Insurance brokers prepare for expansion in wake of merger

PB Curran & Co (York) and Associated Insurance Services (York) have joined forces to create a £10m turnover company with 29 staff.

The merger will see Associated Insurance Services’ (AIS) owner David Savagar and his staff move into PB Curran’s offices in York.

The merged business will trade as PB Curran, and there are plans for further expansion, despite the tough economic climate.

Edward Curran, the managing director of PB Curran, who will run the enlarged business, said: “This merger creates a stronger team of like-minded staff with a focus on delivering a top-quality service.

“This will enable us to combine our skill and service with value for money by allowing us to spread the cost of regulation and compliance as well as giving us increased buying power with suppliers.

“Absorbing the AIS team will give us greater strength in depth and a wider product choice, as AIS brings new agricultural facilities which will be made available to PB Curran clients.

“Our priority is to ensure that we retain our traditional values of personal service and client contact as we grow, which was instilled in the organisation by my father, Patrick.

“This is a very exciting time for us and we have a number of opportunities which we are currently developing.”

PB Curran, which was founded in 1961, advises on a range of commercial insurance issues.

It also operates a specialist delegated property owners’ scheme.

The company, which has a large portfolio of agricultural businesses, retailers and charities, operates nationally, although most of its clients are based in Yorkshire.

AIS, which was founded in 1984, has similar services and a client base throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

David Savagar, who joins the PB Curran management team, said: “This merger is good for the clients of both businesses and will help to create a solid enterprise which we are confident can continue to expand, even in the current tough economic climate.”

Lawyers from York-based firm Denison Till provided advice to both companies in connection with the merger.

Alistair Duncan, a corporate and commercial partner at Denison Till, who led a cross-departmental team to advise on the merger, said: “We are confident that these two long-established, well-known York business can expand and become an even more significant force in the Yorkshire insurance sector.”

“We are delighted to have helped them with their strategic merger.”