Global Risk Partners (GRP) spent much of 2019 on the acquisition trail, as they snapped up brokers in various niche areas and applied their digital makeover to them. The New Year sees a continuation of the Group’s plans for world domination, and the latest news is that GRP has acquired the Birrell Group, based in Lutterworth, Leicestershire – the group comprises Kingsway Insurance Services and Bausor Hall Associates.
Birrell Group writes a wide range of commercial insurance products and has longstanding clients throughout the region. It will continue to function as a stand-alone brand within GRP and will become GRP’s hub broker in the Midlands. All members of the team, including MD Leigh Birrell and Director James Birrell, will remain with the business following completion.
Leigh Birrell said: “We are a growth-oriented 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.
He added: “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.”
Mike Bruce, GRP’s group MD, confirmed that, with this acquisition, the Group’s Retail division will be able to make further inroads in this market.
“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 realising 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.”
Global Risk Partners Limited (GRP) is a vehicle aimed at acquiring brokers and managing general agents (MGAs) trading in the UK retail and global, specialty insurance markets. It was established in 2013 by Peter Cullum – Chairman, David Margrett – Chief Executive, and Stephen Ross – Chief Operating Officer, and is backed by private equity firm Penta Capital LLP.
GRP acquires businesses, teams and portfolios that have niche, non-commoditised, specialty propositions and strong profitability. GRP is one of the top independent brokers in the UK.
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