Cornerstone Sold! Now owned by Intact through subsidiary Canada BrokerLink | GTAMotorcycle.com

Cornerstone Sold! Now owned by Intact through subsidiary Canada BrokerLink

Insurance Guy

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Canadian Underwriter - published July 5, 2016

BrokerLink will welcome 90-plus employees and increase the property and casualty insurance brokerage’s footprint to more than 75 locations in Ontario with the acquisition of Cornerstone Insurance Brokers Ltd.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, notes a statement Tuesday from BrokerLink.

One of the largest p&c brokerages in the country, BrokerLink announced the acquisition has been successfully completed. As a result of the deal, all four Cornerstone Insurance Brokers’ operations in the Ontario communities of Woodbridge, Markham, Aurora and Barrie will integrate under the BrokerLink brand.

Cornerstone Insurance Brokers is a multi-line, full service and privately owned brokerage.

Noting that Cornerstone Insurance Brokers is well-established in southern Ontario and represents a good fit, the two organizations have built their businesses on “a service-oriented and professional culture, which has created long-term and high-quality customer relationships,” says Paul Meyer, head of acquisitions for BrokerLink.

“The synergies between our organizations were also evident in the way Cornerstone has leveraged digital media to connect with customers,” Meyer suggests in the company statement. “At BrokerLink, we strive to offer diverse products and services through a variety of distribution channels, including social media and through our website,” he points out.

“BrokerLink’s focus on innovation, value and excellent customer service align with the core values of our organization,” adds Wendy DaSilva, chief executive officer of Cornerstone Insurance Brokers.

BrokerLink will also acquire the brand rights to BeWiser Insurance Brokers Inc., owned and operated by Cornerstone Insurance Brokers Ltd. “Through the lead generation website BeWiser.ca, hard-to-place customers can work with insurance professionals to find insurance products that are right for them,” BrokerLink reports.

Beyond welcoming about 90 employees, Wendy DaSilva and Peter DaSilva, president and chief operation officer of Cornerstone Insurance Brokers, will be joining BrokerLink to assist during the transition.

The BrokerLink companies, subsidiaries of Intact Financial Corporation, have brokerage operations with more than 115 offices supported by approximately 1,400 employees across Ontario, Alberta and Atlantic Canada.

In February, Cornerstone Insurance Brokers purchased KPL Insurance-Rates Inc. And in October 2014, the brokerage reported it had purchased Hartwell Thayer Insurance and Financial Services Limited.

Related: Cornerstone Insurance Brokers purchases KPL Insurance-Rates

Among BrokerLink’s recent deals was the January 2016 acquisition of City Insurance Offices Ltd. and Philpot & Delgaty Insurance Ltd., both located in Ontario. City Insurance offers auto, homeowners, commercial, life, health and group insurance products and retirement plans; Philpot & Delgaty provides personal, commercial and travel insurance.

Related: BrokerLink acquires Ontario’s City Insurance Offices Ltd. and Philpot & Delgaty Insurance Ltd.

About a month before that, BrokerLink announced it had acquired another three full-service brokerages operating in Ontario: Northwest Insurance Group Inc., McGregor-Miller Insurance Brokers Ltd. and Gray Insurance Brokers Inc.
 
What will this mean for their rates?
 
I hope for the sake of the CNIB guys that BrokerLink doesn't turn out to be evil
 
Maybe Carlos can comment on this recent news.

Thanks for that. I too hope that we can hear from Carlos.
Methinks, Intact needs to make money from buying Cornerstone. From us, of course. Who else? Perhaps another Company will offer us something better. About time for some decent competition. Am I dreaming?
 
Thanks for that. I too hope that we can hear from Carlos.
Methinks, Intact needs to make money from buying Cornerstone. From us, of course. Who else? Perhaps another Company will offer us something better. About time for some decent competition. Am I dreaming?

What competition, Cornerstone was just a broker of Intact insurance products. Intact sets the pricing, not the broker. Given the same insurance coverage through the same insurance company there should be almost no difference in price from broker to broker.

Until we get a new insurance provider in Ontario, we're going to be in this same hole.
 
What competition, Cornerstone was just a broker of Intact insurance products. Intact sets the pricing, not the broker. Given the same insurance coverage through the same insurance company there should be almost no difference in price from broker to broker.

Until we get a new insurance provider in Ontario, we're going to be in this same hole.

Yes, you are correct. Guess it is wishful thinking on my part. As Cornerstone is now owned by Intact. My thought is now that Cornerstone will not be offering any other Companies to compare prices. Choice will be either Intact or Intact. No competition here.
Insurance Companies are all in bed with each other?
Hence my interest as "Trowa" asked for Carlos to respond.
 
Emailed Carlos, as he's my current broker, and he stated that we will see no change in our policies.

They will still offer external insurance providers for us.

I'm with Wawanesa through Cornerstone and he said that won't change.
 
Emailed Carlos, as he's my current broker, and he stated that we will see no change in our policies.

They will still offer external insurance providers for us.

I'm with Wawanesa through Cornerstone and he said that won't change.

Interesting. Thank you.

Time will tell to see if it will stay the same. (Company talk)
 

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