McDougall Insurance Brokers has merged with Duliban Insurance Brokers Limited and Duliban Life & Benefits Inc, expanding its operations across the Niagara and Haldimand regions.
As part of the merger, Duliban’s operations and team will be integrated into McDougall Insurance. Jason Duliban will continue as principal broker at Duliban and will also join McDougall Insurance’s national leadership team.
Adam Duliban, the other principal broker, will support the transition process before shifting his focus to managing other family business interests. The Duliban brand will be retained and operated as a divisional brokerage within McDougall Insurance, with the Duliban family also becoming shareholders in the firm.
The transaction follows a broader expansion strategy at McDougall Insurance. In October 2022, Definity Financial Corporation increased its ownership stake in McDougall from approximately 25% to 75%, with a total investment of $251 million.
McDougall’s growth strategy has also been evident through a series of acquisitions in recent years. The firm has expanded its footprint significantly by acquiring regional brokerages, including Drayden Insurance Ltd. in Alberta and McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers Inc. in Ontario.
These moves have enabled McDougall to extend its reach to over 60 offices and manage more than $900 million in property and casualty premiums.
Ross McDougall (pictured above), CEO of McDougall Insurance, noted that prior to the merger, Duliban would have been considered among the top brokerages in Canada.
“Like us, they are a family business that puts their communities, staff and clients first. Their growth and strategy complements our own perfectly, and I have complete confidence that this merger elevates our combined operations to a whole new level,” McDougall said.
Duliban Insurance Brokers has also pursued expansion through acquisitions. In August 2023, the company acquired Mason Insurance Brokers, a Welland, Ontario-based firm with a 100-year history.
“This was a pivotal decision for our family business; we took the responsibilities we felt towards our team, clients, communities and history very seriously throughout this process. Ultimately, we knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to take our organization to a national level with partners we admire,” Jason Duliban said.
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