What Univesta does

Univesta Insurance and Financial Services Inc. is a privately held insurance brokerage and financial services firm headquartered in Montréal, Quebec, operating exclusively within the province and regulated by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). Founded in 1960, the firm describes itself as one of the largest insurance and financial services brokerages in Quebec, with 251-500 employees distributing personal lines (auto, home, vintage and classic cars, recreational vehicles), commercial lines (transportation, equestrian, farm, general business), surety bonds, and financial services products. Its commercial offering is anchored by a captive distribution arrangement with Intact Insurance as primary underwriter, with all digital quote generation routed through Intact's webquote platform under broker code 1618 and client servicing delivered via Intact's Client Centre portal and mobile app.

The firm's core technology stack is not proprietary but rather consists of integrated third-party platforms: Intact Insurance's webquote system for online quote generation, the Client Centre portal and mobile application for policy management and claims, and the Carrier's Edge-powered Univesta-Rake online training platform for commercial transportation clients. Univesta brokers serve as the primary point of contact across the full insurance lifecycle, supported by physical branch offices, a content marketing blog, Google review acquisition, and email newsletter engagement. The Univesta-Rake subsidiary extends the firm's footprint into online safety training for commercial drivers (defensive driving, TDG certification, forklift certification) in both French and English.

Univesta's revenue model is commission-based brokerage, earning recurring commissions on policies placed with Intact Insurance and other carriers, supplemented by fees from financial services products (investments, deposits, loans) distributed through the brokerage. The go-to-market motion is sales-led with broker-assisted closing of all digital quotes, while existing clients engage directly through digital self-serve tools. Pricing is individually quote-based on customer risk profile, with auto+home bundling discounts available and monthly billing as the standard cadence. The firm's competitive position rests on its 60+ year Quebec market presence, regulatory compliance infrastructure, broker expertise, and the scale of its relationship with Intact Insurance rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Univesta

Legal name

Univesta Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

Website

https://univesta.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Univesta is a privately held Quebec-based insurance brokerage and financial services firm founded in 1960, distributing personal, commercial, surety bond, and financial services products primarily through Intact Insurance to individuals and small businesses across the province.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: Univesta operates as an insurance brokerage firm earning commissions from Intact Insurance and other insurers for placing personal (auto, home, recreational vehicles) and commercial insurance policies. The company acts as intermediary between customers and insurers, earning commissions on each policy sold and renewed.
2. Financial Services Fees: Revenue from financial services products including investment, deposit, and loan-related services distributed to clients through the brokerage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Univesta is an insurance brokerage distributing personal lines (car, home, recreational vehicles, vintage/classic cars) and commercial lines (transportation, equestrian, farm, general business, surety bonds), along with financial services (investment, deposits, loans), primarily through licensed brokers and Intact Insurance's digital platforms. Customers obtain online quotes via Intact's webquote system and finalize contracts through Univesta brokers, with policies underwritten predominantly by Intact Insurance. The firm also operates the Univesta-Rake subsidiary providing online driver safety training for commercial transportation clients through a Carrier's Edge partnership.

Product overview

Univesta is one of the largest insurance and financial services firms in Quebec, operating for over 60 years. The company offers a comprehensive insurance portfolio distributed primarily through Intact Insurance, including personal lines (Car, Home, Recreational Vehicles, Vintage/Classic Car) and commercial lines (Business across industries, Surety Bonds). Financial services are offered in partnership with financial institutions. The product ecosystem includes the flagship insurance products (Home, Car, Recreational Vehicles, Surety Bonds), an online quote platform for quote generation, a Client Centre (Espace Client) for policy management and claims, and an Intact Insurance mobile app. The Univesta-Rake division provides specialized online driver training for transportation businesses through a Carrier's Edge partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Univesta-Rake: Online truck driver training and safety training platform for commercial transportation businesses, offered in partnership with Carrier's Edge.

Products and services

• Home Insurance Home insurance coverage for Quebec homeowners, co-owners, and tenants, protecting against fire, theft, water damage, and natural disasters.
• Car Insurance Automobile insurance coverage for Quebec drivers providing protection against collisions, liability, fire, theft, vandalism, and natural catastrophes.
• Recreational Vehicles Insurance Insurance coverage for recreational vehicles including RVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and ATVs, typically structured as seasonal coverage.
• Vintage and Classic Car Insurance Specialized insurance coverage for vintage and classic automobiles, protecting collectible vehicles.
• Business Insurance Commercial insurance solutions across multiple Quebec industries including transportation, equestrian, farm, and general business sectors, covering commercial vehicle, property, and liability needs.
• Surety Bonds Surety bond products for Quebec businesses requiring guarantee coverage for contractual obligations.
• Financial Services Wealth protection and financial planning services including investment, deposits, and loans, offered in partnership with financial institutions.
• Univesta-Rake Online Training Online safety training tool for commercial drivers and transportation businesses, providing courses through the Carrier's Edge platform including defensive driving, TDG certification, and forklift certification, with employee registration, progress tracking, and certificate printing.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Intact InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIntact Insurance is the primary insurer Univesta works with and has established financial ties with. Univesta acts as a broker distributing Intact Insurance products (auto, home, commercial, surety bonds) through its broker network and digital platforms. The partnership is exclusive in nature, with Univesta prominently branding itself as an Intact Insurance client and directing all quotes through Intact's webquote system and Client Centre.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Aviva Canada: Major Canadian P&C insurer offering personal and commercial coverage. Competes for the same end customers and broker relationships as Univesta in Quebec and other provinces, but as a carrier rather than a broker.
• Marsh Canada: Canadian arm of a global insurance broker and risk advisor. Comparable brokerage activities for commercial lines and risk advisory, though significantly larger and more focused on enterprise/RISK consulting than Univesta.
• Aon Canada: Canadian operations of a major global insurance and reinsurance broker. Operates in the same insurance intermediation space as Univesta but at much larger enterprise scale and with global advisory capabilities.
• Co-operators: Canadian multi-line insurer and financial services firm with broker/advisor distribution. Comparable to Univesta in offering both insurance and financial services to individuals and businesses across Canada.
• Intact Insurance: Canada's largest P&C insurer and Univesta's primary underwriting partner. Highly comparable in product mix (auto, home, commercial, surety) but operates as a carrier rather than a broker and at much larger national scale.

Direct peers

• BrokerLink: One of Canada's largest insurance brokerages with a multi-channel model (broker network + digital). Closely comparable to Univesta in offering personal and commercial P&C brokerage, with similar multi-product distribution.
• Westland Insurance: Privately held Canadian insurance brokerage with broker-led and digital distribution across personal and commercial lines. Comparable scale and go-to-market to Univesta within a regional Canadian footprint.
• HUB International: Global insurance brokerage with significant Canadian operations. Comparable as a multi-line insurance broker serving personal and commercial clients via broker-led distribution.

Regional players

• Beneva: Quebec-based mutual insurer formed from the merger of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance, offering personal and commercial insurance plus financial services in Quebec. Direct competitor to Univesta within the same Quebec geography and product mix.
• Promutuel Assurance: Quebec-based mutual insurance group offering personal and commercial P&C products across the province. Direct competitor within Univesta's Quebec-only footprint, sharing similar community-rooted broker/distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Univestaassurances

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Univesta