Insurance broker Howden has significantly bolstered its presence in the United States with the strategic acquisition of Atlantic Global Risk, a leading independent specialist in transaction-liability insurance. The deal, announced on Monday 5th January 2026, marks a key step in Howden's aggressive expansion strategy within the competitive US retail insurance broking market.
Strategic Details of the Acquisition
The boards of both companies have given their approval, and the transaction is now subject to standard closing conditions. The acquisition is anticipated to be finalised in the first quarter of 2026. Atlantic Global Risk, which is headquartered in New York, employs more than 110 professionals across four core business areas: representations and warranties insurance, tax liability insurance, contingent risk insurance, and credit risk insurance.
Under the terms of the agreement, Atlantic Group's founders—Richard French, Joe O'Brien, and David Haigh—will play pivotal roles in Howden's future. They are set to become "key drivers" of the firm's US retail broking growth and its global transactional liability strategy. In a strong show of faith in the combined entity's future, the trio have also opted to reinvest a substantial part of their equity from the sale to become shareholders in Howden.
Advisors and Broader Growth Context
The complex deal involved a roster of top-tier financial and legal advisors. Barclays acted as the financial advisor to Howden, while Latham and Watkins provided corporate legal counsel. For Atlantic Group and its founders, Piper Sandler served as financial advisor, with legal counsel from Dentons US, alongside McDermott Will & Emery and Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
This acquisition is the latest in a series of strategic moves by Howden. Notably, back in November, the group agreed to acquire the employee benefits consultancy arm of Evelyn Partners for an undisclosed sum, with that integration also expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2026.
Leadership Vision for Future Growth
Commenting on the latest acquisition, David Howden, founder and CEO of Howden, emphasised the company's people-centric philosophy. He stated that the group's growth is fuelled by attracting the industry's most talented and entrepreneurial individuals and empowering them to deliver exceptional service. "The addition of Atlantic Group is another powerful example of this talent-focused approach," Howden affirmed, signalling confidence that the new team will significantly enhance the firm's client expertise in the transactional liability sphere.
This move solidifies Howden's commitment to becoming a dominant force in the US insurance landscape, leveraging Atlantic Global Risk's specialist team and established market reputation to accelerate its retail broking ambitions.
