ACE Limited has announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the large corporate property and casualty (P&C) business of Itaú Seguros from Itaú Unibanco for approximately $685m. Upon completion of the transaction, ACE, which has a longstanding presence in Brazil, will be the largest commercial P&C insurer in the largest market in Latin America.
The Itaú Seguros large corporate P&C insurance business was established in 2006 and has been 100% owned by Itaú Unibanco, Brazil’s largest non-government bank, since 2009. In 2013, the business had approximately $950m in gross premiums written and an 18% market share, making it Brazil’s leading commercial P&C carrier for the large corporate market. The business, which focuses on a broad array of property and marine coverages for large corporate accounts, has approximately 320 employees, a national distribution footprint and relationships with more than 600 brokers.
“Brazil is a large and important market to ACE’s strategy in Latin America. The addition of Itaú Seguros’s large corporate P&C insurance business will complement and deepen our longstanding presence in Brazil in a significant way,” said Evan G. Greenberg, chairman and ceo, ACE Limited. “This is a great opportunity to acquire from one of the region’s largest and most highly regarded banks an insurance market leader that has complementary business lines, national reach, extensive distribution, a diversified portfolio and, importantly, an experienced, professional and talented management team with an underwriting culture similar to ours. We are delighted that they will be joining ACE.”
ACE’s operations in Brazil currently include an established commercial and personal P&C business, a significant accident and health insurance business, as well as life insurance and reinsurance. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2015 and be accretive to earnings immediately.
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