Howden has announced the acquisition of Gallagher Bassett New Zealand’s personal injury business, effective Dec. 1, subject to regulatory and other conditions.

The acquisition was done through Howden Care New Zealand, the international broker’s workplace claims management, rehabilitation and wellbeing business. Howden said the deal further cements its position as one of the leading providers in the injury management space and reinforces its ability to provide localised services and support for clients with large diverse workforces and operations.

Howden Care provides specialised injury and illness prevention and management services, serving employers in the ACC Accredited Employer Programme.

“The opportunity to work with a talented team of people and some of this country's most iconic clients is very exciting,” said Cliff McCord, CEO of Howden Care New Zealand. “Our combined knowledge and leading technology will see a major shift in the service offering we will bring to the market.”

The acquisition comes roughly a year after Howden opened its doors in New Zealand.

“Gallagher Bassett’s New Zealand personal injury division is a stand-out business in its sector and is a strong addition to our Howden Care and Broking businesses,” said Matt Bacon, CEO of Howden Pacific. “Both businesses share complementary cultures, and both are passionate about delivering the very best outcomes for our clients, and their people. With this acquisition, and the recent acquisition of Wallace McLean, Howden New Zealand will be a leading end-to-end TPA and insurance broker capable of supporting all of our clients, whatever their needs.”