Zurich targets Beazley to lead global speciality market

Group 1: Acquisition Details - Zurich has made a bid of £7.7 billion ($10.3 billion) for Beazley, which could be one of the largest insurance acquisitions ever [1] - Beazley is currently urging its shareholders to reject the deal, despite a surge in its share price following the announcement [1] - Beazley has previously rejected several offers from Zurich, indicating a complex negotiation history [1] Group 2: Market Position and Strategy - Zurich is the second-largest player in the UK SME market for standalone cyber insurance, holding a 7% market share in 2025, just behind Aviva [2] - The acquisition aims to reduce Zurich's reliance on the US market and strengthen its presence in the UK, where Beazley operates as a specialty insurer [3] - Zurich ranks as the fourth-largest insurer in the UK with £3.5 billion ($4.7 billion) in gross written premium (GWP) and a market share of 4.4% [4] Group 3: Growth Potential - The global cyber insurance market is projected to grow from $22.2 billion in 2025 to $35.4 billion by 2030, highlighting a significant growth opportunity [5] - Acquiring Beazley, a specialist in cyber insurance, positions Zurich to capitalize on this expanding market [5]