US Insurance Brokerage M&A Activity Early 2026
The investment banking and consulting firm MarshBerry reported that 241 insurance‑brokerage merger and acquisition transactions were completed in the United States during the first five months of 2026, representing a 5.1 % decline from the 254 deals recorded in the same period of 2025. MarshBerry characterised the market as structurally strong but increasingly disciplined and selective, attributing the slowdown to broader macro‑uncertainty such as elevated borrowing costs, ongoing geopolitical volatility and pressure on energy prices. Buyers that depend heavily on leverage are said to be particularly constrained by higher interest rates, slower organic growth and tighter financing, which are limiting the size of highly leveraged transactions. The firm observed a shift toward quality over quantity, with acquirers prioritising niche expertise, organic growth potential and operational fit. The ten most active buyers accounted for 51.5 % of total deal activity; among them BroadStreet Partners, Inszone and Alkeme together represented 30.7 % of the 241 transactions. This article was generated with AI assistance and subsequently reviewed by an editor.