Enterprise Partnerships

Gallagher Re expands footprint in Africa with acquisition of South African rebroker

Wednesday, 10 December 2025 7:47AM UTC

Global reinsurance broker Gallagher Re announces the strategic acquisition of Resilea, South Africa’s largest independent reinsurance broker, signalling a major expansion in African and regional markets alongside its growth in Asia-Pacific cyber reinsurance.

Global reinsurance broker Gallagher Re has agreed to acquire Resilea (Pty) Ltd, the largest independent reinsurance broking firm in Johannesburg, in a deal the companies say will broaden Gallagher Re's footprint and capability across South Africa and the wider African market. According to the original report, the transaction brings together Resilea’s established local team with Gallagher Re’s global distribution and advisory platform. ^[1]^[2]^[4]

Gallagher Re’s EMEA chief, Hamish Dowlen, said the acquisition will improve the firm’s presence and scale in Africa by integrating a “highly skilled team of data- and client-led professionals”, enabling a greater focus on customer needs and innovative solutions, the original report stated. Industry commentary suggests the move aims to diversify client offerings and deepen technical broking capacity in a market where local knowledge is often decisive. ^[1]^[2]

As part of the transaction, Iain Macindoe will become chairman of Gallagher Re’s South African operations and Mathew Macindoe will take the role of regional director and CEO for Gallagher Re South Africa. The company framed those appointments as evidence of its intent to deploy local leadership as it expands into new markets. ^[1]^[4]

Neither the lead report nor subsequent coverage disclosed financial terms or detailed operational integration plans, underlining the deal’s strategic rather than immediate size-led message. The company’s statements emphasise capability and market positioning rather than financial metrics. ^[1]

Gallagher Re’s strategy beyond Africa remains expansive: the firm has signalled continued growth in the Asia-Pacific region, most recently through its acquisition of Steadfast Re Pty Limited in Sydney, according to the report, and by appointing senior region-focused executives to drive expansion. The company said these moves form part of a broader push to connect global capacity with fast-growing regional demand. ^[1]

That regional demand is particularly evident in cyber insurance. Gallagher Re has launched an adaptive cyber reinsurance facility for APAC designed to align global capacity with local needs, supporting a range of products including cyber, technology errors and omissions, and cyber property damage. According to industry coverage, the framework offers white-label, facultative and treaty options, with initial minimum capacities set at $15 million for facultative placements and $10 million for white-label and treaty placements. The initiative is described as intended to channel global cyber capacity into a market experiencing rapid digital transformation and rising claims complexity. ^[1]^[5]^[6]^[3]

Market data cited by Gallagher Re points to both opportunity and challenge: APAC cyber insurance has been among the fastest-growing lines , industry commentary put growth at around 50% annually in recent years , even as overall economic growth and premium expansion moderate. According to the company’s October 2025 Market Watch, the region saw slower economic growth in 2024 and a shift in industry emphasis toward quality and resilience as competition intensifies and premium growth eases; nevertheless, cyber, electric vehicle and health sectors remain bright spots. ^[1]^[3]

##Reference Map:

^[1] (The Global Economics) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4, Paragraph 5, Paragraph 6, Paragraph 7
^[2] (Insurance Business Magazine) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2
^[4] (Royal Gazette) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 3
^[5] (Insurance Business Magazine) - Paragraph 6
^[6] (The Insurer) - Paragraph 6
^[3] (Insurance Business Magazine APAC) - Paragraph 6, Paragraph 7

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.theglobaleconomics.com/2025/12/02/gallagher-re-resilea/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/reinsurance/news/breaking-news/gallagher-re-strikes-deal-to-acquire-largest-broker-in-south-africa-558444.aspx - Gallagher Re, a global reinsurance broker and advisory firm, has agreed to acquire Resilea (Pty) Ltd., the largest independent reinsurance broking firm based in Johannesburg, South Africa. This acquisition is expected to enhance Gallagher Re's presence and scale in Africa by integrating a highly experienced team known for its data-led, client-centric approach. Hamish Dowlen, CEO for EMEA at Gallagher Re, stated that the deal will strengthen the firm's market position, diversify its client offering, and broaden its capabilities across South Africa. ([insurancebusinessmag.com](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/reinsurance/news/breaking-news/gallagher-re-strikes-deal-to-acquire-largest-broker-in-south-africa-558444.aspx?utm_source=openai))
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/asia/news/reinsurance/apac-sees-rapid-growth-in-cyber-insurance-demand--gallagher-re-507510.aspx - The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has experienced significant digital transformation in recent years, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift has heightened cyber risks across the region, fueling a growing demand for cyber insurance solutions, according to insights from Gallagher Re. The cyber insurance market in APAC has been expanding at a rate of nearly 50% per year, now accounting for 7% of the global market as of January 1, 2024. However, there remains considerable room for growth. ([insurancebusinessmag.com](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/asia/news/reinsurance/apac-sees-rapid-growth-in-cyber-insurance-demand--gallagher-re-507510.aspx?utm_source=openai))
https://www.royalgazette.com/reinsurance/business/article/20251201/gallagher-re-buys-large-south-african-reinsurance-broker/ - Gallagher Re has agreed to acquire Resilea (Pty), the largest independent reinsurance broker in South Africa. The new purchase is expected to bring an increased level of scale and strength to Gallagher Re, which has offices in Bermuda. Iain Macindoe, who previously served as chief executive of Resilea, will move into the role of chairman, South Africa. Mathew Macindoe, who previously served as Resilea managing director, will assume the role of regional director and CEO of the South African business. ([royalgazette.com](https://www.royalgazette.com/reinsurance/business/article/20251201/gallagher-re-buys-large-south-african-reinsurance-broker/?utm_source=openai))
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/reinsurance/news/breaking-news/gallagher-re-targets-apac-cyber-sector-with-adaptive-reinsurance-structure-555179.aspx - Gallagher Re has launched a facility framework designed to match demand for cyber capacity in the Asia Pacific region with global capacity. The initiative aims to align global capacity with the growing cyber needs of APAC insurers and reinsurers. The framework is structured to support a wide range of reinsurance models and products, including cyber, technology errors and omissions, and cyber property damage. It offers options such as white-labeling, facultative, and treaty structures, with initial minimums set at $15 million for facultative reinsurance and $10 million for white labelling and treaty placements. ([insurancebusinessmag.com](https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/reinsurance/news/breaking-news/gallagher-re-targets-apac-cyber-sector-with-adaptive-reinsurance-structure-555179.aspx?utm_source=openai))
https://www.theinsurer.com/cyber-risk/news/gallagher-re-launches-cyber-facility-framework-for-apac-2025-11-03/ - Gallagher Re has launched a facility framework that it said will match demand for cyber capacity in the Asia Pacific region with global capacity. The reinsurance broker said on Sunday that the initiative is designed to align global capacity with the growing cyber needs of APAC insurers and reinsurers. The framework is structured to support a wide range of reinsurance models and products, including cyber, technology errors and omissions, and cyber property damage. It offers options such as white-labeling, facultative, and treaty structures, with initial minimums set at $15 million for facultative reinsurance and $10 million for white labelling and treaty placements. ([theinsurer.com](https://www.theinsurer.com/cyber-risk/news/gallagher-re-launches-cyber-facility-framework-for-apac-2025-11-03/?utm_source=openai))

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative was first published on December 2, 2025, and has not appeared elsewhere prior to this date. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The direct quotes from Hamish Dowlen and the Macindoe brothers appear to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. No variations in quote wording were noted. No online matches were found for these quotes, suggesting they are potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from The Global Economics, a publication that is not widely recognised. This raises some uncertainty regarding the reliability of the information presented. However, the report is corroborated by other reputable outlets, such as Insurance Business Magazine and The Royal Gazette, which strengthens its credibility.

Plausibility check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with Gallagher Re's recent expansion strategies. The acquisition of Resilea is consistent with the company's previous acquisitions, such as Steadfast Re in Australia. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a minor concern. The language and tone are consistent with corporate communications, and the structure is focused on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents original and fresh content, with direct quotes that appear to be exclusive. While the source's reliability is somewhat uncertain due to its limited recognition, the information is corroborated by other reputable outlets. The claims made are plausible and align with Gallagher Re's recent expansion strategies. The lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets is a minor concern. Overall, the narrative passes the fact-check with medium confidence.

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