Canadian Reports and US-Reports merge to create risk solutions company Afirm

H.W. Kaufman Financial Group announced on Wednesday that it has “strategically” combined US-Reports and Canadian Reports, rebranding both companies under the name Afirm.

The merger will continue their global presence and allow a single source for loss control inspection, premium audit and risk mitigation services, Afirm Solutions said in a press release. Global headquarters for Afirm will continue to be based in Fort Collins, Colo., under the leadership of president Jon Kovach.

“Afirm has the technical ability to holistically run the inspection, loss control, and premium audits departments for insurance companies,” the release said. “Combined with the acquisition of Toronto, Canada-based Technical Risk Services in 2016 and the acquisition of Colorado-based Essential Insurance Services in January 2017, Afirm has the resources, technical expertise, training systems, and technology to provide predictive analytics for its clients.”

Alan Jay Kaufman, chairman, president and CEO of H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, the parent company of Afirm, said that creating Afirm from a merger of US-Reports and Canadian Reports “allows the team to deliver its industry leading loss control and risk mitigation services on a global scale. Afirm has created a unique and powerful position in the marketplace, offering the industry’s most complete array of solutions for its clients.”

Afirm hires and trains its own field staff through a rigorous ongoing development program featuring live training sessions online, in the classroom, and out in the field, the release noted. As one of its “signature educational cornerstones,” the company will now provide additional state-of-the-art training and talent development for its clients in addition to its internal staff.

Related: H.W. Kaufman Financial Group acquires Ajax, Ont.-based Technical Risk Services

“Now is an opportune moment for our new brand to reflect our enhanced expertise,” said Kovach. “Afirm has made great strides through developing new product offerings, strategic acquisitions, and an expanded geographic footprint into Canada.”

Afirm began as a regional company in 1988 under the name US-Reports, and has expanded to become a major North American provider of loss control inspections, premium audits, and risk mitigation services. With this merger, Afirm will now form one of the largest North American inspection companies in the insurance industry.

Afirm is a member of H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, which also includes Atain Insurance Companies, Chesterfield Insurance Brokers, Lochain Patrick, Cranbrook Underwriting, Global Excess Partners, Burns & Wilcox, Burns & Wilcox Brokerage, Burns & Wilcox Canada, Burns & Wilcox Re, R.B. Jones, Royal Premium and Minuteman Adjusters.