Howden buys A-Plan Group to create £4bn 'UK broking powerhouse'

Hyperion's retail broking business Howden plans to acquire personal and commercial lines broker A-Plan Group in a deal that is set to create what it describes as a "UK broking powerhouse" managing over £4 billion of gross written premium.

Howden claims the deal will create one of the UK’s largest insurance brokers with more than 100 locations and 1.5 million clients, while making its parent company Hyperion the fifth largest employee-owned business headquartered in the UK.

The merger will bring together Howden’s specialty and reinsurance business and A-Plan Group’s personal and commercial lines expertise, which it delivers through its brands including A-Plan and Endsleigh. It is expected to broaden Howden's retail distribution and specialist product capabilities in the London and regional markets.

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 of A-Plan Group, will continue to support the business after completion.

David Howden, CEO of Hyperion Insurance Group, said: “I am thrilled that Carl and his team have chosen to join Howden as the place to deliver their ambitious growth plans in the UK. This is an incredibly important partnership for Howden and creates a significant opportunity to deliver a better and broader offering to both groups’ clients. Like us, A-Plan Group is a business built on a very strong culture of entrepreneurship with employee ownership at its heart and a relentless client focus. These values have ensured that over a period of more than 50 years it has been able to retain and win new clients by delivering to them the personal service they want whilst embracing the opportunities digital distribution, data and technology provide.

“Our combined groups will be a natural home for talent and entrepreneurs seeking a place to deliver the very best for their clients.”

Shuker added: “The markets that Howden and A-Plan serve are highly complementary, and our ever growing regional client reach and access will deliver considerable growth opportunity for the combined Group, and to our existing insurer partners. Being part of an entrepreneurial, international Group, is a really exciting next step for us, and we look forward to contributing to the delivery of Howden’s much wider ambitions.”

Manuel González commented: “I am proud that our story over the past 26 years has been one of growth, expertise, value-driven acquisitions and above all, a focus on our people. We continue to build a business where entrepreneurial talent can thrive, with the belief that when they do, our people will in turn do great things for our clients.

"By joining with A-Plan Group we stay true to this story – partnering with a business that truly shares our vision and values. The completion of this deal sees us managing £7bn GWP on behalf of clients across the 35 territories in which we operate. Factoring in our Howden network – which grows that figure to more than 90 – it is a move that will cement us as the international challenger broker, offering excellence, expertise and a different perspective all over the world.”