GRP acquires Leicestershire-based broker

Global Risk Partners (GRP) has acquired Leicestershire-based Birrell Group, which includes brokers Kingsway Insurance Services and Bausor Hall Associates.

Birrell Group, which writes a range of commercial insurance products, will function as a standalone brand within GRP. Furthermore, the broker will become GRP’s main broker hub in the Midlands, due to the firm’s longstanding client base in the region.

All employees, including managing director Leigh Birrell and director James Birrell, will remain with the business following the transaction.

Moving markets

For GRP, this acquisition will enable the company to progress further into the retail market.

Mike Bruce, group managing director at GRP, said: “We have been on the lookout for a high quality broker in the Midlands to become our hub business, and I am confident Leigh and James Birrell, and the Birrell Group, will play an important role in realizing our plans to significantly boost our presence in this part of the UK.

“I look forward to helping the team realise their exciting longer-term ambitions for the business.”

Leigh Birrell added: “We are a growth-orientated broker with deep roots in the East Midlands. We have made significant progress in developing our business in recent years and it is now the right time for us to come under the GRP umbrella.

“We plan to further enhance our customer proposition, widen our footprint through acquisition and continue to drive organic growth.

“With GRP’s support, we are confident we will seek out a number of attractive acquisition targets and, in doing so, rapidly develop GRP’s presence in this part of the UK.”

GRP aims to acquire brokers and managing general agents (MGAs) trading in the UK retail and global, specialty insurance markets.