News

NW Risk Solutions (“NWRS”) announces the launch of its new insurance broking business to providing bespoke solutions to a variety of clients, including : large AIM Listed firms, boutique businesses and private clients. NWRS will be able to access specialist insurance products via Lloyds
of London, a plethora of insurance companies and Managing General Agencies.

Commenting on NWRS’s emergence, Managing Director, Peter Stevenson, said “For many years I have felt that there has been a void in tailor made insurance policies for businesses with particular requirements and we want to move away from the ‘one size fits all’ approach. We are delighted to be in Partnership with James Hallam one of the UK’s leading independent Lloyds brokers that act internationally with global specialists.

Peter will be joined by Colin Davison who was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of Abbey Protection plc, an AIM listed company which was sold to Markel, a Fortune 500 insurance company in 2014. Peter commented on Colin’s appointment “it will be great working alongside Colin again
and I look forward to us building NWRS into a substantial company with an unerring approach to providing our customers with an absolutely first class service”.

Paul Anscombe, Seventeen Group CEO, said: “We are really excited to welcome Peter, Colin and the NW Risk Solutions team on board as part of our expanding Partnership Programme. We see huge opportunity in the North West, particularly for the unique offering the NWRS team are developing and very much look forward to working together. Like all our Partners, they will undoubtedly add tremendous value to the Seventeen Group and I know that in return we can support them in achieving their growth plans”

Paul Anscombe also thanked Roy Standish Director of Partnerships for overseeing the on-boarding of NW Risk Solutions. “Roy has a huge amount of market experience and this was crucial to help finalise this deal. All of our Partners value the support of Roy and his team throughout their relationship with James Hallam and very much see him as part of their respective team”.

Peter and Colin will be joined by a team of eminent businessmen including Sir James Vernon, from the world of property, finance and commerce who have already introduced highly significant customers and opportunities to NWRS.”

NW Risk Solutions (“NWRS”) announces the launch of its new insurance broking business to providing bespoke solutions to a variety of clients, including : large AIM Listed firms, boutique businesses and private clients. NWRS will be able to access specialist insurance products via Lloyds
of London, a plethora of insurance companies and Managing General Agencies.

Commenting on NWRS’s emergence, Managing Director, Peter Stevenson, said “For many years I have felt that there has been a void in tailor made insurance policies for businesses with particular requirements and we want to move away from the ‘one size fits all’ approach. We are delighted to
be in Partnership with James Hallam one of the UK’s leading independent Lloyds brokers that act internationally with global specialists.

Peter will be joined by Colin Davison who was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of Abbey Protection plc, an AIM listed company which was sold to Markel, a Fortune 500 insurance company in 2014. Peter commented on Colin’s appointment “it will be great working alongside Colin again
and I look forward to us building NWRS into a substantial company with an unerring approach to providing our customers with an absolutely first class service”.

Paul Anscombe, Seventeen Group CEO, said: “We are really excited to welcome Peter, Colin and the NW Risk Solutions team on board as part of our expanding Partnership Programme. We see huge opportunity in the North West, particularly for the unique offering the NWRS team are developing
and very much look forward to working together. Like all our Partners, they will undoubtedly add tremendous value to the Seventeen Group and I know that in return we can support them in achieving their growth plans”

Paul Anscombe also thanked Roy Standish Director of Partnerships for overseeing the on-boarding of NW Risk Solutions. “Roy has a huge amount of market experience and this was crucial to help finalise this deal. All of our Partners value the support of Roy and his team throughout their relationship with James Hallam and very much see him as part of their respective team”.

Peter and Colin will be joined by a team of eminent businessmen including Sir James Vernon, from the world of property, finance and commerce who have already introduced highly significant customers and opportunities to NWRS.”

Seventeen Group is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ending 31st December 2020.

During a year dominated by the global effects of Covid, the Group reported an 8.3% increase in revenue and increased EBITDA from £3M in 2019 to £3.5M in 2020. The ‘rolling’ EBITDA for the 12 months to 2021 is on target to reach £6M.

Our underwriting subsidiary, Touchstone, increased revenue to £4M and is on target to achieve £5M in 2021.

James Hallam had two divisions particularly exposed to the impact of covid, (motorsport and Hospitality & Travel) but the remaining divisions (excluding acquisitions) grew by £820,000 over the prior year. Group CEO Paul Anscombe comments as follows:

“We are delighted with our Group performance in 2021. The business held up extremely well under the twin challenges of a hard market and covid. We have been able to reduce costs in a number of areas, including closing two premises, and the positive impact of these operational savings has flowed through to our 2021 year to date results.

Whilst covid restricted face to face meetings, we were still able to launch London Re our German based Lloyds broker, established in partnership with our German partner MRH Trowe gmbh. From a technology perspective we launched our first on-line product via ProMed, specialist medical sector division.

Our investment in Touchstone continued through this period and I am delighted to report that Touchstone went through the £40M GWP threshold this year and continues to work with our long-standing insurer partners. 2020 was also important in terms of cementing our relationship with our funding partner to help finance future acquisitions and so in 2021 we completed the purchase of Ryans, PRS and Christopher Rowe.

Our strategic objectives remain to grow both organically and through acquisition over the coming years as we see increased opportunities for a truly independent insurance business during a period of huge change”.

Click here to download the full document.

Seventeen Group has acquired Cornwall based Christopher Rowe Limited (‘CRL’) effective from 11th May 2021 for an undisclosed sum.

CRL was established in 1984 by Christopher Rowe and is a respected local broker specialising in the Marine sector and associated trades plus personal lines. The business, now owned by Christopher’s wife Kathleen, employs 8 staff in its Penzance office.

Seventeen Group has acquired CRL to build its presence in the South West and specifically to establish a footprint in Cornwall. It is also an opportunity for James Hallam to expand its Everard Marine Division in a region which is strong in the marine sector and associated trades.

Seventeen Group CEO Paul Anscombe comments:

We are very pleased to welcome the Christopher Rowe team into Seventeen Group. This is an important strategic acquisition which should offer a very exciting future for the team in Penzance. Cornwall is a unique county which prides itself in supporting the local economy and so we felt strongly that if we want to play a part in this then we needed to put some roots down long term”.

Seventeen Group has acquired Middlesex based Pinner Risk Solutions (‘PRS’) effective 7th May 2021 for an undisclosed sum.

PRS was established in 2012 by the current owner and Managing Director Zena Tebboth and focuses on clients in the construction industry. The business employs 9 staff out of its offices in Ruislip and handles circa £5 million Gross Written Premium.

PRS will continue to operate from Ruislip under the leadership of Zena and will become the construction specialist division for James Hallam.

Zena Tebboth comments,

“Myself and the team are looking forward to working under the umbrella of James Hallam. We believe this will enable PRS to expand the service and options we provide to our clients and offer a construction speciality within the James Hallam operation. As we continue to grow; the larger and more flexible business model will allow us to keep pace with an increasingly complex insurance and risk management environment.”

Seventeen Group CEO Paul Anscombe comments:

“Zena and her team have worked together for a number of years and offer an excellent blend of personal service and sector knowledge for the benefit of their clients. Construction is a significant part of the UK economy and is predicted to grow. Bringing PRS on board greatly increases our capability in this sector and offers a wider range of specialist services to our clients.”

Seventeen Group has acquired Ipswich based Ryan Insurance Group effective from 6th May 2021 for an undisclosed sum.

Ryan’s was originally formed in 1975 and is one of the leading regional brokers in the East of England. The business employs over 50 staff, is a UK Top 100 broker and handles over £12 million of Gross Written Premium. Two thirds of the business is commercial and one third private clients. Included within the commercial book is a specialist Hospitality account plus a dedicated SME unit.

Ryan’s is a Chartered firm of brokers and are members of the UNA Alliance. Tim Ryan, Chairman, is also Chairman and CEO of UNA and has been a board member and active
BIBA supporter over many years.

Seventeen Group CEO Paul Anscombe comments:

“We are delighted with the acquisition of Ryan’s, a business we have known for a number of years, and are proud to welcome them into our Group. It is a high quality organisation with a great team and a strong focus on client service. It is also a company which takes its role within the broking community very seriously and actively works to raise professional
standards and share good practice”.

Ryan’s will form part of James Hallam, Seventeen Group’s broking subsidiary, and remain within its existing Ipswich premises. It will continue to trade under the ‘Ryan’s’ brand and, whilst Tim Ryan will be departing upon completion to focus on other interests, Executive Directors Robin Belsom and Tim Larke will continue to lead the business with the wider management team.

James Hallam are also UNA members and so this important relationship will continue for our enlarged business.

Ryan’s Chairman, Tim Ryan comments:

“For some time, the shareholders have been considering the long-term plan for Ryan’s with an ambition to remain part of an independent brokerage which puts people first.
When we met Seventeen Group, it was clear that they filled our requirements so we are pleased that the business will continue with a similar culture, aims and objectives as well as
creating security and new opportunities for the team.”

Looking to the future Anscombe adds:
“The consolidation of the market has accelerated and we see no sign of that changing in the short term. Key for Seventeen Group is to remain a long term independent broker and so we will continue to seek the right strategic acquisition opportunities to help support this growth alongside our natural organic growth plans.

Seventeen Group were supported by Beechbrook Capital in this acquisition. Beechbrook Capital is a specialist lender providing innovative and flexible financing solutions to support fast growing SMEs across northern Europe.

Please click here to view the full press release.

Seventeen Group, owners of James Hallam and Touchstone Underwriting, are pleased to announce the formation of London Re, a European Lloyds broker based in Dusseldorf Germany and with a branch office based in London.

London Re has been formed in a joint venture agreement between Seventeen Group and MRH Trowe, one of the largest independent brokers in Germany which employs circa 450 staff across 12 offices in Germany and 1 in Vienna.

London Re offers an independent broking solution for EU clients and brokers wishing to access the London Market for a wide range of products including Property, Casualty, Marine and Motorsport. The business is regulated in Germany, has FCA approval for its UK branch and is a Lloyds Broker.

Speaking about the joint venture Paul Anscombe adds: “Seventeen Group is a diverse insurance business with a growing international client base. When we considered the impact of Brexit on James Hallam we decided without hesitation that we wanted to create a business which could directly service EU clients and brokers in the future. We also recognised that it would add enormous strength to work in partnership with a broker whom we felt shared our ‘independent broker spirit’ and culture.

We have known MRH Trowe for many years and respected the quality which Max and his team have brought to the German and Austrian markets. Our Head Office in Dusseldorf puts London Re in the heart of Europe and therefore offers us significant opportunities to work with the world leading skills contained within the London Market on European risks.

Setting up this new venture during lockdown has been a mammoth task for both parties but this is a very significant new chapter for our respective businesses and one which adds greatly to our strength in a rapidly changing world”.

Maximilian Trowe from MRH Trowe and joint Managing Director of London Re commented

“Establishing direct access to Lloyd’s of London has long been a strategic goal for MRH Trowe and we are excited that this became feasible through the personal relationship with Seventeen Group. London Re enables us to counter the capacity bottlenecks of insurers existing in the EU market and to offer support to medium-sized brokers for complex risks. We see tremendous opportunity within MRH Trowe’s client’s needs as well as the need for the services London Re offers to brokers across the EU.”