Specialty MGA Nirvana Group acquires Belgian sports underwriter

Specialty MGA Nirvana has acquired Arena NV from Ryan Specialty.

A Belgian-based MGA specialising in the sports insurance market, Arena provides cover to federations and clubs across both the Flemish and French-speaking regions.

Arena has partnered with over 100 federations and 2,300 sports clubs, covering over 1.3m non-professional athletes.

The acqusition deepens Nirvana’s existing sports and leisure product set and complements its broader suite of specialty lines, including media and technology errors and ommissions, cyber, accident and health and non-standard life products.

Neither business plans any changes to their teams as a result of the transaction.

Kabir Chanrai, chief executive at Nirvana, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Arena and adding this fantastic company to our portfolio.

“The Arena team have built an enviable business over the past 30 years with highly specialised underwriting and claims expertise and a client-centred approach.”

Eddy Van Den Bosch, general manager at Arena, added: “We look forward to being part of the Nirvana group and we are excited about the possibilities it holds for our future.”

Strategic expansion

The transaction follows Nirvana’s recent merger with UK-based Pulse Insurance, which was completed in November 2025. 

Torquil McLusky, managing director at Pulse, said: “We are excited about the addition of Arena to our group.

“We plan to be long-term owners and partners and provide Arena the support and capital it needs to continue its first class client service, as well as provide new products to its client base. Arena and Pulse are strategically very good fits.”

Commenting on the expansion, Rob Jones, executive chair at Nirvana, added: “The Arena acquisition provides us with a wholly owned continental European trading platform and brings a talented team of insurance professionals into the group.”