July 2023
InvestSuisse joins the GGW Group
By becoming part of the GGW Group, the Ernst brothers are arranging the succession of InvestSuisse AG. The aim of the takeover is to establish a long-term partnership, with the key people remaining with the company.
InvestSuisse was founded in 1988 by Jürg R. Ernst, who has successfully managed the company together with his brother Heinz Ernst until today. In the process of Jürg R. Ernst’s personal succession planning, a long-term solution was sought in the insurance brokerage industry. The two sellers decided to sell InvestSuisse to the company GGW Group, based in Hamburg, as part of a long-term succession plan.
As a Swiss insurance broker, InvestSuisse adds a strategically important market to the GGW Group’s field of operations. In return, the many industry and product specialists of the GGW Group offer InvestSuisse attractive cross-selling opportunities. By joining forces, both parties benefit from synergies that further advance the outstanding market positioning and reputation of both companies.
After the transaction, InvestSuisse will be run under its current name and by the existing CEO Peter Schläpfer. Jürg R. Ernst will remain with the company as an advisor and member of the Board of Directors and will actively support the handover process. In addition, the management also participates financially in the GGW Group as part of the transaction.
As a matter of principle, nothing will change for InvestSuisse’s employees, customers and business partners as a result of the transaction. Indeed, the merger will result in an expanded range of services that will enable customers to be advised and served even more comprehensively. Following the completion of the transaction, all InvestSuisse employees will continue to be employed and will be able to actively contribute to the development of the company.
About InvestSuisse
InvestSuisse with headquarters in downtown Zurich has been a successful independent insurance broker for around 35 years. The company attaches great importance to a high level of quality in service provision and offers professional, innovative and comprehensive insurance management services. The services of InvestSuisse provide comprehensive coverage in the areas of consulting, risk analysis, support and cost reduction.
Over 90% of InvestSuisse’s client portfolio consists of corporate clients, primarily from the Swiss SME environment. InvestSuisse has long-term cooperation agreements with over 30 leading insurance companies. These include all the leading names in Switzerland such as Allianz Suisse, Zurich, AXA, Helvetia, Basler and SwissLife.
Further information: www.investsuisse.ch
About GGW Group
The GGW Group is an association of highly qualified and owner-managed insurance brokers, bundled under the umbrella brand LEADING BROKERS UNITED, and high-profile insurance underwriters, bundled under the umbrella brand WECOYA UNDERWRITING. In collaboration, they develop individual solutions and products for their clients in order to optimally cover the industry-specific opportunities and risks of a company.
The GGW Group has gained more than 40 partner companies since the beginning of 2020 and currently employs more than 1,600 people. Overall, the group manages more than 1.3 billion euros in insurance premiums and has become a leading player in the industry. The headquarters of the company is located in Hamburg.
Further information: www.ggwgroup.de
Role of Ramus & Company
Ramus & Company managed the sales process on behalf of the sellers as exclusive M&A advisor. In this position, Ramus & Company prepared the sales documentation, identified prospective buyers, accompanied the due diligence, conducted the contract negotiations and successfully closed the transaction.