter

Topic Mergers and Aqcuisitions

Digital puzzle pieces; digital M&A concept
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Private equity firm acquires digital brokerage

December 8, 2023 by Jason Contant

Private equity firm Southampton Financial Inc. has announced its acquisition of Ontario-based digital insurance brokerage aha insurance. Launched in 2017, Waterloo, Ont.-based aha insurance offers consumers the ability to quote, purchase and manage car and home insurance policies entirely online.

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U.S.-based insurance provider to acquire Sutton Special Risk

December 6, 2023 by Jason Contant

New York-headquartered insurance services provider Amynta Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire specialty insurance managing general underwriter (MGU) Sutton Special Risk Inc. “The acquisition of Sutton expands Amynta’s offerings in the accident and health market and accelerates

Business for sale sign.
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What a buyers’ market means for brokerage M&A

December 1, 2023 by David Gambrill

How 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

Reversed view of Fork in the Road means coming together
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Merger creates scale for two Ontario brokerages

November 28, 2023 by David Gambrill

Selectpath 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

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Aviva Canada to acquire “capital light” MGA

November 27, 2023 by David Gambrill

Aviva Canada is acquiring Optiom O2 Holdings Inc., a managing general agent (MGA) that specializes in vehicle replacement insurance in Canada. The $170-million Cdn deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the first quarter of

Red warning flag
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These red flags may waive a brokerage buyer off a deal

November 24, 2023 by David Gambrill

Rising 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,

Teamwork and partnership conceptual image - hands of a businessman and businesswoman joining blank matching puzzle pieces over brown background.
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The latest merger for McDougall

November 24, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

McDougall Insurance Brokers Limited announced it has merged with Ontario-based M.B. Kouri Insurance Brokers Ltd.   The brokerage will join operations with McDougall’s insurance and finance team to operate as an independent brokerage, McDougall announced in a press release. McDougall has

The words 'private equity' appearing above a laptop
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Has private equity interest in P&C brokerages peaked?

November 21, 2023 by Jason Contant

Private equity interest in the Canadian P&C brokerage space is showing no sign of slowing down, industry observers said last week at KPMG’s 2023 Insurance Conference in Toronto.  Private equity groups remain eager to acquire Canadian brokerages, said Andrew Mathias,

Will rising costs to borrow money destroy brokerage merger deals?
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Will rising interest rates kill brokerage M&A?

November 20, 2023 by David Gambrill

Reports 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

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How the M&A environment will affect carriers’ business models

November 17, 2023 by Jason Contant

Canadian P&C insurance industry carriers and service providers will need to transform their business models to help control claims and operating costs in an M&A environment featuring competing demands for capital, speakers said Thursday at KPMG’s 2023 Insurance Conference in

Three hands holding jigsaw puzzle pieces
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BrokerLink completes triple acquisition

November 13, 2023 by Jason Contant

BrokerLink has expanded its well-established footprint in the Greater Toronto Area with the acquisition of brokerages All-Risks Insurance (Burlington), Dowhaniuk Insurance and Heinsoo Insurance.  BrokerLink announced Monday it completed the asset acquisition of Solutions Financial PCC Inc., operating as All-Risks

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What’s new about Westland’s latest deals

November 10, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Westland Insurance announced its partnership with employee benefits and retirement solutions provider Prime Benefits Group Inc.  Westland said the deal is part of its strategy to enhance its group benefits portfolio and strengthen its position in the Canadian market.   Based