Broker firm Aston Lark, who is going to be acquired by Howden, has taken over Braddons.
The company has been on an acquisitions spree in recent months, having acquired Marine & General Insurances DAC and Healthwise Group in February; the client book of Choice Benefits in December; Phillip Williams & Company, Innovation Broking, and Bainbridge Collins in November; and S Johnson & Company in October.
Its new acquisition Braddons has a focus on the construction and real estate sectors, growing significantly from the privatisation of the BR rail infrastructure and expansion of private finance initiative projects into schools, universities, the NHS, and local authorities. Since then, it has since diversified into other niche sectors including recruitment, energy, transportation, life sciences, clinical negligence, fintech, and financial institutions, serving a prestigious array of blue-chip clients.
Peter Blanc, Aston Lark Group CEO, said: “We are delighted that the Braddons team has chosen Aston Lark as their natural home. As our group continues to expand, our strength and breadth of capabilities in specialist corporate insurance and risk management gets ever stronger and this will be further enhanced when we become part of Howden. Braddons is a fabulous addition to the group, and we look forward to working closely with the team to continue to deliver the exceptional service standard their clients are accustomed to.”
Steve Solly, managing director at Braddons, said that the firm had been looking to be acquired for two years.
He added: “For two years we have sought a broking firm that can provide the additional strength to our business, with an excellent reputation for commitment to clients, a high regard within the insurance market, and professional resource to assist us to successfully meet our commitments. It is imperative to Catherine Solly and me that the company’s ability to service clients remains uncompromised and at the centre of our business. We have very fortunately found that ethos and resource with Aston Lark and Howden, and all of us at Braddons look forward enormously to working with our new colleagues.”
