Brokerage outlines upcoming acquisition plans

Businesspeople connecting puzzles in the office, symbolizing business synergies

Brokerage AMC Insurance Services Ltd. is continuing its acquisition plans with two upcoming deals in November and several others in the pipeline, brokerage vice president Jujhar Singh Parmar tells Canadian Underwriter.

Surrey, B.C.-based AMC Insurance recently completed its 15th deal in September by acquiring family-owned and operated brokerage Western Associated Insurance Brokers Ltd. in Vancouver. The small boutique brokerage’s website says it offers expertise in all areas of personal and commercial insurance, marine and travel.

Effective Nov. 1, two other home, auto and commercial insurance brokerages will come into the AMC fold, Parmar tells Canadian Underwriter in an interview.

“They’re thinking that as consolidation increases, economies of scale are more important now than they’ve ever been,” Parmar says, adding the brokerages will also be able to tap into AMC’s group insurance offerings. “We’re able to get more preferred underwriting capacity, meaning response times are faster, [along with] dedicated resources and underwriting contacts…”

In late January, Parmar told CU his B.C. brokerage was looking to expand outside its home province, with particular interest in Alberta and Ontario. He said at the time AMC had a few acquisition targets in mind in Ontario.

It appears that interest remains, as Parmar is looking at opportunities outside of B.C.

“Some of these are like 50 employees, so it will be a sizable operation,” Parmar says. “It’ll take us to new heights, solidifying us as a national.

“So, we certainly have [irons] in the fire,” he adds. “We have very exciting things coming up in the pipeline.

“We’re not a national player yet, but these are all in different provinces.”

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The goal is to present AMC as a one-stop shop with roots in brokerage independence. For Parmar, it’s more about bringing in the right infrastructure and e-management tools than premium. “Just to push us as that boutique, competitive, independent brokerage…”

That said, AMC is very picky when it comes to deals.

But the brokerage still has capital and runway to make deals, Parmar says. “We have other opportunities presented to us, and we are actively looking for more.”

 

Feature image by iStock.com/skynesher