Rumours may be swirling over the future of Global Risk Partners (GRP) – with reports suggesting its chairman is contemplating a sale – but that hasn’t stopped the intermediary group wrapping up yet another acquisition.
This morning it was revealed that GRP has sealed a deal for Birrell Group, based in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Birrell, which comprises both Bausor Hall Associaties and Kingsway Insurance Services, focuses on a wide range of commercial insurance products and is expected to continue as a stand-alone brand while becoming GRP’s hub broker for the Midlands.
When the deal is complete, all members of the Birrell team, including both director James Birrell and managing director Leigh Birrell, will make the switch to the GRP banner.
“We are a growth-oriented broker with deep roots in the East Midlands,” said Leigh Birrell. “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.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Mike Bruce, the group MD at GRP, noted that the firm wants to make further inroads into the Midlands 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,” he said. “I look forward to helping the team realise their exciting longer-term ambitions for the business.”
