Warburg Pincus, a private equity firm focused on growth, is teaming up with Singapore’s Temasek Holdings to buy Specialist Risk Group, an independent insurance intermediary, according to people familiar with the matter.
The deal values Specialist Risk Group, or SRG, at more than £1 billion including debt, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. The company’s previous backer, Palo Alto, California-based HGGC, had appointed Evercore Inc. to run a selective sale process, they said.
SRG, which was launched in January 2020, employs more than 600 people and has placed premiums of more than £1 billion. The deal is aimed at helping London-based SRG expand internationally, including further into Europe and Asia, the people said.
Representatives for Warburg and SRG declined to comment. Temasek didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Private equity firms are beginning to deploy cash again, albeit selectively into companies with good growth prospects, as pressure mounts from investors to generate strong returns.
The deal comes amid increasing consolidation in the insurance space. Insurance giant Aviva Plc said this year that it would buy specialist insurer Probitas for £242 million. Over the past decade, larger insurers such as Catlin, Amlin and Novae have also been acquired.
