Rapidly growing insurance intermediary Specialist Risk Group (SRG) has announced its second acquisition for 2022: Hamilton Leigh Insurance Brokers (Hamilton Leigh), a commercial & motor trade broker operating since 1987.
A long-time specialist insurance broker, Hamilton Leigh boasts expertise in the motor trade and technology sectors gained through a thorough understanding of exposures faced by large dealer groups, franchised motor dealers, and fast-growing technology businesses in the UK.
As part of the acquisition, subject to regulatory approval, Hamilton Leigh managing director Lee Cohen and operations director Jill Hamilton will continue to lead the team as it joins SRG’s retail division, Specialist Risk Insurance Solutions (SRIS), which doubled in size last year.
Cohen explained that Hamilton Leigh chose SRG among the potential buyers due to its “great synergy” with the insurance broker regarding where it wanted to take the business.
“SRG has a clear vision for the future, which entails being the home for specialist businesses. Being part of the group allows us to offer a much broader range of services that brings tangible benefits to our clients. It was also evident that SRG offered the right cultural fit for our team by providing them with an environment where they can develop and maximise their full potential,” Cohen added.
The deal with Hamilton Leigh joins a long list of SRG acquisitions, including KBIS, The Channel Partnership, David Codling and Associates, among others. In January 2022, SRG also acquired the London-based special risks team from Bridge Insurance.
“Hamilton Leigh is another fantastic addition to SRIS, providing new areas of deep specialism, supported by a team of genuine experts in the motor trade and technology sectors,” said SRG group deputy CEO Lee Anderson. “I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lee and Jill throughout the deal process, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to grow and enhance our specialist capabilities.”
SRG group CEO Warren Downey added: “We are thrilled to welcome Lee, Jill, and the Hamilton Leigh team to SRG. When we created SRG, we said that we would follow specialism wherever it took us, and Hamilton Leigh epitomises the type of business that will thrive within our group. They are clearly specialists [and] ambitious, and this will be a fantastic cultural fit for both teams.”
