Insurance M&A

We have market leading insurance M&A capabilities in Ireland, advising buyers, sellers and targets in relation to some of the highest value and most complex insurance M&A in the Irish market. Our market leading Insurance & Reinsurance and Corporate and M&A teams (as well as other specialist departments) work together seamlessly to deliver on these mandates.

Insurance M&A transactions have become increasingly more complex in recent years, requiring specialist legal teams who can navigate the multitude of regulatory and other issues that can arise. In particular, we see increased regulatory scrutiny of these transactions during change in control approval processes. Given our extensive experience of working on these transactions in recent years, we are uniquely placed to guide and support clients through these transactions. We can foresee many of the complex issues that will arise, and, as a result, can offer focused solutions in an effective and cost-efficient manner. 

Some of our relevant recent experience in relation to sales and purchases of insurance companies and insurance intermediaries is set out below.

  • Riverstone on the acquisition of Catalina Insurance.
  • Liberty Mutual on the Irish aspects of the sale of its West European Markets general insurance business to Generali for €2.3bn in 2023.
  • Liberty Mutual on the Irish aspects of its acquisition of AmTrust's global surety business.
  • Zurich Life on the sale of a portfolio of investment policies to Monument Life Insurance DAC.
  • Zurich Insurance plc on the sale of a portfolio of German architects and engineers' professional indemnity policies to DARAG Deutsche Versicherungs-und Rückversicherungs AG.
  • DAS Group on all Irish aspects of the sale of all the business and assets of its Irish branch to the Irish branch of ARAG Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG.
  • China Re on its acquisition of Chaucer Insurance.
  • GE on the disposal of its captive insurer Electric Insurance Ireland DAC to R&Q.
  • Achmea on the sale of Friends First to Aviva.
  • Aegon on the sale of Aegon Ireland to Athora.
  • Banco BPM and Cattolica on the acquisition by Cattolica of a majority stake in Vera Financial.
  • LCCG / Oaktree on its acquisition of Generali Pan Europe.
  • XL Group on its $4.2bn acquisition of Catlin Group.
  • UBS on the sale of UBS International Life (now Octium International Life) to the Havilland Group.
  • Aviva and AIB on the sale of Aviva Health to Irish Life.

  • AIG/Corebridge on the sale of Laya Healthcare.
  • Arthur J. Gallagher on its acquisition of Innovu Insurance and First Ireland Risk Management.
  • Agria on the acquisition of Capstone Financial Services Limited trading as Petinsure.ie.
  • Livingbridge on its acquisition of a majority stake in Chill Insurance.
  • Ardonagh Group on its acquisition of Arachas Corporate Brokers.
  • Cardinal Carlyle on its acquisition of AA Ireland and on its later subsequent disposal of AA Ireland to Further Global.
  • AIG on its acquisition of Laya Insurance.
  • Zurich on its acquisition of Blue Insurance.
  • Prestige Insurance on its acquisition of Autoline in Northern Ireland.

Experience

  • AIG/Corebridge

    on the sale of Laya Healthcare.

  • Riverstone

    on the acquisition of Catalina Insurance.

  • Achmea

    on the sale of Friends First to Aviva.

  • Aegon

    on the sale of Aegon Ireland to Athora.

  • Arthur J. Gallagher

    on its acquisition of Innovu Insurance and First Ireland Risk Management.

  • Ardonagh Group

    on its acquisition of Arachas Corporate Brokers.

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