Arthur J. Gallagher to acquire UK broker Stackhouse Poland

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co will acquire specialist UK insurance broker Stackhouse Poland Group in a deal expected to close in the first quarter 2019.

Founded in 1974, Stackhouse Poland has grown organically and through strategic acquisition into a large-scale specialist UK insurance broker generating over £55 million in annualized revenues.

With more than 500 employees, Stackhouse Poland operates from a network of 23 offices across the UK. It has divisions specializing in high-net-worth private clients, real estate, commercial, healthcare and a wide range of specialist insurance sectors.

“Having begun life as a small, general practice broker, Stackhouse Poland has since grown through a well-managed blend of organic growth and targeted acquisitions, just like Gallagher,” said J. Patrick Gallagher Jr, chairman, president and CEO. “With its suite of specialisms and first-class reputation among clients in the UK marketplace, it will make an outstanding addition to our global team.”

Michael Rea, CEO of the UK Retail division at Gallagher, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together our two high-performing businesses. We’ve long admired Stackhouse Poland as an ambitious, well-run insurance broker with an impressive portfolio of specialisms that are highly complementary to our own, such as private clients, real estate, marine, churches and education.

“From our earliest discussions with Tim and the team, it was clear their business, like ours, has been built around a relentless focus on client service and we look forward to creating an extraordinary business together.”

Tim Johnson, Group CEO of Stackhouse Poland, commented: “In Gallagher we have found the ideal ally to take the business to the next level. It is clear that the Gallagher team shares Stackhouse Poland values – putting clients first by employing and developing top class insurance professionals. The support we have had from our investment partners at Synova has seen us grow into a significant business in the UK marketplace, and the time was right to find a long-term global partner.”

Jeremy Cary, executive chairman of Stackhouse Poland, said: “For the last 17 years, initially with business partner James Agnew and more recently in wider partnership with Tim Johnson & Synova, we have resolutely focused on building a private client and specialist commercial broking business, where organic growth has been equally important as growth by acquisition. Stackhouse Poland’s success has been a consequence of the fantastic clients we serve and the equally fantastic people we employ. The Gallagher business is infused with a similar culture, where it is all about clients and colleagues, and so I am happy to be passing the baton to a great home.”

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