Brown & Brown acquires finance and insurance provider to auto, powersport dealers in New York state

Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO), the Florida–based parent of Syracuse–based Brown & Brown Empire State, announced it has acquired “substantially all of the assets” of Dealer Specialties Group Corp.

Dealer Specialties is a Saratoga Springs–based independent sales and service organization providing finance and insurance (F&I) products and sales support to automotive and powersport dealers, located mostly in New York state. No financial terms of the deal were disclosed in a June 1 news release from Brown & Brown that announced it.

Following the transaction, Andre Courchaine, owner of Dealer Specialties, and the firm’s operations have become part of Brown & Brown Dealer Services (BBDS) under the leadership of Mike Neal.

“We are excited to continue growing our BBDS operations with another high-quality, strategic acquisition. Andy’s impressive industry knowledge and strong work ethic have enabled him to create and maintain long-standing relationships with quality dealer customers. Together, we look forward to continuing to grow our presence in New York and beyond,” Neal, president of BBDS, said.

Courchaine stated, “We are extremely pleased to be joining BBDS and believe our customers will benefit immediately from Brown & Brown’s national footprint and strength, as well as the diversity of products and services Brown & Brown offers. BBDS is an industry leader in the F&I space, and we are excited about continuing to meet and exceed the needs of our customers.” 

Daytona Beach–based Brown & Brown, through its subsidiaries, offers a broad range of insurance products and related services to individuals and businesses. It has more than 12,000 employees and over 350 offices across the U.S. and select global markets. The insurance-brokerage firm makes frequent acquisitions of insurance agencies a key part of its growth strategy. Brown & Brown Empire State is headquartered at 500 Plum St. in Syracuse’s Franklin Square area.