2019: Global Insurance Distribution & Services Sector Mergers & Acquisitions in 2018 - Full Steam Ahead
                        
                    
Conning’s annual report on mergers & acquisitions in the insurance distribution and services sectors is a review of global transactions for both property-casualty and life-health for 2018, including historical comparisons. The study includes an in-depth analysis of key drivers of M&A activity, the major themes of the year, detailed reviews of major transactions, and patterns in who the buyers are, and which types of firms are being targeted. The outlook for 2019 M&A drivers and activity are also presented.
1. Introduction
2. Executive Summary
3. Insurance Market Overview
- Distribution & Service M&A Year in Review
 - Largest Distribution & Service Deals
 - Global Insurer M&A Activity in 2018
 - Key M&A Drivers for 2018
 - Emerging Drivers
 - Distribution M&A Themes
 - Services-Related M&A Themes
 
4.Distribution M&A Transactions
- All-Sector Transaction Counts
 - Property-Casualty Distribution Transactions
 - Life-Annuity and Health Distribution Transactions
 
5. Insurance Services Sector M&A Transactions
- 2018 Major Transactions
 - Technology Targets Lead the Way
 - Claims Adjusters and TPAs
 - Pension and Consulting Services
 - Health Services: Vertical Integration Trend Spawns M&A
 - Outlook: Insurance Services
 
Appendix
A. Methodology and Criteria for Inclusion in Mergers & Acquisitions Database
B. Series of Recurring Mergers & Acquisitions Studies
C. Historical Summary Data
D. 2018 Mergers & Acquisitions by Sector
Introduction
This analysis of 2018 global M&A (mergers and acquisitions) in the insurance distribution and services marketplace is Conning’s fifth edition focused solely on distribution and services. A separate Conning Strategic Study covers the global M&A activity among insurance underwriters.
The development of this report is supported by Conning’s proprietary M&A database. Conning’s proprietary database of insurance sector M&A activity spans more than 20 years of tracking with almost 13,000 transactions. In 2018, insurance distribution and services M&A set yet another record in terms of transaction counts, eclipsing 2017’s blockbuster year.
This study reviews the characteristics of the record-setting year and what factors contributed to the high level of transaction activity, including:
- the key themes of 2018 M&A, with major transaction details
 - the drivers in place to stimulate M&A and what has changed
 - a detailed review of subsector M&A activity for:
 - property-Casualty insurance distribution
 - insurance-related services
 - life-annuity insurance distribution
 - health insurance distribution
 
Within each subsector, we provide some thoughts on the outlook for 2019 M&A activity, with key areas of focus that could have an impact on the pace of deal-making over the next few years. The appendices offer an extensive listing of the distribution and insurance-related services transactions for the full year 2018.