Acrisure assumes the identity of Universalis in Portugal
Acrisure Expands into Portugal, Rebranding Universalis as Acrisure Portugal Insurance Broker
In a significant move, Acrisure, a leading global fintech company and top-10 insurance broker, has completed the acquisition of Universalis, a Portuguese insurance brokerage with over 50 years of history. The acquisition, subject to regulator approval, was finalised in 2023, and Universalis is now operating as Acrisure Portugal Insurance Broker.
The rebranding reflects a strategic alignment with Acrisure’s global brand identity and signifies a new phase focused on innovation and accelerated growth within the Portuguese market.
Growth Strategy and Future Plans
José Rodrigues, the CEO of Acrisure Portugal, emphasised the company’s long-term commitment to clients and partners. The company operates 12 offices nationally with over 25,000 clients, offering a broad range of insurance solutions including family, corporate, and trade credit insurance.
The rebranding and integration mark a continuation and acceleration of growth efforts backed by Acrisure’s global scale and fintech capabilities. The company remains under Portuguese insurance supervisor ASF with unchanged legal and licensing statuses.
Regional Expansion
The rebranding is progressively applied across visual identity, website, client communications, social media, and corporate materials to reflect the global Acrisure alignment. The rebranding does not affect the company’s legal, regulatory, and licensing aspects.
Interestingly, Acrisure Re, the (re)insurance division of Acrisure, has entered into a strategic broking partnership with German broker, LEUE & NILL. LEUE & NILL is one of the largest insurance brokers in Germany, with over 500 employees.
Local Impacts
In Scotland, Affinity Brokers Limited has rebranded to Acrisure UK Broking, making it the first Scottish insurance broker to do so. The rebranding will be rolled out progressively across various touchpoints, and Affinity Brokers Limited will continue to trade from its Blythswood Square office in Glasgow as Acrisure UK Broking Limited.
The emphasis on global alignment and innovation suggests ongoing development and potential scaling within Portugal’s insurance sector under the Acrisure umbrella. No specific future acquisitions or expansion beyond the Portuguese market were mentioned in the available sources.
[1] Source: Acrisure press release, 2023.
Acrisure Portugal, the rebranded Universalis, plans to embark on a path of innovation and growth in the Portuguese market, leveraging technology to enhance its business operations and insurance solutions offerings. This strategy is supported by Acrisure's global fintech capabilities and is expected to stimulate development within Portugal's insurance sector.
Moreover, Acrisure's reinsurance division, Acrisure Re, has formed a strategic broking partnership with LEUE & NILL, one of the largest insurance brokers in Germany, to expand its footprint in the European technology and finance markets.
