Phil Trem
Trem covers brokerage mergers and acquisitions for Leader's Edge.
Health+Benefits
Acquiring Expertise, Not Just Revenue
Buyers show rising interest in the employee benefits and consulting space.
May 28, 2023
Industry
2022 M&A by the Numbers
The following data reflect analysis published by MarshBerry based on announced m...
April 30, 2023
Industry
Consolidation Spreads East
U.S. M&A trends have reached the European brokerage market.
April 30, 2023
Industry
For Potential Sellers, What Matters Most Is Growth
With the cost of capital increasing, buyers are getting more selective.
April 30, 2023
Industry
Buyers Take Fresh Look at Capital Strategy
With the cost of capital rising, acquisitive brokerages and those trying to fund...
April 30, 2023
Brokerage Ops
For Potential Sellers, What Matters Most Is Growth
With the cost of capital increasing, buyers are getting more selective.
April 2, 2023
Brokerage Ops
Anyone's Guess
The strange economic environment makes 2023 M&A forecasting a crapshoot.
March 1, 2023
Industry
Very Active 2022, Considering…
2022 is likely to end up, after all announcements, as the second-strongest year ...
January 17, 2023
Brokerage Ops
M&A Slowdown? Actions Speak Louder Than Words
There’s still money for lattes and insurance acquisitions…for now.
December 1, 2022
Brokerage Ops
Enough Capital for Another 6 Months
M&A valuations are still strong, but there are cracks in the foundation.
November 1, 2022
Brokerage Ops
Specialty Valuations Up
M&A activity is still robust as specialty distribution transactions gain momentu...
September 29, 2022
Brokerage Ops
Riding the Seesaw
Inflation and interest rates may hamstring acquirers.
September 1, 2022
Industry
Borrower's Burden
The cost of money is increasing, and buyers may require sellers to bear some of ...
May 31, 2022
Industry
Borrower's Burden
The cost of money is increasing, and buyers may require sellers to bear some of ...
May 31, 2022
Industry
Buyers Still Hungry for Deals
Brokerages with diversified practice groups and modernized tech will be the most...
May 1, 2022
Industry
Slow but Set for Takeoff
Insurance brokerage has proven resilient through previous crises and may well ag...
April 1, 2022
Industry
Final Numbers for 2021 Set New Highs
With late announcements, 2021 insurance brokerage M&A in the United States blew ...
February 28, 2022
Industry
Significant Momentum into the New Year
But don’t look for a repeat of 2021.
January 18, 2022
Industry
M&A Meteor Shower
As we approach the end of 2021, the M&A skies are alight with a record number of...
November 30, 2021
Industry
Fear of the Unknown
There are five fears that may be driving the M&A marketplace.
November 1, 2021
Brokerage Ops
Still Hot Through August
Insurance mergers and acquisitions are up 15.5% from this time last year.
September 30, 2021
Brokerage Ops
Consolidation Continues at Record Pace
Specialty distributors are rising in the M&A deal counts.
August 31, 2021
Industry
The Taxman Cometh
Between the COVID-19 comedown and the looming capital gains hike, M&A is revving...
July 20, 2021
Brokerage Ops
Tax Increase Jitters
Fears of potential U.S. tax increases cause more brokerages to consider a merger...
June 1, 2021
Brokerage Ops
Flight to Quality
What are the options for quality, consultant-minded brokerages that need capital...
May 2, 2021
Industry
Resiliency Is Value
With intermediaries averaging 5 percent EBITDA in 2020, buyers ready to ink deal...
March 26, 2021
Industry
Strong Start to 2021
The insurance M&A market appears resilient to economic drag.
February 28, 2021
Industry
Not Crimped by COVID
Brokerage M&A in 2020 finished right on the heels of 2019.
January 15, 2021
Industry
Keeping Up with 2019
Despite political derailments, 2020 brokerage M&A deals are on track to mirror l...
November 23, 2020
Industry
Chugging Along
Deal activity should increase through the end of the year, making up for second-...
September 24, 2020
Industry
Deals Resurging
The total number of transactions, through July, however, still lags 2018 and 201...
August 25, 2020
Industry
COVID Slightly Dampens Deals
While not as hot as 2019, the M&A market is still more active than just four yea...
May 31, 2020
Industry
M&A Markets Continue to be Fluid
Beating 2019’s record-setting deal count seems unlikely, though new deals cont...
April 28, 2020
Industry
M&A Utopia
Last year remained record-setting in brokerage M&A, and most signs point to more...
April 1, 2020
Brokerage Ops
I'm Right, You're Wrong
When we stop listening to others’ opinions and accepting new ideas, we miss ou...
November 26, 2019
Brokerage Ops
Succession Planning Isn't Enough
What do you really want in life? If you haven’t considered this question as yo...
October 29, 2019
Industry
A Hardening Market Should Inspire Change
The status quo is evolving. What are you going to do about it?
September 27, 2019
Brokerage Ops
Price Isn't Everything
Don’t lose sight of strategic alignment when you find a nicely priced deal.
August 14, 2019
Industry
The Deal Before the Deal
Let's take a deeper dive into the anatomy of a letter of intent.
July 10, 2019
Industry
Too Big to Fail?
Will the bubble burst or is the M&A frenzy with high multiples, generous valuati...
March 29, 2019
Brokerage Ops
Go Big or Get Out?
Just because everyone around you is getting bigger doesn’t mean you should sto...
November 29, 2018
Brokerage Ops
Are You a Blockbuster or a Netflix?
Read my letter to the brokerage owner of the future and see how being proactive,...
September 27, 2018
Industry
Asking for a Friend
There are some questions you may be apprehensive to ask in public, but the answe...
August 30, 2018
Brokerage Ops
Where Do You Stand?
It is imperative you understand where you fit in the competitive landscape in th...
July 16, 2018
Brokerage Ops
Buyers Don’t Know It All
Sellers who focus on driving value can leverage their skill sets and realize mor...
April 30, 2018
Industry
New PE Players
Private capital is more diverse, more long-term and more interested in the insur...
March 29, 2018
Industry
Who’s Buying?
Following another record M&A year, we are seeing a plot twist with new private c...
March 27, 2018
Brokerage Ops
Father Time Will Prevail
A staggering amount of supply was evident in 2017.
February 28, 2018
Industry
When Will the Madness End?
Deal count and price continued to rise in 2017.
January 23, 2018
Industry
What’s Your Value: Good or Great?
Even in this robust M&A market, the highest value appears to still be reserved f...
October 27, 2017
Industry
Motivationally Speaking
Examine others’ incentives when deciding your future.
September 29, 2017
Industry
Talk Isn’t Cheap
Consistent, strategic communication delivered with purpose can make a good deal ...
August 31, 2017
Industry
How to Maximize Your Greatest Asset
Run your business as if it were for sale.
July 18, 2017
Industry
What Can You Offer?
Buyers want to see more than revenue to find out what your agency is really wort...
April 26, 2017
Industry
The Canary in the Coal Mine
As the M&A market continues to surge, euphoria remains. But for how long?
March 29, 2017
Industry
Give Them Their Due
When you trust the firm on the other side of the table, you can be tempted to ju...
February 27, 2017
Industry
Wait and See
Sellers are scaling back on defensive actions and are hanging tight for now.
January 30, 2017
Industry
Know Your Role
Distinguish between a “partner” and a “leader” so you can expand ownersh...
October 24, 2016
Industry
Speak Up—and Be Honest
Transparency builds strong businesses and attracts the best buyers.
October 6, 2016
Industry
Halt the What-Ifs
When wrestling with what to do next with your agency, press pause and set aside ...
August 28, 2016
Industry
Poll the Audience
Key takeaways from conversations with independent agency buyers and sellers
July 27, 2016
Industry
Don’t Discount the Touchy-Feely Side of M&A
Culture is everything. Without it, the numbers just don’t matter.
July 26, 2016
Brokerage Ops
Don’t Wait for the Cross-Court Pass
Like ballers who don’t play defense, buyers who don’t put the time in with s...
May 2, 2016
Industry
As Forecasted, 2015 Was a Banner Year
But 2016 could be the year of uncertainty.
February 1, 2016
Industry
Seller Options
Know the advantages and disadvantages of looking at one potential buyer rather t...
October 30, 2015
Industry
Private Equity’s Secret Sauce
Here’s why private equity is driving crazy valuations.
September 23, 2015
Industry
The Fireworks Are Not Over
Billions of dollars are pouring into the M&A marketplace.
July 27, 2015
Industry
What Are You Worth?
Probably not as much as you think; and that will determine your destiny.
June 1, 2015
Industry
Before Selling, Purge
The market is as hot as ever, seeking sellers. Be ready by cleaning house.
April 29, 2015
Industry
No One Is For Sale, Until the Day You Are
Do you have a choice to sell? Many don’t.
March 25, 2015
Industry
What Do You Value Most?
Use that information when deciding on an acquisition or merger partner.
February 23, 2015
Industry
More Than 300 Deals Completed in 2014
And we’ve got good vibes for 2015 as well.
January 22, 2015
Brokerage Ops
Ask for Directions
A good M&A advisor will show you the way and drive the process.
October 27, 2014
Brokerage Ops
Milking the Meetings
Buyers offer a lot of market intelligence, so don’t slam the door in their fac...
September 30, 2014
Brokerage Ops
Staying on the Same Page
Talk to your partners. Create your timeline. Understand where you all want to go...
August 28, 2014
Brokerage Ops
Prime Time
How you announce a transaction can prime the pump or harm the deal.
July 17, 2014
Industry
Go East, Young Man
Demand is so strong, buyers seek M&A opportunities overseas.
April 25, 2014
Industry
AssuredPartners Reaches the Top
The M&A roller coaster this year has the inevitable twists and turns.
April 1, 2014
Industry
2013 M&A Trend Ends Strong
Deals are already spilling over into the new year.
January 28, 2014
Industry
A Year to Remember…and Forget
A historically low deal count seems to be in the works for 2013.
November 25, 2013
Industry
What Fourth Quarter Holds
Confie Seguros paces market through first three.
October 30, 2013
Industry
A Low-Scoring Season for the M&A Gridiron
Gallagher makes strategic moves, both foreign and domestic.
October 1, 2013
Industry
Hub Makes a Big Splash
New PE enters the market via Hub and Risk Strategies. NFP completes privatizatio...
September 1, 2013
Industry
Mediocre Month Trumped by Big Announcement
Brown & Brown Steals the Spotlight
July 15, 2013
Industry
A Seller’s Market
More buyers means better prices for sellers. Half did no deals in 2012.
June 29, 2013
Industry
Private Equity Leading the Way
National brokerages expected to enter the fray soon.
April 12, 2013
Industry
No 2012 Spillover
Buyers are looking to rebuild their pipelines depleted by heavy December activit...
February 27, 2013
Industry
A Race to the Fiscal Cliff Finish Line
An unprecedented December caps a record year.
January 29, 2013
Industry
2012 Deals Close In on 2011
A flurry of M&As closed in the past month, and more are predicted through year...
December 11, 2012
Industry
Market Temperature: Steamy
Court Decision Doesn’t Dampen Benefits Enthusiasm.
September 11, 2012
Industry
Rounding Second: A Whole New Ballgame
Independent agencies are batting .520 for the season.
August 11, 2012
