Chubb takeover bid rebuffed by rival three times

Proposed deal could have been one of the largest transactions ever

Chubb takeover bid rebuffed by rival three times

Insurance News

By Bethan Moorcraft

Rebuffed once, rebuffed again … and again. Hartford Financial Services Group (Hartford) has rejected further buyout offers from global property and casualty (P&C) insurer Chubb Ltd.

According to Reuters, Chubb has made three unsuccessful takeover proposals to the Connecticut-based P&C insurer, the largest of which valued its US rival at nearly US$25 billion.

The Hartford first gave Chubb the cold shoulder on March 23, 2021, when it rejected an “unsolicited” non-binding takeover bid worth US$23 billion or US$65 per share, describing it as “not […] in the best interests of the company and its shareholders”.

In an earnings report on Thursday (April 22, 2021), Hartford revealed it has declined two more offers from Chubb of US$67 per share and US$70 per share, respectively.

Chubb has since released a brief statement, saying: “Although we are disappointed, we want to repeat that our shareholders demand of us, and we demand of ourselves, that we remain a disciplined acquiror.”

Reuters reports that Hartford’s latest rejections do not come as a surprise as the longstanding P&C insurer, which has roots tracing back more than 200 years, is worth US$80 per share or more, according to analysts.

If Chubb, led by CEO Evan Greenberg, brings another sweetened proposal to the table, this mega-merger could come close to Chubb’s near US$30 billion combination with Ace Ltd. in 2016. The deal would expand Chubb’s capabilities in the market for small-business coverage.

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