Keyword
M&A
It’s full steam ahead for brokerage M&A, now that the pandemic pause is over
September 18, 2020 by Jason ContantAfter the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily paused brokerage mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in Canada earlier this year, it appears that the deals are once again moving forward at a steady pace. The markets’ reaction to the pandemic has been very…
Westland Insurance reveals its M&A strategy for the future
September 14, 2020 by Jason ContantFresh from closing four acquisitions in western Canada, large brokerage Westland Insurance Group plans to continue exploring opportunities in the west, as well as consider deals that would move the brokerage in a more easterly direction. Westland announced on Sept.…
How brokerage buyers are reacting to COVID market conditions
September 11, 2020 by Jason ContantDemand for Canadian property and casualty insurance brokerages remains strong during the COVID-19 pandemic, but potential brokerage purchasers are becoming more targeted in their approach, a P&C transaction advisor observed. “For most potential transactions, the list of potential purchasers has…
Thinking of selling your brokerage during COVID-19? Here’s how to proceed
September 8, 2020 by Jason ContantCanadian brokers considering an upcoming merger or acquisition may understandably be concerned given the economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but one property and casualty brokerage M&A expert says his firm’s advice is the same as it’s always been. “That…
Brokerage M&A activity surges amid pandemic
September 3, 2020 by Jason ContantBrokerage consolidation has exploded, with at least six acquisitions announced across Canada in the past week. Most recently, large brokerage Westland Insurance Group announced Wednesday the closing of four deals, adding new retail offices in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba.…
Speculative ripple effects of the Aon-Willis merger on the Canadian reinsurance scene
March 20, 2020 by David GambrillAon plc’s announced agreement to acquire Willis Towers Watson in early March for $30-billion in an all-stock deal raises a host of interesting speculative possibilities for Canada’s reinsurance market, a former reinsurance executive in Canada told Canadian Underwriter recently. Among…
One attractive option for brokerages looking to sell
March 11, 2020 by Jason ContantBeing bought by a private equity firm may be an attractive option for brokerages looking to sell, said veteran P&C industry advisor and consultant Mike Berris, a partner with Smythe Advisory. “Their offering can be attractive in that they often…
How M&A is tracking so far this year in the Canadian insurance space
March 6, 2020 by Jason ContantAfter a bit of a lull in M&A announcements in the Canadian property and casualty space since the beginning of the year, it looks like the market for P&C brokerages and employee benefits solutions remains strong. Deals seem to be…
Selling your brokerage? What your potential buyers are looking for
March 4, 2020 by Jason ContantBrokers who can best balance online distribution with personal advice will reap the benefits in the current merger and acquisition (M&A) environment, a brokerage M&A expert noted recently. “In Canada, brokers have generally been successful in defending against pure direct…
Don’t make this common M&A mistake
February 20, 2020 by Adam MalikGrowing your business doesn’t necessarily mean you’re creating more value for it. That’s a common mistake people make during merger and acquisition deals, according to one expert. Value is created only when the business gets a return on capital in…
Why brokerage M&A in Canada will slow down in 2020
January 24, 2020 by Jason ContantLooking at the number of brokerage acquisitions already in January, you wouldn’t think merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is slowing down. But earlier this month, Willis Towers Watson reported that the global M&A market, with performance in steady decline since…
Who bought who this past week in the Canadian P&C space?
November 4, 2019 by Jason ContantGlobal insurance brokerage Hub International Limited has bought another Canadian firm as part of its ongoing strategy to expand its employee benefits and pension solutions. Hub announced Monday it had acquired R Bruce Inc., doing business as RBI Advisory Group.…