Howden has agreed to acquire the Insurance and Financial Services Consulting (IFS) team of Hymans Robertson for an undisclosed sum.

The deal marks the launch of Howden Insurance Actuarial & Longevity (IAL), which brings together the Hymans Robertson IFS specialists and the insurance actuarial and longevity professionals who joined Howden following its acquisition of Barnett Waddingham.

Howden IAL will aim to give clients access to expertise, technical insight, and a more scaled advisory platform.

It combines Barnett Waddingham’s capabilities in providing outsourced insurance actuarial services and consultancy with the Hymans Robertson IFS team’s experience with supporting insurers with actuarial and risk projects.

Across the combined practice, Howden IAL will offer insurers support on pricing, capital allocation, reserving, risk and investment strategy, model validation, ALM and the management of longevity risk.

The formation of Howden IAL brings together a team of around 90 specialist consultants, with the acquisition expected to complete in the spring of 2026.

“This is an important development for our business and for the market,” commented Howden CEO and global practice leader, health & employee benefits, Glenn Thomas.

“By bringing together BW’s longstanding insurance actuarial capability with the Hymans Robertson IFS team’s proven expertise in delivering strategically critical projects, we are creating a best in class advisory proposition for clients.”

Howden IAL managing partner, Scott Eason, said the acquisition marked a milestone for the business, and that it was a significant step in Howden’s long-term ambition of building a leading insurance advisory practice.

Hymans Robertson senior partner, Jon Hatchett, added: “We are proud of the strength and reputation of our IFS team and are confident that the newly formed team’s combined skills and Howden’s global reach will deliver a broader service offering for insurance clients.

“At Hymans Robertson, as an independent partnership, and Club Vita, we’ll continue to focus on our long-term plans across the pensions, risk transfer, investment and retail wealth markets, where we see great opportunities for innovation with our clients.”

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