Top U.S. P/C Agency and Brokerage Acquirers in 2013

Insurance Journal‘s review of property/casualty agency and brokerage mergers and acquisitions occurring in 2013 found that Arthur J. Gallagher was the most active agency acquirer – as was the case in 2012.

Hub International, which was quiet in 2012, swung back into action in 2013 after being bought out in 2013 by fund manager Hillman & Friedman in a deal valued at $4.4 billion. Investment funds managed by Hellman & Friedman now hold a majority interest in the company, but members of Hub’s senior management also continue to have a significant equity position.

Except for public broker Gallagher, buyers backed by private equity led the 2013 parade. Among the leaders, those owned by private equity include Hub, Assured Partners, Confie Seguros, USI Holdings, AmWINS and Higginbotham.

Florida-based AssuredPartners went on a tear in 2013 – and looks to be at least as active in 2014. Already this year through the end of February it had announced eight acquisitions.

Confie Seguros was acquired by Boston-based private equity firm ABRY Partners from Genstar Capital in late 2012. The firm had been focusing on the Hispanic auto insurance brokerage market but in 2013 Confie Seguros expanded into standard personal and small commercial lines, while broadening its demographic from being primarily Hispanic focused. It now has operations in 17 states and says it expects 2014 to be its busiest year yet.

If the first two months of the year are any indication, 2014 looks to be a very busy year for agency and broker M&A activity.

Arthur J. Gallagher-25

Hub International-19

AssuredPartners-17

Confie Seguros-14

USI Holdings-9

Marsh McLennan Agencies-6

Insurica-5

Brown & Brown-4

Higginbotham-4

AmWINS-3

Integro-3

CBIZ-2

Ryan Specialty-2

Leavitt Group-2