Howden Group has acquired a 68.3% majority interest in Holos Holdings Co Ltd, a privately held retail insurance broker based in Kyoto.
The acquisition adds over 400 employees to Howden’s operations, distributed across 20 sites throughout Japan, significantly expanding its regional presence.
Founded in 2001 by Kei Horii, a former Sony Life Insurance executive, Holos specialises in the life insurance segment and brings two decades of local market experience. The addition of Holos raises Howden Japan’s workforce to more than 450, following its formal market entry in 2024.
The Holos deal marks Howden’s second major retail insurance acquisition in Japan, following its purchase of Foresight Group.
It also builds on other recent moves in the market, including the launch of Howden Re Japan and a collaboration with Keystone ILS Capital, aimed at enhancing reinsurance capabilities.
David Howden, CEO of Howden Group, said the deal deepens the company’s reach across Japan and reinforces its ability to serve a broad spectrum of clients.
“Right from the very start, we’ve known that to provide the best services to clients you must have strong local expertise on the ground. Holos has incredible know-how and like us they have a rich history in the market. And joining forces now gives us strength-in-depth across Japan, enabling us to provide individuals, SMEs, corporates, and insurers with a full suite of services from reinsurance to retail. This is a transformational move for us, and it shows that our commitment to this dynamic market is truly for the long-term,” he said.
Holos CEO Kei Horii said the firm’s decision to join Howden reflects the evolving needs of the insurance industry in Japan.
“For the past 25 years, Holos has grown its business with the strong support of our employees and clients. As the Japanese insurance industry enters a new phase, we have decided to join Howden. By combining Holos’ deep experience in the life insurance sector with Howden’s global resources and advanced expertise in the corporate general insurance field, we aim to grow into a trusted and valued insurance group, even more loved by our clients,” he said.
Howden Japan CEO Kentaro Tada noted the cultural alignment between the companies.
“Holos and Howden share similar corporate cultures in that we value the independence of each employee and aim to deliver optimal insurance solutions that bring satisfaction to clients. I look forward to working together with the team at Holos to grow our business while continuing to earn the trust of our clients,” he said.
The Holos acquisition contributes to Howden Group’s broader global expansion, which included 65 transactions in 2024 alone.
These deals helped drive a 23% rise in adjusted revenue to £3.01 billion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, with 15% of that coming from organic growth.
Insurance broking and reinsurance divisions delivered organic growth rates of 14% and 30%, respectively, while MGA unit DUAL grew 6%.
Notable European acquisitions included VLC in the Netherlands, AGEO in France, and North Risk in Denmark, marking entry into the Danish market. Elsewhere, the firm expanded operations in Singapore, Australia, Greece, and the Middle East.
