The County Group has concluded the purchase of Swinford Insurance Consultants Ltd (Swinford), based in Kinver (West Midlands). This is their first deal completed in 2019 which will be a transformational year.
Dave Clapp, CEO County Group, said: “I am delighted to get our first purchase of 2019 over the line following hard on the heels of three excellent deals we completed last year.”
“Our plan is for 2019 to be our most productive year yet and with GRP’s backing, we have a compelling proposition that is generating great interest and our pipeline has never been healthier. We aim to continue to work hard to bring these opportunities to fruition and have invested heavily in our integration team ensuring that we bring every business on board with the Group as quickly and as effectively as possible.”
Dave Clapp explained: “Swinford is a quite excellent fit, as the team, most of whom are long-serving employees, have built a book of loyal customers, and the result is a really attractive portfolio for our insurer partners.
“This really was simply too good an opportunity to miss, and we look forward to working with Swinford’s directors Chris Dunn and Mike Brevitt to invest in their business to develop and grow it further around their catchment.”
Swinford was founded in 1982 and sells both personal and commercial lines, and Chris Dunn and Mike Brevitt will both stay with the business post deal and continue to look after their customers.
Chris said: “We had interest from various parties about acquiring us but County was always our preferred route.”
The opportunity to become not only part of County but also the wider GRP family was compelling, and will be the best fit for our customers and people alike.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Mike Bruce, Group Managing Director for GRP, said:
”The County Group continue to deliver their pipeline with another first class deal completed. Swinford is a quality business that complements our existing footprint in the Midlands. I warmly welcome everyone at Swinford to our team.”