’After examination of the notification, the EC has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of the merger regulation,’ says statement
The European Commission (EC) has cleared Zurich’s £8bn acquisition of UK insurer Beazley.
In a joint statement in February 2026, Zurich and Beazley confirmed that they had reached an agreement in principle on the key financial terms of a deal.
The EC examined the deal in June 2026 after receiving notification of the agreement, which it has now given the green light to.
It said: ”After examination of the notification, the EC has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of the merger regulation.
”For the reasons set out in the notice on a simplified treatment, the EC has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the internal market and with the EEA Agreement.”
Deal terms
The deal represents premium of 59.8% to Beazley’s closing share price of 820 pence on 16 January 2026, being the last business day prior to the offer period.
Read: Latest Beazley results show 19% profit drop ahead of Zurich takeover
Read: Beazley outlines why it agreed to be acquired by Zurich
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Under the terms, Beazley shareholders would be entitled to receive a total value of up to 1,335 pence per Beazley share, with shareholders also set to receive a 25p dividend alongside the deal.
Zurich believes taking over Beazley would help to establish a leading global specialty platform, based in the UK, that would bring in around $15bn (£11.1bn) of GWP.
His career began in 2019, when he joined a local north London newspaper after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a first-class honours degree in journalism.
He took up the position of deputy news editor at Insurance Times in March 2023, before being promoted to his current role in May 2024.View full Profile
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