Commercial Insurance Brokers is an agricultural broker established by Geoff Barber and Maria Paxton
Image: CCIB has acquired agricultural broker Barpax Associates. Photo: courtesy of CCIB buys agricultural broker Barpax Associates.
Global Risk Partners (GRP) business unit Commercial Insurance Brokers (CCIB) has acquired Worcester-based agricultural broker Barpax Associates.
In 2003, Barpax was established by Geoff Barber and Maria Paxton, who will continue as directors of the business.
Barpax Associates offers insurance solutions for farmers and growers
Barber and Maria Paxton, along with their team, are prominent within the farming sector in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.
The Worcester-based firm offers insurance solutions for farmers and growers for farm combined and motor.
CCIB managing director Debbie Airey said: “Build our footprint beyond CCIB’s Lancashire heartland and give us a solid base for growth in The Three Counties.
“Barpax is a well-established business with a great brand which is underpinned by its reputation for excellent customer service. Geoff and Maria have built Barpax from scratch and I’m delighted to welcome them and their team to CCIB and GRP.”
“CCIB will be able to bring the added firepower from being part of the GRP family to build out the operation faster and further.”
GRP focuses on the acquisition of brokers, MGAs, portfolios and teams that have niche, non-commoditised, speciality business and better profitability. It was established by chairman Peter Cullum, chief executive David Margrett and chief operations officer Stephen Ross in 2013
Claimed to be the third-largest independent insurance intermediary in the UK, GRP has half a million personal and commercial clients across the spectrum of their industry, sector and specialist product needs.
GRP Group managing director Mike Bruce said: “Barpax is a great local business with a strong heritage and very high client retention within its footprint. I am confident that this acquisition will deliver additional product and service benefits to their clients and that, under Debbie’s leadership, Barpax will accelerate rapidly within CCIB.”
In November this year, GRP’s County Group acquired Bruce Edwards Jones Commercial Insurance.