Consolidators
Blog: When is a consolidator, not a consolidator? The question Barton, Jelf and Reid’s Partners& hopes to answer
This week saw the launch of new broking business Partners&, bringing together a quintet of players to form a business which is positioning itself as distinctly anti-consolidator. Insurance Age content director Jonathan Swift looks at what this means; and…
Partners& shoots into Top 100 with £65m GWP
Phil Barton, alongside Stuart Reid and Chris Jelf, has formed the broker from MRIB and Independents, La Playa, CGI and Versatile, with initial £25m investment from Capital Z.
GRP-owned Sagars buys Preston broker
Anderson Ashcroft has been bought for an undisclosed sum.
Miles Smith owner SRG planning several more deals this year
Exclusive: Group CEO Warren Downey, who joined from JLT last year, outlined the firm's M&A plans.
Ardonagh eyes international growth
David Ross reveals expansion hopes and confirms more M&A targets in the UK.
Bruce Stevenson commits to independence amid M&A interest
CEO Edward Bruce said consolidator interest in the Scottish broker was increasing as it posted ‘record’ turnover for 2019.
News analysis: Focus on smaller brokers heats up the M&A market
Consolidators have shifted to concentrate on the smaller end of the broking sector, Martin Friel investigates why
Christmas Q&A with Michael Rea
The CEO of UK retail at Gallagher tells Insurance Age his highlights of 2019.
GRP silent as potential buyers named
Searchlight and Apax Partners are believed to be in talks with the consolidator over taking a stake in the business.
Profile: PIB's CEO Brendan McManus and CFO Ryan Brown
Building a broker: CEO Brendan McManus and CFO Ryan Brown reflect on ‘start-up’ PIB’s first years, explain why it isn’t a consolidator and reveal why staff retention and integration are key to the broker’s acquisition strategy
The Blog Spot: Cobra - how the once Towergate target ended up at PIB
Once upon a time you could not keep Cobra out of the news. Insurance Age content director Jonathan Swift reflects on how the business regrouped almost by stealth to become the latest important part of the PIB growth story.
In Person: Konsileo CEO and co-founder John Warburton
Having secured £2.7m Series A funding from Committed Capital, Konsileo co-founder and CEO John Warburton tells Jonathan Swift how taking offence at consolidation and a digital role in Munich led him to start-up his own InsurTech broker
Profile: On the acquisition trail
With consolidation firmly on the agenda in the broking sector, Ida Axling talks to seven experts in the industry on the opportunities and perils
Regional review: Romford
Specialist market: The Romford area is home to many specialist brokers and traditional local players, but is its proximity to London a help or a hindrance?
Customers losing out
The most recent wave of consolidation could lead to a revamp of commission structures, which won’t be good for brokers or their clients, says Ian Stutz
NFP plans to buy more UK-based brokers over time
American consolidator recently purchased Linkfield Corporate Solutions in Birmingham.
Rational acquisitions
There is a vibrant market for structured and sensible broker acquisitions in the UK, says Peter Blanc
Another wave of consolidation?
Tony Cornell considers how insurers will cope with demands for more commission if acquisition activity picks up again
Back to binge buying?
Returning to the market, Barbara Bradshaw sees the same mistakes being made and bemoans unequal access to finance
The party is over (well almost)
The acquisition by Marsh of Jelf could see an end to 15 years of the consolidators’ dominance, says Tony Cornell
Editor's letter - July 2015
“If… hundreds of players all have a little nibble, then they will need to get their funding from somewhere”
Towergate and Gallagher: What next?
Towergate's turmoil and departures at Gallagher have grabbed the headlines, but calm may be in sight
All change
Change will be this year’s defining theme, says Bill Cooper, and small to medium-sized brokers are in a perfect position to exploit it
Editor's letter - December 2014
“‘Insurance is a people industry’… But it is precisely the people who are at risk of being forgotten in the quick-fire way this story is unfolding”