Howden’s Acquisition of A-Plan Group to Create One of UK’s Largest Brokers

The international insurance broking group Howden recently announced that it has agreed to acquire A-Plan Group, one of the UK’s largest personal and commercial lines insurance brokers.

The deal promises to create one of the UK’s largest insurance brokers managing more than £4 billion of gross written premium for 1.5 million clients, and operating from more than 100 locations.

After the merger, Howden’s parent company, Hyperion, will become the fifth largest employee-owned business headquartered in the UK with more than 8,000 employees, including 4,500 in the UK.

The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval.

The new partnership will bring together Howden’s specialty and reinsurance business and A-Plan Group’s personal and commercial lines expertise, which it delivers via its established brands including A-Plan and Endsleigh.

For Howden the transaction means significantly broadening its retail distribution and specialist product capabilities in the UK and adding A-Plan’s distribution model of an office network and digital and online channels.

Carl Shuker will continue to lead A-Plan Group as CEO, reporting to José Manuel González, CEO Howden Broking Group. Chris Evans will become chairman of A-Plan Group in addition to his role as deputy CEO, Howden UK. Max Carruthers, chairman, A-Plan Group, will continue to support the business after completion, the announcement said.

David Howden, CEO of Hyperion Insurance Group, said that both firms have a “very strong culture of entrepreneurship with employee ownership at its heart and a relentless client focus.”

Carl Shuker, CEO of A-Plan Group, said that the markets Howden and A-Plan serve are “highly complementary.”