What Merger & Acquisition Services does

Merger & Acquisition Services, Inc. is a boutique investment banking and financial advisory firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in New York, with additional offices in Palm Beach, Mystic, Atlanta, and Grand Cayman. The firm is dedicated exclusively to participants in the insurance industry and operates as an independent advisor (not a principal or merchant banker), addressing a market where larger full-service institutions carry inherent conflicts of interest. It serves insurance carriers (P&C and Life & Health), insurance shell companies, wholesale and retail agencies, MGAs/MGUs, TPAs, and program administrators with M&A transaction advisory, capital raising, agency financing, strategic advisory, and formal valuation services.

The firm's core technology comprises a proprietary Electronic Data Room for secure transaction document management and a proprietary database of insurance shell companies and industry contacts built over 28 years, with more than 100 shell transactions completed in the past decade. It operates two wholly-owned affiliates - Merger & Acquisition Capital Services, LLC (a FINRA-registered broker-dealer enabling securities and capital-raising services) and Merger & Acquisition Valuation Services, Inc. (providing formal valuations and opinion letters) - extending its service surface beyond pure advisory into capital intermediation. Senior M&A professionals execute every transaction from start to finish.

The business model is transaction-fee based: success fees on M&A advisory mandates, capital raising fees through the broker-dealer, and professional services fees for valuation, renewal rights, program placement, and fronting arrangement work. The firm closes 10-15 assignments per year, targets enterprise insurance clients (e.g., World Insurance Associates, Palomar Holdings, Hub International, White Mountains, Munich RE, RGA, Ascot, The Doctors Company), and supports client acquisition through senior-advisor direct engagement, an extensive awards profile (2023-2025 industry recognitions), and an active thought-leadership program (quarterly newsletters, webinars, podcasts, and 10+ industry conference participations).

Name

Merger & Acquisition Services

Legal name

Merger & Acquisition Services, Inc.

Website

https://maservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Merger & Acquisition Services is a New York-based boutique investment bank founded in 1998 that exclusively serves the insurance industry, advising carriers, agencies, MGAs, and shell companies on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, capital raising, and valuation through senior-led engagements and a FINRA-registered broker-dealer affiliate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Investment Banking

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side) (BPAHAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG), Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory (FSAEAIAD), Buy-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAB)

Keywords

• Insurance investment banking
• Mergers and acquisitions advisory
• Capital raising services
• Insurance agency financing
• Valuation services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. M&A Transaction Advisory Fees: The firm provides merger, acquisition, divestiture, and sale transaction advisory services to insurance industry participants. Revenue is generated through success-based transaction fees for advisory services on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and special assignments.
2. Capital Raising Services: Through their registered broker-dealer Merger & Acquisition Capital Services, LLC, the firm provides capital raising services including positioning equity, mezzanine financing, and senior and subordinated debt. They customize solutions to minimize dilution and optimize capital structure for clients.
3. Insurance Agency Financing: Provides both debt and equity solutions for agency owners looking to raise capital to fund acquisitions, partner buy-outs/buy-ins or to refinance existing agency debt. Works with insurance-specific lenders and strategic equity partners.
4. Valuation Services: Merger & Acquisition Valuation Services, Inc. provides formal valuations and opinion letters for tax planning, succession planning, or in connection with acquisitions or divestitures.
5. Insurance Services: Program business placement, renewal rights transfer advisory, and fronting arrangement services for MGAs and insurance carriers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Merger & Acquisition Services is a boutique investment banking and financial advisory firm dedicated exclusively to the insurance industry, providing M&A and divestiture advisory, capital raising, insurance agency financing, strategic advisory, and formal valuation services to insurance carriers, agencies, MGAs/MGUs, TPAs, and program administrators. Engagements are led by senior advisors who execute each transaction from start to finish, supported by a proprietary Electronic Data Room and a proprietary database of insurance shell companies and industry contacts built over 28 years.

Product overview

Merger & Acquisition Services is a boutique investment banking and financial advisory firm specializing exclusively in the insurance industry. The company operates a unified advisory platform offering insurance investment banking, M&A transaction advisory, capital raising, agency financing, strategic advisory, and valuation services through its affiliated entities including Merger & Acquisition Capital Services, LLC (registered broker-dealer) and Merger & Acquisition Valuation Services, Inc. Core offerings are supplemented by specialized insurance services including program business placement, renewal rights transactions, and fronting arrangements. The firm also operates a proprietary Electronic Data Room platform to facilitate secure due diligence and transaction document management across all service lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Insurance Investment Banking
• Merger, Acquisition, Divestiture & Sale Transaction Advisory
• Capital Raising Services
• Insurance Agency Financing
• Strategic Advisory
• Valuation Services
• Agency Transaction Advisory
• Insurance Shell Transaction Advisory
• Program Business
• Renewal Rights
• Fronting

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully closes 10-15 assignments per year with over 28 years in business
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Program Carriers (90+ relationships)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerM&A Services maintains over 90 Program Carrier relationships for program placement services. These carrier partnerships are used to match MGAs with appropriate program administrators and to establish program relationships for insurance distribution companies.
• Insurance Carriers (MGA Program Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerM&A Services maintains relationships with numerous insurance carriers to help identify best-in-class MGAs to partner with on a program basis. The firm conducts confidential searches to present opportunities that are strategic in nature and deliver favorable underwriting results.
• Insurance InsidermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerM&A Services has a strategic partnership with Insurance Insider for joint webinars, articles, and thought leadership content covering insurance M&A trends and opportunities. Insurance Insider Honors is a major industry awards venue where M&A Services has been recognized multiple times.
• The M&A AdvisormajorGTM or Marketing PartnerM&A Services partners with The M&A Advisor on podcast content and industry awards including the Annual M&A Advisor Awards where the firm has won multiple Deal of the Year and Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year awards.
• PIA NationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerM&A Services partnered with PIA National (Professional Insurance Agents) for a webinar on unlocking agency value, demonstrating commitment to insurance agency education and market development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MarshBerry: MarshBerry is a well-known insurance-focused M&A and consulting advisor serving agencies, brokerages, and MGAs. It is the closest direct competitor to M&A Services in boutique insurance M&A advisory, with overlapping services in sell-side advisory, agency financing, and valuation.
• OPTIS Partners: OPTIS Partners is a boutique investment banking firm dedicated exclusively to insurance distribution M&A, advising on agency and brokerage sales. Highly comparable to M&A Services in vertical focus (insurance), boutique scale, and agency-side transaction advisory.
• Reagan Consulting: Reagan Consulting provides M&A advisory and consulting services to insurance agencies and brokerages, including valuations and perpetuation planning. Direct overlap with M&A Services' agency transaction advisory and valuation services practice.
• PiiQ Partners: PiiQ Partners is a boutique insurance M&A advisory firm focused on agency and brokerage transactions. Comparable in scale, vertical specialization, and sell-side/buy-side advisory offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW): KBW is a larger, established investment bank with a dedicated insurance practice covering both underwriting and distribution. Competes with M&A Services on larger insurance carrier M&A mandates but operates as part of a broader diversified platform.
• Piper Sandler: Piper Sandler has a sizable insurance-focused investment banking practice advising on insurance carrier and distribution M&A. A broad incumbent that competes on larger transactions where balance sheet and capital raising capabilities are required.
• Houlihan Lokey: Houlihan Lokey is a global investment bank with a Financial Services M&A practice that includes insurance carriers and distribution. Represents a broad incumbent with deeper resources and broader sector reach than M&A Services.
• Wells Fargo Insurance Investment Banking: Wells Fargo operates a large insurance investment banking practice covering both underwriting and distribution M&A. A broad incumbent offering similar advisory services but with materially larger balance sheet, global reach, and capital markets capabilities.

Others

• Oak Street Funding: Oak Street Funding is an insurance-specialized lender that partners with M&A Services on agency financing transactions. A complementary capital provider rather than direct competitor, frequently co-presenting with M&A Services on agency financing webinars.
• Colbeck Capital Management: Colbeck Capital is a private capital provider that has partnered with M&A Services on agency recapitalizations (e.g., $100M Summit Risk Advisors deal). Adjacent capital partner rather than a competing advisor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mergeracquisitionservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/merger-&-acquisition-services-inc-

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Merger & Acquisition Services