Aston Lark acquisition 1
Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers
Established almost 40 years ago, Bruce Stevenson is the largest independent insurance broker in Scotland, providing specialist products and services to both commercial and private clients across the UK, with specialisms including renewable energy, social housing, and property insurance. With offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Scottish Borders and Turriff, Bruce Stevenson is one of only a small number of Scottish brokers with CII Chartered status.
Bruce Stevenson is also a founder member of UNA Alliance, a national alliance of independent brokers, and the only Scottish company within the alliance.
The Bruce Stevenson brand will be maintained for the foreseeable future. Edward Bruce, CEO, will lead Aston Lark’s Scottish operations, including their existing team in Glasgow, and Aston Lark will look to further develop its presence in Scotland with future acquisitions and natural expansion.
Peter Blanc, Aston Lark Group CEO, said: “When we first started on the Aston Lark journey, Stuart Rootham and I agreed that Bruce Stevenson would be the perfect partner for us in Scotland. Edward and his team have a fantastic reputation and we couldn’t be more proud that they’ve chosen Aston Lark as their home. I’m particularly delighted that Edward and his senior management team have chosen to invest part of their sales proceeds into Aston Lark as a sign of their long-term commitment to the Group.”
Edward Bruce, Bruce Stevenson (pictured below) CEO, added: “I’ve known Stuart and Peter for many years and over that time developed a close personal relationship and an understanding of shared business values and aspirations. After 40 very successful and happy years, joining the Aston Lark team will allow Bruce Stevenson to expand at an even faster rate.
“There’s lots of synergy in the cultures of Bruce Stevenson and Aston Lark, and specifically in the areas of client focus, staff welfare, and training & development - evidenced by the Chartered status and long-term insurer relationships of both. I look forward to the Bruce Stevenson team continuing to deliver the same high quality service proposition to our clients.”
Aston Lark acquisition 2
inet3 Limited, trading as Magenta Insurance.
Magenta insurance is a Chartered Managing General Agent based in East Anglia providing specialist insurance solutions for non-standard residential property to brokers and IFAs throughout the UK. Established over 27 years ago, magenta’s underwriting capacity is sourced through Lloyd's of London and composite markets, all of which are A rated and provide them with the underwriting flexibility to help with highly complex property risks.
Peter Blanc, Aston Lark Group CEO, said: “We’ve been actively searching for high quality MGAs to bring into the Aston Lark Group. magenta have recently achieved Chartered status which is testament to their focus on quality and service – both of which are at the heart of Aston Lark’s ethos. Catherine Bell, David Reid and their team have been highly innovative in the property insurance arena, creating solutions for the huge industry challenges posed by Escape of Water claims and we can’t wait to see how we can help them extend their offerings to the market.”
Catherine Bell (pictured above), Chairman of magenta insurance, added: “We are delighted to be joining the Aston Lark Group. With their client focus, Chartered status and professionalism, this is a perfect alignment for our team. We are excited about future opportunities as part of such a prestigious organisation. Our commitment and focus is to continue to offer our brokers and IFAs an excellent underwriting service, as we work towards building on and improving our offering as part of Aston Lark. We share a vision for improving client outcomes by finding new and innovative ways to mitigate risk and also finding impactful solutions for all stakeholders to protect and insure residential properties.”
Aston Lark acquisition 3
Venture Insurance
Based in Bristol, Venture Insurance was formed with the primary purpose of looking after clients first and foremost, offering traditional insurance advice to both businesses and individuals. When it comes to commercial insurance, Venture advises on business risks across every sector and provides assistance with surveys, claims analysis and health & safety. The business has specialist expertise in Professional Indemnity insurance, property management, haulage, small business solutions and also risk management, offering practical and straightforward advice on business continuity planning, risk management programmes and more.
Peter Blanc, Aston Lark Group CEO, said: “From our initial meeting with the Venture team we have been continually impressed with their ‘client first’ approach which sits perfectly with the ethos of Aston Lark. We’re excited about further expanding our presence in the South West, following our earlier acquisition of Brunel Professions, and the growth opportunities we now have in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We are particularly pleased that the senior leadership team at Venture have chosen to invest part of their proceeds into Aston Lark as a commitment to long term Group ambitions.”
Simon James (pictured above), Venture Insurance Managing Director, added: “It is with great delight that we are able to announce that we are joining forces with Aston Lark. Peter Blanc and Stuart Rootham are traditional brokers, and this provides us with continuity and gives us the confidence that clients and staff will continue to be looked after in the same way for years to come.”