News

County Group has continued to ramp up its deal flow during 2022 following the announcement that it is acquiring the business and assets of Marsh & Co (Marsh), and Ginger Markets, an MGA set up by Marsh. Alastair Christopherson, County Group CEO, described Marsh as a ‘dynamic family-owned broker with plenty of experience and a hunger to expand.’

Global Risk Partners has acquired Castle Insurance Services (North East) Ltd (Castle). It marks the first deal for GRP in this part of the UK. GRP’s Head of M&A Stephen Ross said Castle will become GRP’s base in the North East from which to grow the UK retail business footprint further through acquisition and organic growth.

County Group, GRP's North West broking hub has acquired 100% of the share capital of Wales brokerage Archenfield Insurance Management (Archenfield). Alastair Christopherson, CEO of County, said: “This is the second of a number of deals we have in the pipeline for 2022. County Group has always been acquisitive, and our interest in acquisitions remains undiminished, as we look to grow our market presence in the North West and across Wales.”

US broker Brown & Brown, Inc. (Brown & Brown) (NYSE: BRO) has entered into an agreement to acquire Global Risk Partners (GRP) from Funds advised by Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (Searchlight). The acquisition, which is subject only to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022 and will see Brown & Brown establish itself as a major force in the UK retail insurance market.

County Group (County), the North West business of Global Risk Partners (GRP) has acquired the business and assets of PG Insurance, a Cardiff-based community broker. Alastair said: “It’s great to begin 2022 with an acquisition and PG Insurance is an excellent and well run local business that will boost our presence in South Wales, which is an important growth area for the Group.”

GRP-owned Premier Choice Healthcare (PCH) has continued to build its presence in the UK healthcare sector after agreeing to acquire the business and assets of Amba Care and Wellbeing (Amba C&W). Stephen Hough, MD at PCH said the deal was the third for PCH since the business was acquired by GRP in June 2020. “Since day one GRP has encouraged our twin growth strategy of organic and inorganic business growth.”

Global Risk Partners (GRP) has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Hamilton Fraser (the trading name of HFIS Limited). Stephen Ross, head of M&A at GRP, said that GRP was impressed with the “sheer quality of the business, which has an outstanding track record of success in its chosen niches and is a superb fit for GRP.”

In this in-depth interview, Julian talks about the recent A&T acquisition of BIG Insurance, how being a part of GRP has helped A&T, and the exciting opportunities which lie ahead for the business

Marshall Wooldridge, the Yorkshire hub for Global Risk Partners (GRP) has acquired the business and assets of Rotherham based Goldthorpe Insurance Brokers (Goldthorpe) for an undisclosed sum. Marshall Wooldridge managing director Geoff Kirk said "completing the deal was a great way to kick off 2022. Goldthorpe is a good fit for us; it is a family-owned and managed business with a strong local presence, writing commercial and personal lines business."

BIG Insurance Ltd, trading as Bournemouth Insurance Group (BIG), has been acquired by GRP’s southern hub Alan & Thomas Insurance Group (A&T). Julian Boughton, A&T CEO, said: “BIG has a local community footprint (A&T are headquartered in Poole), and I have followed their progress closely over the years.”