Gallagher Bassett expands into marine claims with acquisition

Gallagher Bassett has acquired W K Webster (WKW) to add marine claims capabilities to its offering.

Established in 1861, WKW is a global marine and transit claims management firm and serves clients from its offices in London, Singapore, New York and Rotterdam.

Subsidiaries of WKW – including ITAL, ISA, Seawise, and Pandi Claims – are also included in the transaction.

Manan Sagar, chief executive of Gallagher Bassett EMEA, said: “We are thrilled to welcome WKW to Gallagher Bassett.

“Its expertise in marine and transit claims adds significant capability to our portfolio of claims management, legal, loss adjusting and consultancy solutions.

“This expansion ensures our clients have access to an unparalleled range of services.”

‘Major milestone’

As part of the transaction, WKW’s chief executive Anthony Smith will continue to head up the company alongside his existing leadership team.

He said: “This acquisition marks a major milestone in the history of WKW and we are eager to leverage our decades of expertise in marine and transit claims to benefit WKW and Gallagher Bassett’s clients worldwide.

“Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional service and innovative solutions.”