The Numbers Tell The Story: M&A is Hotter Than Ever Among Agencies.

• Date: 13 May 2019

An eye-opening OPTIS Data announcement reports 151 announced insurance agency mergers and acquisitions during the first quarter of 2019, i.e. one more deal than was announced in Q1 2018.

The data covers U.S. and Canadian agencies selling primarily property-and-casualty insurance, agencies selling both P&C and employee benefits, and those selling only employee benefits. The report breaks down buyers into four groups: private equity-backed/hybrid brokers, privately held brokers, publicly held brokers, and all others.

According to OPTIS, Patriot Growth Insurance Services led all buyers with 18 transactions during the quarter, including 17 closed deals to kick-off their new venture. Other top buyers were Acrisure (16), Hub (12), Gallagher (10), and Broadstreet Partners (10). Timothy J. Cunningham, managing director of OPTIS Partners, an investment banking and financial consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry, and Daniel P. Menzer, CPA, a partner with the firm, say:

* There are no signs of any changes in buyer or seller...