Context for the Role:
Ardonagh is one of the worlds largest and fastest growing insurance distribution businesses. It owns a number of specialty distribution and underwriting services businesses with consolidated annual revenues in excess of £2billion. Ardonagh has substantial operations in the UK (including Specialty and P&C) and fast-growing P&C platforms in Europe, APAC and Latin America. Ardonagh is jointly owned by funds controlled by HPS Investment Partners, LLC, Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and management. Ardonagh Europe is composed of a number of highly successful buy and build insurance intermediary businesses.
In 2023, it established a new Italian trading company, Ardonagh Italia, to drive forward Ardonagh’s growth strategy. Italy plays a key role in Ardonagh’s European strategy, given the size of the insurance market and its level of sophistication. The objective of Ardonagh Italia and of Ardonagh Group, in general, is to acquire and consolidate a number of Italian based insurance distribution platforms and to create a new force in the Italian insurance distribution market. In 2024 Ardonagh Italia announced a series of acquisitions and new launches, making it a Top 10 broker in Italy.
Purpose of the Role:
This role will be within Ardonagh Italia segment and will play a key part in supporting its inorganic growth through the delivery of an outstandingly executed buy, build and boost strategy. The Associate will work as part of a small team of M&A and finance professionals. The Associate will report to the Ardonagh Italia M&A Director and work closely with the Ardonagh Italia CFO and the Ardonagh Europe M&A function.
Key Role Accountabilities:
* Support in the identification of acquisition targets, monitoring and reporting on acquisition pipeline activity.
* Conduct detailed financial analysis on acquisition targets, including valuation and synergy modelling.
* Developing the business case for acquisitions including strategic rationale and fit.
* Prepare and present high quality investment committee papers which support executive and board level decisions.
* Act as an advisor to business unit leaders in the evaluation of acquisition transactions and make recommendations on the impacts on business objectives and performance.
* Assist with managing and coordinating the due diligence process and coordinating third party financial, tax, legal and commercial due diligence advisors.
* Apply strategic thinking to evaluate new opportunities and contribute to developing target gameboard and cultivating pipeline.
* Assist the M&A Director to negotiate transaction documents including NDAs, Term Sheets, and SPAs.
Qualifications & Experience:
* Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field; Master/MBA is a plus.
* 3+ years of working within corporate development, investment, private equity, M&A advisory, or transaction services.
* Fluency in Italian and English languages is essential.
* Experience of the insurance industry would be of benefit but not essential.
Person Specification:
* Excellent financial analysis skills - including the ability to critically assess and articulate the value drivers of a business.
* Excellent communication, presentation and report writing skills - displaying a clear thought process and a well-developed ability to clearly communicate complex messages in all mediums of communication.
* Strategic thinker - able to develop and consider the strategic implications of acquisition opportunities.
* Ability to create financial models - and a good understanding of valuation methodologies.
* Strong communication skills - the ability to influence multiple stakeholders and effectively articulate messages to different parts of the organisation and external parties.
* Self-motivated - with a strong work ethic and an ability to service multiple work-streams and stakeholders simultaneously.
* Excellent interpersonal skills - with an ability to establish personal credibility and collaborate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
* Agility and flexibility - demonstrate agility and ability to get things done in a fast paced entrepreneurial environment, effectively handling multiple, rapidly changing and conflicting priorities.
* Strong attention to detail - to ensure completeness and accuracy of information.