Parties
Company
Westland Insurance Group
Company
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Company
BroadStreet Partners, Inc.
On April 17, 2023, Westland Insurance Group, a prominent Canadian insurance brokerage, sold a majority stake for C1.3 billion to BroadStreet Partners Inc., a U.S. brokerage owned by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. This transaction marked BroadStreet's inaugural acquisition in Canada and resulted in Blackstone Credit's exit from its investment in Westland. The deal involved Canadian banks buying out Blackstone’s debt.
The Wubs family, founders of Westland in 1980, retained a significant minority share and operational control. Westland, known for its rapid growth strategy, has made 60 to 70 acquisitions in three years. This sale to BroadStreet, supported by Teachers, aimed to secure long-term capital for continuous expansion, especially critical as interest rates rose.
BroadStreet and Teachers committed to providing growth capital for further expansion of Westland, which is headquartered in Surrey, B.C., operates over 200 locations across Canada, and has about 2,600 employees.
Westland's growth includes recent acquisitions in northern Ontario, Calgary, and Winnipeg. They also expanded into the U.S. market, buying Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc. This deal strengthens BroadStreet's presence in North America, making it a significant player in the insurance and benefits brokerage industry. The transaction is set to close in the second quarter of the year, subject to regulatory approval.
Deal Type
Merger & AcquisitionIndustry
Banking/FinanceTransaction
$ 1,300,000,000Deal Status
ClosedClosing Date
01 May 2023