Howden has entered into an agreement to acquire OFRACAR, an independent brokerage group headquartered in Rouen, France, expanding its geographical footprint and capabilities to clients in north-west France.

Founded in 1964 by Jean-Pierre Lecomte, OFRACAR specialises in P/C, employee benefits, motor fleet and transport. With 84 staff in offices in Rouen, Rennes and Lyon, OFRACAR serves around 2,000 clients across Normandy and France.

Nicolas Aubert (pictured), CEO of Howden France, commented: "OFRACAR has been recognised as a market leader for several decades, and thanks to this new acquisition, we are welcoming a talented team and integrating new offerings to broaden our expertise. Already present in Normandy with a team dedicated to the Maritime sector, we are underlining our commitment to regional development by expanding our capabilities and accelerating the delivery of Howden’s global specialty expertise into local markets for the benefit of local clients.”

Luigi Sturani, CEO of Howden Europe, added: “This acquisition marks an exciting next step in our growth journey, reflecting the significant expansion of our operations in France over the last two years. This expansion stands as a testament to our patient and strategic commitment to the country. We have become a scale operator in every major insurance market in Europe, and we continue to deliver our long-stated ambition to build the leading European broker for both clients and talent by partnering with the very best businesses.”

Howden France, founded in February 2022, now employs 380 people in 13 offices across the country.

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