Property and auto-focused insurance group Progressive has announced the acquisition of Protective Insurance Corporation in a $338 million deal that’s expected to close by the end of third quarter.
Upon the completion of the transaction, Protective shareholders will receive $23.30 per share in cash from Progressive.
Progressive will fund the purchase through liquid investments on hand. The per share price represents a 49.1% premium and 63.2% premium, respectively, to Protective’s unaffected 30-day volume-weighted average Class A and Class B share prices as measured on February 12.
Progressive plans to maintain Protective’s offices in Carmel, Indiana and retain Protective’s employees.
“As a leader in commercial auto insurance, we’re excited to expand our capabilities with the expertise Protective offers in larger fleet and affinity programs and by providing additional product lines for us to add to our portfolio,” says Commercial Lines President, Karen Bailo.
“Our Commercial Lines business provides one of our greatest opportunities to expand our addressable market and grow.
“This move allows us to add products that will help us support larger fleets and brings expertise in workers’ compensation coverage for the transportation industry, which are new areas of business for us and can help us to meet the needs of our commercial customers.
“We look forward to working with the employees of Protective and appreciate the knowledge they bring.”
“The Special Committee of the Board has been focused on what is in the best interest of Protective and its stakeholders and we are pleased to achieve that objective,” said John D. Nichols, Jr., Chair of the Special Committee of Protective’s Board.
“This transaction aligns well with the direction of Protective, provides stability and opportunity for growth and will deliver a significant, immediate cash premium to Protective’s shareholders—all of which the Special Committee and the Board believe creates the ideal outcome for Protective. The Board would also like to recognize the Shapiro family for its over 40-year stewardship of Protective.”
“We are excited to announce this agreement with Progressive, which is a milestone in Protective’s history,” said Jeremy Johnson, Protective’s Chief Executive Officer.
“With Progressive’s scale and resources, we expect to deliver greater value to our policyholders, while continuing to provide the exceptional service they have come to expect from us.
“Progressive shares our commitment to excellence in serving customers, and we are confident they are the ideal owner for Protective. Together, we will be able to deliver innovative offerings and superior customer service to even more customers across the country.”
