Citizens Bank Selling Insurance Agencies to Hub International

Citizens Financial Group is selling its considerable insurance agency businesses to Hub International Limited in a deal that includes a strategic alliance between the two for future sales and marketing.

Hub will purchase three large insurance brokerages from subsidiaries of CFG: Citizens Clair Insurance Group (Clair), based in Norristown (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania; Brewer & Lord, based in Norwell (Boston), Massachusetts; and Feitelberg Insurance, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. On a combined basis, the three brokerages had revenue of approximately $45 million in 2005, and operate from 19 offices in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

The purchase price for the acquisition of the three brokerages is $80 million (inclusive of tangible net worth) payable in cash on closing, as well as an earn-out based on future performance. The earn-out payments, which will in the aggregate be at least $3 million, will be payable over three years and, at Hub’s option, in cash or a combination of cash and Hub common shares

The firms said that their strategic alliance will be a professional arrangement in which they will leverage their banking and insurance expertise to provide expanded products, services and support to clients.

“We believe banking customers are best served when they have access to a full array of financial services, including insurance, and we have provided those services through three strong agencies within Citizens,” said Robert M. Mahoney, vice chairman of Citizens Financial Group. “Our strategic alliance with Hub International will expand our access to product offerings, locations and expertise, enhancing our competitive position.”

Martin P. Hughes, Hub International’s chairman and chief executive officer, said the alliance creates the opportunity to reach thousands of clients currently affiliated with Citizens Financial Group, while adding a strong pool of talent to Hub.

“The strategic marketing initiative between Citizens Financial Group and Hub will strengthen our footprint in New England and Pennsylvania, while creating new opportunities for the acquired brokerages,” Hughes said.

Mahoney commented, “While we achieved both revenue growth and profitability in line with our strategies for the insurance brokerage business, we see a new opportunity to serve our customers by partnering with Hub International as our insurance broker of choice. Joint marketing efforts with Hub will enable us to bring a broader array of insurance products and services to more of our retail and commercial customers in more locations.”

In a conference call with analysts, Hub indicated it had been contacted by Citizens for the deal and that no other buyers participated. Citizens “specifically chose us to partner with,” said Hughes. He said Hub knew the brokerages being bought and the business footprint made sense for the two parties.

Hub officials also indicated that no major consolidation or expense savings are anticipated as a result of integrating the new brokerages with Hub’s existing brokers. Hub has a New England office in Wilmington, Mass., which is north of Boston. The two Massachusetts agencies purchased are closer to and south of Boston.

Citizens has committed significant funds to a joint marketing effort with Hub, officials said. “So without being owned by a bank, we’ll get that clout,” commented Bruce Guthart, Hub chief operating officer.

Guthart offered a rationale for why Citizens is selling its insurance operations. “Inurance operations were going well but it’s tough to be a bank and grow an insurance operation also,” he said, adding that this transaction gives Citizens a quicker way to expand its product offerings to clients and also expand into some new territories with Hub.

He said the deal does not include any revenue sharing on insurance products sold by Hub.

With roots dating back to the 1920s, Citizens Clair Insurance Group (Clair) is one of the largest insurance agencies in eastern Pennsylvania with annual revenue of approximately $16.5 million. Founded in 1859, Boston-based Brewer & Lord has 11 offices throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island with annual revenue of approximately $19.7 million. Established in 1916, Feitelberg Insurance, based in Fall River, Massachusetts, serves customers from six offices in eastern Massachusetts with annual revenue of approximately $8.6 million. All three companies are full service brokers providing a range of property and casualty, life and health, employee benefits, surety and personal lines insurance products and services.

“The brokerages we are acquiring from Citizens Financial Group have the products and distribution networks that mesh with Hub’s profile across the United States,” Hughes said. “Theirs is a business model we are familiar with. The operations we are acquiring are well-established and profitable, so consolidation is not likely to add great value at this time,” he explained. “While we pride ourselves on our ability to integrate acquired businesses, we also recognize that it is sometimes the best strategy to rely on what is working effectively.”

Hughes indicated that he expects total consideration for the transaction will be within Hub’s target multiple of 5-7 times EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). Closing of the acquisitions is expected to occur in April 2006 and is subject to the satisfaction of regulatory and other customary conditions. Hub has secured a financing commitment to fund the acquisition, but will continue to investigate and evaluate all avenues for expansion capital.

Citizens Financial Group is the eighth-largest commercial bank holding company in the United States with $155 billion in assets as of December 31, 2005. The bank holding company operates branches in 13 states (Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Rhode Island) and non-branch offices in more than 40 states.

Headquartered in Chicago, Ill., Hub International Limited is a North American insurance brokerage that provides a broad array of property and casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment and risk management products and services through offices located in the United States and Canada.

Topics USA Agencies Massachusetts Pennsylvania