Bridgepoint to Acquire Majority Stake in German Insurance Broker HBC for €700m or More

Bridgepoint Group is acquiring a majority stake in German insurance broker Hanseatic Broking Center (HBC) from Preservation Capital Partners. HBC's management team and founders will remain invested, while Preservation Capital will fully exit. The deal values HBC at €700 million or more and is expected to complete in Q3, subject to regulatory approvals. Rothschild & Co and Nomura Holdings advised Bridgepoint, while Macquarie Capital advised HBC and Preservation Capital.

Bridgepoint Group Plc has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Hanseatic Broking Center GmbH (HBC), a German insurance broker, from Preservation Capital Partners. The transaction, valued at €700 million or more, is expected to be finalized in the third quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. Bridgepoint will partner with HBC's management team and founders, who will retain a significant investment in the business, while Preservation Capital will fully exit [1][2].

HBC, founded in 2022, specializes in providing insurance brokerage services for companies and private clients. The company has been operating in the German-speaking insurance market, servicing over 40,000 clients and overseeing a premium volume in excess of €600 million ($693.07 million). Under Bridgepoint's stewardship, HBC aims to create an integrated platform by merging its commercial broking with managing general agent (MGA) functions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH) and beyond [1].

Carsten Kratz, Bridgepoint partner and head of DACH, stated: "HBC stands out for its entrepreneurial team, specialist focus, and impressive growth trajectory. With a strong foundation and clear strategic direction, we see significant potential to help HBC scale further, deepen its MGA capabilities, accelerate digitization, and broaden its reach across the region" [1].

The deal comes as Bridgepoint has been in exclusive negotiations to sell Kereis, a multi-channel insurance brokerage in Europe, to Advent, a private equity firm [2]. Rothschild & Co and Nomura Holdings Inc. acted as financial advisors for Bridgepoint, while Macquarie Capital advised HBC and Preservation Capital [3][4].

Bridgepoint's acquisition of HBC follows Jefferies' upgrade of Aon Corp (NYSE:AON) to a 'Buy' rating, citing the company's strong financial health and potential for margin expansion driven by favorable organic growth and cost savings [3].

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bridgepoint-buy-majority-stake-german-111706535.html
[2] https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2025/07/30/833741.htm
[3] https://uk.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/jefferies-upgrades-aon-stock-rating-to-buy-on-margin-expansion-outlook-93CH-4190511
[4] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/bridgepoint-group-plc-agreed-to-acquire-an-unknown-majority-stake-in-hanseatic-broking-center-gmbh-f-ce7c5fdfdb8bf721