ECR Brokers
Bringing the Right Companies Together
Your Trusted Insurance Brokerage M&A Advisors
ECR Brokers is a Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm that specializes in assisting small to medium sized businesses in the insurance industry with growth, exit, and partnership strategies. We have deep experience in a multitude of insurance verticals, including P&C, Health & Welfare, Financial Planning, HR Consulting, Medicare/Medicaid, and Actuarial businesses, to name a few. With 50+ years of combined experience, we leverage established relationships to complement go-forward objectives.
We help position your business for the next phase of growth, divestment, or new business partnership. ECR dives into the operations, human capital, financials, and strategy to improve your overall business to achieve maximum valuations. We focus on ensuring a culture match between buyer and seller. ECR is with you every step of the way, from preparing your business for investment or exit strategy, and through the courting and acquisition process as well as after to provide a smooth transition mitigating risk.
SERVICES
Review valuations to ensure they are in alignment with industry standards
Seek the right culture fit
With a proven track record of success we strive to work with management to define parameters of the strategy and identify the best suited buyers and sellers for each project
Collaborate with management teams to identify and validate acquisition strategies
Examine/streamline internal operations with business owners to enhance profitability
Analyze deal structures to fully explain differences for brokerage owners
Culture
Culture is everything to us and we pride ourselves on being a boutique shop that is approachable and hard working. You will always have access to the C-level executives at ECR Brokers. Our team has high integrity and ethics that speak for themselves. We strive to create goodwill with our clients with a direct hands-on approach. Timing is such an important part of the process, and we are here to do what we can to guide you through the process.
“People and Culture are a strategic asset for all businesses. We see a clear link between complimentary cultures/employee engagement and success.
”The Principals of ECR Brokers
Success
Identify true profitability
We assisted the owner with recasting numbers. Their profit and Loss statement showed a pre-tax profit of 5%. After going through the numbers, we identified approximately 35% of expenses that could be added back to the profitability of the company. This led to a much larger valuation and made the business much more attractive to the new partner/buyer.
Buyer education
We collaborated with the buyer to educate what the seller could offer. The buyer did not understand how a VEBA-based organization would fit with their go-forward strategy. We educated the buyer on how VEBA programs work and how they could expand similar programs in other states. This resulted in a very successful partnership for both the buyer and seller.
Increase productivity & profitability
We helped the business owner increase profitability by explaining industry profit standards. The owner was not aware that the percentage amount that was being paid to producers was too high which had a negative effect on the productivity (less incentive to be proactive) and profitability of the firm. We worked with the owner for over four years and monitored the improvement which ultimately made his business more attractive when it came time to look at succession planning.
Improve portfolio prestige
We had an actuarial business that had a large portion of pension work. The buyer was concerned about the pension aspect of the business. We pointed out that somebody must work on pensions while they are still around. We also reinforced that the seller had very good ties with fortune 50 companies which would enable the buyer to sell upstream. This resulted in them improving their portfolio prestige.
Track-Record of Success
Closed Insurance Brokerage Partnerships
- P&C
- Health & Welfare/Benefits
- VEBA trust
- Actuarial
- Life
- Retirement Planning
- HR Consulting
- International Benefits
- Higher Education Insurance
Closed Non-Insurance Related Partnerships
- Allied Security
- Roller Bearing Corporation Company of America
- Bristol Farms
- 24 Hour Fitness
- Bekins Moving Systems
- Aftermarket Technology Corporation – Remanufactured Auto Parts
- Dynamic Details – Printed Circuit Boards
- ABM Janitorial Services
- Applied Technology Partners – Rubber and Plastic Molding
- Chatham Technologies – High-Tech Metal Fabrication
About Our Team
With 50+ years in the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) industry, the principals of ECR Brokers have consummated over 50 closed transactions. We use our experience today with our clients to assist with their objectives.
We understand and have experience with all aspects of the M&A process. Areas of expertise include operations, finance, sales, marketing, administration, customer service, and client relations.
We understand the hard work, sacrifice, and commitment it takes to build a business because we have direct experience managing and operating small to enterprise level companies. When it comes to protecting and maximizing the value of your business, we know what it takes to ensure success.
The principals at ECR Brokers bring the knowledge from their experience at the largest M&A and consulting firms such as with Gallagher, Myers Capital Partners, Buttonwood Capital, W.E. Myers & Company, and the world’s largest Global Systems Integrators and business consulting firms. We have worked with Fortune 100 companies and have consummated transactions with aggregate sales/revenues of $1Billion+. Our education consists of an MBA from Pepperdine University, a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration with Finance emphasis from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire. The principals enjoy active lifestyles and fast-paced working environments.