GRP takes reins of bloodstock specialist with latest acquisition

Global Risk Partners (GRP) has acquired Anglo-Hibernian Bloodstock Insurance Services (Anglo-Hibernian) for an undisclosed sum. This is GRP’s 12th acquisition in ten months. It acquired Eclipse last week.

Based in Newmarket, specialist bloodstock (thoroughbred horses) and equine broker Anglo-Hibernian writes £3m GWP annually.

GRP already owns Lonmar Global Risks, which is a broker of international bloodstock insurance in the London Market.

Anglo-Hibernian chief executive Jim Wordsworth said: “This was an opportunity that fell into the ‘too good to miss’ category, especially as we have a relationship with Lonmar that goes back over 20 years.

“The added muscle that Lonmar and GRP provide will enable us to get bigger, quicker in the UK and I am very excited by the opportunities for Anglo-Hibernian as part of the wider group.”

GRP has been on an acquisition spree as of late and this brings it to a total of 12 acquisitions over the past 10 months. GRP broking chief executive Mike Bruce revealed the consolidator’s plans to hit the acquisition trail for more regional hubs in February

GRP bought Alan & Thomas as its fifth and southern hub at the beginning of November, which quickly bought Dorset-based broker Commercial and General.

GRP also snapped up Bexhill-based broker Greens, which became its fourth regional hub in June. Greens went on to take ownership of marine broker Collidge in July and acquired Eclipse in late November.

Another GRP hub, Higos, which was acquired in February, most recently bought Dursley-based broker Mellerup’s in its third deal since March. Earlier this year it bought Bridgewater-based Colin Fear Insurance and Bude-based broker Courtenay.

Its other hubs include Abbey Bond Lovis in Ireland  and Marshall Woodridge in Leeds. Marshall Woolridge scooped up Sheffield-based ECS Insurance Brokers in Augus