771 articles for M&A
Where M&A strategies are leading brokerages, big or small
June 6, 2022 Jason ContantLarge 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…
Four Canadian brokerages swept up in latest M&A deals
April 11, 2022 by Jason ContantWestern Canada is the target for the latest rounds of acquisitions from large Canadian P&C brokerages. Intact Financial Corporation subsidiary BrokerLink and Westland Insurance Group announced recent acquisitions in northern and southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Westland Insurance Group also…
Five factors driving M&A activity in 2022
March 15, 2022 Philip PoradoCalendar 2021 marked the first full year of positive mergers and acquisitions (M&A) performance for the world’s deal makers since 2016, said research compiled for WTW’s Quarterly Deal Performance Monitor. The research, conducted in partnership with the M&A Research Center…
What BrokerLink looks for in an M&A deal
March 7, 2022 by Jason ContantBrokerLink looks at best practices when making an acquisition, recognizing that each deal is unique and doesn’t follow a boiler template, says the brokerage’s president, Joe D’Annunzio. “One of the things for us is we look at best practices,” D’Annunzio…
Definity grows commercial portfolio, eyes M&A
February 14, 2022 Philip PoradoFocus on improving its commercial business has paid off, Definity Financial Corporation’s president and CEO Rowan Saunders told a Feb. 14 fireside chat with BMO Capital Markets equity analyst Tom MacKinnon. “It’s really a very different-looking portfolio now than it…
Is M&A growth better than organic growth?
February 9, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWhen it comes to expanding your brokerages business, M&A may not always be better than organic growth, said panellists during a Canadian Underwriter webinar on Feb. 8. Doug Morrow, CEO and managing partner, Excel Insurance Group, sent a plea…
Canada’s most popular brokerage M&A models
January 24, 2022 by Jason ContantPrivate equity-backed brokerages that acquire 100% of a brokerage and then offer the ability to roll over some equity continue to be Canada’s most popular M&A model, but others are gaining traction, a P&C transaction advisor says. “While obtaining markets…
Westland’s M&A war chest expands
January 12, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWestland Insurance Group Ltd., a property and casualty insurance brokerage, has expanded its war chest for mergers and acquisitions, thanks to its partnership with asset manager Blackstone Credit. Blackstone will be investing an additional $250 million towards Westland’s growth, the…
More P&C brokers set sights on employee benefits M&A: brokerage exec
November 29, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffMore P&C brokers than ever are recognizing long-term opportunities in what has become a hot employee benefits M&A market in Canada, a brokerage executive said. “The trend of P&C brokerages moving into the employee benefits space will continue to grow…
Strong M&A activity driven by massive push for scale, digitization: PwC Canada
September 27, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffThe race to achieve scale, connect digitally with customers and realize synergies are driving continued strong M&A activity in P&C insurance, a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Canada report suggests. Valuations remain at “historic highs” for insurance brokers and MGAs, bringing new…
New M&A deals involve Westland, Armour Group
September 9, 2021 by Jason ContantAfter a brief lull in mergers and acquisitions activity, the Canadian P&C insurance space has seen a surge in recent announcements. Large Canadian-owned brokerage Westland Insurance Group Ltd. said on Tuesday it had acquired two Alberta brokerages: Riverstone Insurance in…
2021 set to be record year for M&A insurance: report
August 31, 2021 Canadian Underwriter StaffThis year will be a record year for mergers and acquisitions insurance, a recent report by global independent broker BMS Group estimates. The inaugural Private Equity, M&A and Tax Insurance Report, released in May, found that while the COVID-19 pandemic…