Hub acquires full-service Saskatchewan brokerage

Global insurance brokerage Hub International announced Monday it has acquired the assets of Saskatchewan brokerage Kelliher Agencies.

Headquartered in Kelliher, Sask., the brokerage is a full-service, independent insurance brokerage that provides personal, commercial, farm and specialty products insurance.

“Its focus on the agribusiness industry supports Hub’s specialty practices by complementing and strengthening Hub’s existing capabilities,” Hub said in a press release. In February 2018, Hub launched its first eight specialty practices: transportation; financial institutions; entertainment/sports; construction; agriculture; hospitality; real estate; and healthcare.

Terms of the latest transaction were not disclosed. Hub did say, however, that Craig Bolton, co-owner of Kelliher Agencies, will join Hub International Manitoba Limited.

Chicago-headquartered Hub International has acquired various Canadian brokerages and employment benefits firms recently. On Apr. 2, it acquired Del Fisher Insurance, a Calgary-based independent brokerage offering personal and commercial lines insurance, including home, auto, business and contract bonding. The brokerage represents 18 insurers.

On Feb. 12, Hub acquired Firstbrook Pointon Benefits, a Toronto-based full-service employee benefits consulting firm offering a variety of benefits programs, including health and performance, benefits plan consulting, group retirement services, executive benefits and disability management.

Tina Osen, president of Hub International Canada, told Canadian Underwriter in January that it is training its 4,000 employees in Canada to articulate that is it not just a P&C brokerage. It is training its P&C employees to “speak the language of employee benefits. Not be experts, but be confident enough to introduce it in the dialogue with their customers.”