A U.S. investment bank and a British private equity firm have agreed to pay more for Hub International Ltd., a large insurance broker, to beat out competing bids.
Hub, Chicago, sells life insurance, health insurance and employee benefits as well as property-casualty insurance.
After private equity funds advised by a unit of Apax Partners L.P., London, and an investment company affiliated with Morgan Stanley & Company Inc., New York, agreed to acquire Hub for $1.8 billion in late February, other would-be buyers submitted proposals, according to Hub.
The Apax funds and Morgan Stanley have increased to increase their offer to $41.50 per share, from $40 per share, in response to the competing bids, Hub says.
