Bridgepoint has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Hanseatic Broking Center (HBC), an independent SME+ insurance distribution platform in the DACH region, which will see the private equity firm partner with the HBC management team and founders.
Preservation Capital Partners will fully exit its holding.
Founded in 2022 through the merger of three long-established specialty brokers and a managing general agent (MGA), HBC has established itself as a consolidator in the DACH region, quadrupling its EBITDA through a combination of continued organic growth and M&A.
The platform serves over 40,000 clients across multiple insurance lines and generates over a third of its revenue from its MGA segment. MGAs are insurance intermediaries authorised to underwrite policies and manage claims on behalf of insurers, often operating in niche or complex markets like marine, travel or cyber insurance where specialist expertise is essential.
It is led by Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Gert Schlossmacher and CEO and Co-Founder Hauke Martinsen, who together bring more than 60 years of experience across the insurance value chain.
With Bridgepoint’s support, HBC aims to build a fully integrated platform combining specialist commercial broking and MGA capabilities and accelerate its growth across the DACH region and beyond.
Recent acquisitions have strengthened HBC’s capabilities across priority lines and regions, including LTA, a travel-focused MGA; Schomacker, a boat hull and liability broker; and Schinner, a property specialist.
The demand is also being driven by macro trends. The German SME insurance market is the largest in Europe, generating €37bn in gross written premium and €5bn in broker commissions.
With broker penetration at 60%, significant consolidation white space remains in the mid-sized broker segment. Meanwhile, the German MGA market – currently just 5% penetrated – is expected to grow circa 15% annually as insurers increasingly outsource underwriting.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approval and is expected to complete in Q3 2025.
Bridgepoint was advised by Rothschild & Co (Financial Advisor), Nomura (Financial Advisor), Kirkland & Ellis (Legal Advisor), McKinsey & Company (Commercial Advisor), EY (Financial, Tax, Cyber, ESG), Ommax (AI/Digital), and Schuberg Philis (IT).
HBC and PCP were advised by Macquarie Capital (Financial Advisor), Sidley Austin (Legal Advisor), PwC (Financial and Tax Advisor), LEK Consulting (Commercial Advisor), BMS Group (W&I Advisor) and Chris Patrick Consulting (Debt Advisor).
