Private equity (PE)
The new shape of broking – consolidation, investment and the next generation of broker businesses
Broker Expo 2026 Countdown: New ownership models, private investment and entrepreneurial broker groups are creating different opportunities for firms to grow while maintaining their identity. Ahead of the Expo panel session next week Rachel Gordon explores this topic.
Policy Expert backer Cinven hails ‘marquee opportunity’ with latest investment
Optio has announced that international private equity firm Cinven, and global investment group La Caisse, have agreed to jointly acquire a majority stake from Preservation Capital Partners.
What is behind the big broker boss upheaval of 2025/6?
The last 10 months have seen significant boardroom reshuffles among the UK’s biggest brokers. Getting horror movie vibes from the early 80s, Jonathan Swift has a stab at assessing the reasons behind the upheaval – and whether the body count might grow…
Clear CEO feels ‘no pressure’ as it enters fifth year with Goldman Sachs
The CEO of Clear Group has asserted the broker is under no pressure to consider future options yet as it enters its fifth year with private equity backer Goldman Sachs.
Specialist MGA snapped up by alternative investment manager
Arrow Global Insurance has acquired managing general agent Fusion Specialty Group.
Ex-DLG/Aviva boss Winslow to replace O’Shea as CFC CEO
Specialist insurer CFC has today announced Adam Winslow as its new group chief executive officer.
Q&A: Jon Whiteley, director, insurance M&A at Capital & Trust
Well-managed businesses continue to command significant interest. And owners should start preparing if they’re considering a sale over the next few years, according to Capital & Trust’s Jon Whiteley.
Blog: Is ex-DLG/Aviva CEO Adam Winslow about to resurface at PIB?
A year on from the announcement that he was to depart Direct Line Group in the wake of its takeover by Aviva, Jonathan Swift muses what its former CEO Adam Winslow’s next move might be. And comes up with a potentially surprising conclusion.
DA underwriter seals new PE investor after trebling business since 2023
Delegated underwriting authority specialist Carbon Underwriting has signed an agreement for “a significant growth equity investment” from FTV Capital, the global sector-focused growth equity firm.
Atec owner reveals divisional growth in first results
Both broker Ceta and managing general agent Arkel grew by double digit amounts in the first year of being owned by private equity house Perwyn, a filing at Companies House has revealed.
Incubator launched to help UK brokers move into Europe
Specialist insurance advisor Pro Global has launched a dedicated European platform designed to support UK-based brokers looking to establish and scale operations across the continent.
Start-up consolidator hires Brown to lead M&A in £200m push
Ascend Insurance Holdings has hired former Premium Credit and Cullum Capital Ventures leader Roger Brown as group head of mergers and acquisitions.
Markerstudy to sell MGA business with CUO Humphreys poised to exit
Markerstudy Group is set to sell its managing general agent arm to the parent company of insurer Tradex as it focuses on broking, Insurance Age has learned.
Analysis: Does Intact’s investment in UKGI signal a new era of insurer broker buys?
In 2025 the parent company of Top 100 UK broker Adler Fairways secured financial backing from Intact Financial Corporation. Insurer investments in brokers are nothing new, but the trend over the last decade has been divestments which raise the big…
D&O, employee benefits and key man cover top list as brokers optimistic on growth
Brokers have ranked D&O, employee benefits and key man cover as the top areas most likely to grow in the coming 12 months as they expressed near unanimous optimism about their businesses and the sector.
JMG eyes £1bn GWP as it hits £500m
JMG Group has achieved £500m gross written premium during the financial year, setting it sights on hitting £1bn GWP within five years.
WF Risks eyes new branches as CEO bemoans lack of M&A opportunities
WF Risk Group has established a new office in Edinburgh under the sub-brand ‘WF Risk Insurance Brokers’ and is looking at other prospective launches across UK and Ireland headed by further senior hires.
PE backed platform looks to regional broker M&A after authorisation
Ascend Insurance Holdings has received FCA authorisation and entered the UK market to provide an “alternative solution” to regional insurance brokers.
BDH owner reveals growing losses and turnover in 2025
Salinas Topco, the holding company for Top 100 UK broker BDH, has posted rising turnover in the last financial year and losses reaching £11m.
JMG eyes Midlands and SW M&A push as it hires new regional boss
JMG Group has strengthened its leadership with appointment of Alan Percival as its first regional managing director for the Midlands and South West.
Granite moving onto broker software houses
Niche and non-standard motor specialist Granite Underwriting will be rolling out products on at least one software house this year, managing director Alistair Rose told Insurance Age.