New majority stake deal gives Avid insurance ‘firepower’

Avid Insurance Services Ltd – a specialist MGA has sold a majority stake to Beech Tree Private Equity (BTPE).

It will see Avid’s director, and co-founder – Gary Edmondson leave the business as part of the deal.

Managing director – Stephen Gibson will continue to run the business with commercial director John Inwood.

Gibson and Inwood say that the investment from BTPE will give Avid the firepower to “accelerate growth and build on the investment we’ve made during the past year in both people and systems”.

The deal has received regulatory approval and the consideration is undisclosed. 

Significant growth

Gibson explained: “We have grown significantly in the last 12 months, and this investment will fuel further organic profitable growth and also enable us to acquire new underwriting teams.”

Founded in 2006, Avid specialises in travel, social housing and council leasehold markets. It has offices in Leeds and London, and it is both a Lloyds broker and a Lloyds coverholder, writing over £40m of gross written premium.

“Our aim this year is to grow significantly through a combination of building out our existing lines, especially in leasehold, and attracting underwriting teams who have been held back by the recent reductions in capacity and who have unique skillsets and access to distribution and want to be part of the growth story,” said Gibson.

“We have the systems and tools in-house, and A rated paper from our Insurer partners which together will prove highly attractive for talented underwriters who control niche and specialist books of business and want to grow. Ideally, we would like to have hired at least two new teams by this time next year.”

Big move

Gibson said that BTPE is “as ambitious” as Avid with “deep experience” of the sector from previous investments.

“It was a big move for us to partner with BTPE after 13 years as an independent but we are convinced we have made the right decision, and look forward to working with them to take Avid on the next stage of its growth journey,” he said.

Andy Marsh, managing partner of BTPE, added: “Avid is a standout business with a profitable portfolio and a number of long-term relationships with capacity providers and distributers.

“The management team has done a fantastic job in building the business to date and we are looking forward to supporting their plans for the future.”

BTPE invest £10-30m into high growth companies typically valued at £10 and £75m. It was founded by private equity investors –Andy Marsh and Paul Franks.