Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
Under the hammer
Sellers often dismiss the idea of selling their businesses by auction. However, handled properly, it could achieve the best price and terms for the seller, explains Mark Copping
Tug of war over Cobra fuels speculation
Cobra Holdings’ sale could create lucrative opportunities for rival networks
Canopius offer for Omega recommended
Canopius has made a cash offer of 67p per share for Omega Insurance Holdings.
Towergate posts loss of £75.5m for 2011
Towergate has reported a £75.5m loss before tax for 2011, compared to a loss of £14.2m in 2010.
Towergate snaps up trio of brokers
Towergate Insurance has made three acquisitions.
Ai Claims board recommends Quindell deal
The board of Ai Claims has recommended that an offer for the remaining 22.4% of shares in the company be accepted.
Davies on lookout for further acquisitions following Ufton deal
Davies has acquired liability and construction practice Ufton Associates.
Higos embarks on expansion plan with new Exeter branch
Higos Insurance Services is to open a new high street operation in Exeter in mid-June.
RSA to focus on small non-UK acquisitions
Simon Lee, group CEO at RSA, has confirmed the provider would be targeting smaller acquisitions outside the UK and was not seeking to make a major billion pound purchase.
Brokerbility member makes latest acquisition
Alan & Thomas Insurance Group has acquired Emery Little Insurance Brokers, a specialist aviation, SME and personal lines insurance broker based in Salisbury and Eastbourne.
Quindell adds to shareholding in Lineker-backed insurance offering
Quindell Portfolio has paid £2.85m cash for a further 16.4% stake in Ingenie, the insurance intermediary digital brand aimed at young drivers.
CCV purchases remaining 70% of Kent-based broker
CCV has completed its phased acquisition of Kent-based broker Capital & County.
Video: What The Papers Say latest edition
On the sofa this month are Graeme Trudgill, head of corporate affairs at the British Insurance Brokers' Association and Jonathan Swift, editor in chief of Incisive Media's insurance division.
E Coleman buys Foster Leighton and targets expansion into Cornwall
Poole-based broker E Coleman has acquired Foster Leighton in Exeter for an undisclosed sum.
Brit suffers ratings downgrade after QBE sale
AM Best has downgraded the financial strength rating and issuer credit rating of Brit Insurance Limited (BIL) to A- from A and placed the ratings under review with negative implications.
QBE reveals expansion plans to brokers
Ash Bathia, chief underwriting officer at QBE for property, casualty and motor, has told brokers to expect more engagement and products from the provider after its acquisition of Brit’s UK regional business.
Brokers welcome QBE takeover of Brit's UK regional business
Brokers have given a uniformly positive reaction to the takeover by QBE of Brit’s UK regional business describing it as good news for both brokers and insurers.
QBE buys Brit’s UK regional business
QBE has announced the purchase of Brit’s renewal rights for the UK regional operations business with the transaction expected to be completed on 13 April.
Cobra confirms bid negotiations with Towergate
Cobra Holdings has confirmed that it is co-operating with Towergate and a company formed by chief executive Stephen Burrows over pre-offer enquiries.
JLT adds Towergate man to Nottingham team
JLT has appointed Steve Exwood as partner in its Nottingham risk practice team.
Quindell in Ai Claims takeover
Quindell Portfolio has bought a further 47.7% of Ai Claims Solutions for £3.1m and announced its intention for a complete takeover offer of the company.
Profile: Banking on growth
Towergate chief executive Mark Hodges tells Martin Friel about his plans to transform the entrepreneurial and acquisitive company into a thriving corporate (“with a little ‘c’”) entity
Broking success: Facing the challenge
Berkeley Insurance Group chairman Andrew Bedford, and group chief executive Tim Maxted explain their approach to the soft market and the importance of expertise, reports Caitlin Morrison
Hodges outlines plans for Towergate
Mark Hodges has stated that he plans to develop a more corporate structure for Towergate.