Acquisitive insurance broker swoops again

Leicester insurance broker Erskine Murray has bought Houghton Insurance Bureau, a Bedfordshire-based counterpart.

This deal marks the company’s third acquisition in the last eighteen months, having recently acquired Offley Insurance, a Cheshire-based insurance broker and Asciak Holdaway Merritt, an Essex-based firm.

Chief executive Tom Bartleet said: “With our values and ambitions being so strongly aligned, the acquisition of Houghton Insurance is a positive move that will further enhance our regional based client offering. As a growing broker, both organically and via targeted acquisitions, we are continuing to develop our service offering to ensure we remain in the best position to serve our clients.”

Managing director Alan Wheeler added: “We are delighted to be acquiring a business who share Erskine Murray’s ethos for excellent client services on both a local and a national scale. There is strong and significant alignment between our vision and culture, which makes Duncan and his team a great fit for us. We will be focused on enhancing the range of products and services for Houghton Insurance’s current loyal client base so that they will continue to benefit from progressions in the industry.”

He added: “We are delighted that Duncan Smith will be continuing on in the business. With over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry and a strong and established client base, we look forward to working with Duncan and his team.”