GRP-owned DCJ buys SM Commercial

The transaction has received regulatory approval.

SM Commercial was founded in 2006 and, like DCJ, is based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The deal is the third acquisition for DCJ since it became part of GRP in 2018.

Steve Higgins, founder and managing director of SM Commercial, will remain with the business under new ownership along with all the employees.

Reputation

Chris Breeze, chief executive of DCJ said: “SM Commercial is a highly respected community broker with a reputation for high quality client servicing. I’m looking forward to working alongside Steve and his team to help them take the business to the next stage of its development.”

Breeze also stated that DCJ has an appetite for further acquisitions.

He detailed: “I am keen to talk to vendors who want more from their business and are keen to build out their footprint. DCJ is fully aligned to vendors who want to do more with their businesses, and, alongside our parent GRP, we create the best possible conditions for brokers to thrive and prosper. ”

Deals

DCJ bought Real Insurance last year and JE Sills & Sons in March 2021.

Higgins added: “Everyone at SM Commercial is excited by the prospect of being part of a bigger family and I’m excited by the opportunity to make a step change in the scale of our ambitions for the future.

“As part of DCJ, with the extra leverage provided by being part of GRP, we will be in a great position to support our clients as the economy emerges from the pandemic.”

In March this year it was announced that US-giant Brown & Brown is set acquire GRP for £1.48bn. The move will allows GRP-employees to buy shares in the company.

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