This week’s biggest M&A stories

Starting off the week, Aon signed an agreement to acquire broker Griffiths and Armour.

Based in the north of England, Griffiths and Armour has expertise in professional indemnity insurance and employs around 200 staff based across Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin and London.

• Broker set to update name as Aon announces acquisition

Then, Markerstudy Group confirmed the completion of its deal to acquire Northern Ireland-based broker Hughes Insurance.

The deal will net Markerstudy an additional 85,000 customers across the motor, home, van, travel and commercial insurance sectors, with Hughes becoming part of Markerstudy’s distribution division, which is led by Ian Donaldson. 

• Markerstudy completes Northern Irish broker acquisition

Following this, Specialist Risk Group acquired (re)insurance firm NW Re to expand its underwriting capabilities.

Founded in 2020, NW Re provides property facultative and excess of loss propositions for a range of sectors, including retail, manufacturing, real estate and leisure.

• SRG makes acquisition to expand underwriting capabilities

And then, Seventeen Group announced that it made four acquisitions during October 2024.

Firms snapped up by the broker include UK and Global, Brian Thompson Insurance Consultants (BTIC), Nelsons and Nairn.

• Seventeen Group announces four broker acquisitions

This week also saw Brown and Brown Europe acquire Crosby Insurance Brokers to expand its presence in the north east.

Based in Gateshead, Crosby Insurance offers a mix of personal, business and commercial property propositions to clients.

• Brown and Brown purchases broker to expand regional presence

Clear Group, meanwhile, continued its acquisition spree with the purchase of CoverMarque.

CoverMarque is a niche schemes broker that mainly specialises in insurance for temporary marquee structures.

• Clear Group continues acquisition spree with broker buy

Rounding off the week, Australian broking network Steadfast Group acquired HW Wood to expand its presence in the London market.

HW Wood is a Lloyd’s broker that provides wholesale, retail and reinsurance propositions to a range of clients.

• Australian broking group acquires UK broker in £23.5m deal