Acquisitions start to shake up broking sector

Graham Village, global markets editor

Arthur J Gallagher’s recent spending spree is just one highlight of what has been a busy start to the year in the broking sector. A track record of fairly modest growth over the past several quarters has not deterred investors from taking a new or increased interest in the broking market, with US consultancy Optis & Partners tracking 110 merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the North American broker and agency sector during the first four months of the year.