Howden acquires Help Me Compare Group Limited (ActiveQuote) to cement its position at the forefront of the UK health insurance market

London, 12 August 2024 – Howden announces the acquisition of Help Me Compare Group Limited (ActiveQuote) and its subsidiaries (“HMCGL”), a prominent UK health and life insurance broker. This acquisition supports Howden’s position in the health insurance broker market in the UK, serving a diverse range of clients from individual consumers to multinational corporations.

HMCGL, established in 2009 by Richard Theodossiades, employs 132 people at its Cardiff Bay head office, managing premiums totalling approximately £60m. This acquisition enhances Howden’s presence in the consumer insurance sector and reflects the broader strategy to expand its employee benefits’ capability to meet growing client demand.

Mike Dalby, Managing Director, UK Consumer Life & Health, comments: "This acquisition comes at a crucial time. Over the past 12 months, we've seen a 46% surge in interest from individuals seeking private medical insurance to speed up their access to diagnosis and treatment. By bringing HMCGL (ActiveQuote) into our fold, we are perfectly positioned to meet this growing demand.”

This latest acquisition follows another purchase in the employee benefits market - AGEO Group - one of France’s prominent employee benefits providers, increasing Howden Employee Benefits global team to over 2,500 employees in 38 countries.

Glenn Thomas, CEO & Global Practice Leader of Howden Employee Benefits, said: “HMCGL (ActiveQuote) are a well-respected group with strong expertise, an outstanding reputation, and a great team that we have known for a long time. We are therefore delighted to welcome CEO Rob Saunders, and their highly experienced team into Howden. This acquisition reflects our ambition to grow the UK consumer health insurance market under Mike’s leadership.”

Rob Saunders, CEO of HMCGL (ActiveQuote), added: “After 15 years of independence, growth, and development, becoming part of Howden is a significant step in our growth journey – both for our people and our clients. Howden was the only company we wanted to join and together we will provide enhanced solutions for our clients.”