Keyword
brokerage
Court backs broker in dispute over buying his book of business
May 5, 2023 by David GambrillOntario’s Appeal Court has denied an appeal by a St. Catharines, Ont. brokerage in a dispute over the contract terms of a producer buying out his book of business after he served notice he was leaving the brokerage. In Lindsay…
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…
Brokerage’s 11-year lawsuit against tech vendor allowed to continue
October 7, 2022 by David GambrillBallam Insurance Services, a Nova Scotia brokerage that sued its tech vendor 11 years ago over server issues, is allowed to proceed with its case despite examples of ‘inordinate’ and ‘inexcusable’ delays, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia ruled Monday.…
M&A deal sees brokerage expand into the child and youth care space
July 22, 2021 by David GambrillWith the Ontario government poised to pump more funding into child care services, the timing was right for brokerage McFarlan Rowlands to acquire Magenta Insurance Professionals, a niche insurance broker focused on children and youth activities, says McFarlan Rowlands CEO…
What’s selling hotter than real estate these days? Brokerages
July 15, 2021 by Jason ContantBuyers are paying up to double-digit multiples for Canadian commercial lines property and casualty brokerages, while pricing for smaller retail brokerages has softened, a P&C industry consulting firm has observed. “Some of the prices being paid for larger commercial brokerages…
Brokerages snapped up coast-to-coast in latest M&A deals
March 3, 2021 by Jason ContantCanadian brokerage acquisitions continue coast-to-coast with the recent purchases of four brokerages in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick. Navacord, B.C.-based brokerage Waypoint Insurance, Archway Insurance and Westland Insurance Group (which bought two brokerages) all made acquisition announcements at…
COVID’s impact on brokerage M&A: Myth versus reality
December 10, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe onset of the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to raise money from major banks to finance mergers and acquisitions, but well-run brokerages will still be attractive to buyers, suggests an expert in brokerage valuation. “When COVID hit, the banks…
Brokerage M&A round-up: Which four were bought?
November 9, 2020 by Jason ContantBritish Columbia-based Westland Insurance Group Ltd. has moved into the Ontario market, announcing that it has acquired Gillons Insurance Brokers Ltd. The “significant and substantial milestone” supports Westland’s expansion strategy to become a national insurance brokerage, the brokerage said when…
Guy Carpenter names new head of Canadian operations
August 5, 2020 by David GambrillPeter Askew has been named president and CEO of the Canadian business of global reinsurance specialist Guy Carpenter & Company LLC, a business of Marsh & McLennan Companies. Effective immediately, Askew will be responsible for Guy Carpenter’s reinsurance broking activities…
Looking in the Mirror
August 4, 2020 David Gambrill, Editor in ChiefCanadian Underwriter asked brokers across the country to rate themselves as trusted advisors. While pride in their work during the pandemic was obvious, the survey results also suggested ways to enhance their value to consumers.
Narrowing your focus
May 3, 2020 Sarah Cunningham-ScharfIn a hard market dominated by large players, small and mid-sized commercial brokerages face an existential choice: Specialize — or risk extinction.
How one of Canada’s largest brokerages is handling COVID-19
March 23, 2020 by David GambrillA pandemic triggers a state of emergency. You have 24 hours to shut your doors to customer walk-in traffic and protect 1,900 of your brokers and support staff across Canada from catching and spreading the novel coronavirus. Even for smaller brokerages, it…