International insurance broker Howden, has announced its acquisition of BWV Versicherungsbroker AG (BWV) in Liechtenstein, an independent broker with a portfolio of corporate and private clients.
Trading as Howden Liechtenstein AG following completion of the acquisition, the business will be led by Felix Jenny, CEO of Howden Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein, and will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Howden Switzerland Ltd.
Established in 2021, Howden Switzerland has grown to include 75 employees across seven offices in Zurich, Bern and Zug. The acquisition of BWV and subsequent formation of Howden Liechtenstein AG will drive further footprint for Howden across the region.
Manfred Wanger, co-founder of BWV, said: “Over the last twenty years we have built a strong business and under our new Howden brand we hope to expand our regional footprint in Switzerland and in the Principality of Liechtenstein, while also developing opportunities with Howden Austria. I am delighted that we will continue to work in an entrepreneurial minded business as we increase our ability to differentiate ourselves by providing value-added services and expertise to our clients.
“With this partnership, our clients will benefit from an international broking group with distribution and expertise in over 45 countries. We will continue to grow as part of a business that values independence and our well-established, trusted team will still provide the professional service and support clients have come to expect.”
Felix Jenny, CEO, Howden Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein, commented: “With strong strategic and cultural alignment, BWV is the ideal partner for Howden as we cement our position as the natural home for independent insurance brokers looking to give clients access to the expertise and specialisms of an international network within their local market.”
Luigi Sturani, CEO, Howden Europe, added: “The partnership with BWV comes at an interesting time as demand grows across Europe for increasingly sophisticated insurance products and services. Howden is therefore strengthening its position as one of the leading brokers in Europe capable of providing the scale, expertise and a range of bespoke solutions for which our clients are looking.”
Further, the acquisition of BWV underscores Howden’s ongoing growth strategy, following the successful
acquisitions of Swiss brokerages Born Consulting, Bachmann & Partners and Broker Center Zurichsee,
acquired in 2022 and 2021 respectively.
