B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc has taken a 25% stake in newly formed broker Ventura Risk Partners Holdings Limited, as consolidation continues to reshape the London energy insurance market.
The investment - made for a nominal equity consideration alongside a £2.0m loan facility - comes as fewer independent specialist brokers remain available to place complex energy risks into Lloyd's of London and the wider London market, particularly for North American retail brokers.
The London energy broking space has seen sustained M&A activity in recent years, with larger global brokers absorbing specialist teams and platforms. While this has increased scale and global reach, it has also reduced the number of independent intermediaries focused purely on technical placement.
That shift has created a potential gap in the market - especially for retail brokers seeking flexible access to London market capacity without being tied to large, vertically integrated distribution models.
Ventura is positioning itself to address that gap, with a model centred on specialist expertise and independence rather than scale.
Headquartered in London, Ventura will focus on placing energy risks into Lloyd’s and company markets, targeting North American retail brokers in particular.
The business has been founded by Alex Taylor, who previously held roles at JLT Group and Miller Insurance Services, specialising in energy placements and building relationships across both underwriting and broking communities.
The strategy reflects a continued demand for specialist knowledge in complex energy risks, where placement expertise and market relationships remain critical despite increasing digitisation elsewhere in the value chain.
For B.P. Marsh, the deal is consistent with its long-standing approach of backing early-stage insurance intermediaries and MGAs, often providing both capital and strategic support while leaving management teams operationally independent.
Abigail Benson, investment director at B.P. Marsh, will join Ventura’s board as part of the transaction.
Chief executive Dan Topping said the investment reflects the group’s focus on supporting specialist platforms led by experienced management teams.
While consolidation has dominated headlines, the launch of ventures like Ventura points to a parallel trend: the re-emergence of boutique, specialist brokers aiming to compete on expertise rather than scale.
In sectors such as energy - where risks are complex, capital-intensive and often globally distributed - this model continues to attract both investor backing and client demand, particularly where independence and technical capability are seen as differentiators.
