FCA approves launch of new private equity-backed broking platform

Ascend Insurance Holdings (AIH) has been granted FCA permission for the launch of a new broking platform.

AIH – which is based in Chelmsford, Essex – was founded in 2017 as Ascend Broking Group, a commercial lines and healthcare specialist, before being purchased by European mid-market private equity firm Inflexion in January 2026.

Inflexion will support the new broking platform venture with capital backing of up to £200m.

AIH said that it had “identified a gap in the market facing entrepreneurial brokers who want to expand their businesses but are wary about joining large firms which can be bureaucratic, give less autonomy and have a greater focus on bigger clients”.

As such, it plans to build an “alternative national presence broking platform by supporting independent regional broking houses across the UK”.

The firm stated it had engaged in preliminary discussions with 10 broking firms in the past months and aims to establish regional commercial hubs, as well as national hubs, dedicated to particular business specialties.

Regional powerhouses

The announcement follows Inflexion’s 2017 purchases of Bollington Insurance Brokers and F Wilsons Insurance Brokers, as well as its purchase of broker David Roberts and Partners in 2021.

The private equity firm said the acquisition of AIH represented the first of several planned purchases made through the platform, with the aim of “building a group of between four and six regional broking powerhouse hubs across the country”.

Matthew Collins, chief executive at AIH, said: “We want to be the brokers’ broker and our purpose is to create a home in which a community of brokers can thrive.

“At the heart of our purpose is a belief that culture is the ultimate performance driver. Motivated brokers results in loyal clients, a sustainable business and an enduring legacy. By joining us, we want our brokers to become a culture maker, not a culture taker.”