Two B.C. MGAs to merge; company will be rebranded as Guardian Risk Managers Ltd.

Two Managing General Agents (MGA) in British Columbia have announced their intention to merge into one new organization, effective Feb. 1.

Guardian Risk Managers and Chutter Personal Lines Underwriting Services (CPLUS) announced that they would re-brand as Guardian Risk Managers Ltd. The combined new MGA will be headquartered in Surrey, B.C.

The new company will be managed by David Lyons, vice president of personal lines and Rick Feeney, vice president of commercial lines, the companies said in a joint statement earlier this week.

Their combined teams will continue to offer the same Guardian and CPLUS insurance products and customer service that insurance brokers currently have access to. Guardian offers niche auto, home, commercial property and commercial liability coverage, as well as claims handling. CPLUS offers manufactured home insurance, Alberta and B.C. motorcycle insurance and recreational vehicle insurance.

“The combined strength of these two MGA’s coming together will result in new and enhanced insurance products, territories and services providing greater value to insurance brokers and their clients,” the statement said. “The new organization will be enhancing its broker portal and will include new premium payment options such as direct bill, credit card and monthly payment programs.”

The announcement comes less than a week after Aviva Canada announced that Leclerc Insurance and Financial Services has been appointed MGA in Quebec for its specialty personal lines business underwritten by Elite Insurance Company of Canada. The appointment will take effect on April 1. As of that date, Leclerc will be the official distributor of Aviva’s recreational insurance products, including motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, mobile homes, as well as RVs and trailers. NautiMax will continue to manage Aviva’s watercraft program, which brokers will be able to access through their Leclerc contract, Aviva Canada said.