St. Paul's Securian Financial expands Canadian business with Gerber Life Insurance policies

Acquisition gives subsidiary Canadian Premier a boost worth $2.7 million in premiums.

February 14, 2020 at 12:33AM
Securian headquarters in St. Paul. (Provided photo)
Securian headquarters in St. Paul.. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Securian Financial is boosting a Canadian business it acquired in 2017 by agreeing to purchase the whole life insurance policies sold in Canada by the Gerber Life Insurance Co.

Securian's subsidiary, Canadian Premier, will assume the Canadian Gerber Life policies but will no longer market the whole-life policies meant for juveniles.

"Canadian Premier has grown significantly since we acquired the company, and this new book of business will accelerate that momentum," said Chris Hilger, Securian Financial's chief executive, in a statement.

Securian will be picking up about 27,000 Gerber Life policies with total annual premiums of $2.7 million. Most of the accounts are whole-life insurance policies aimed at children 12 years and younger.

Cincinnati-based Western & Southern Financial Group, which owns Gerber Life Insurance, will retain the Gerber Life business in the United States.

Securian, which had total revenue of $5.5 billion in 2018, announced the deal to acquire Canadian Premier and several other financial-services businesses in Canada for about $142 million in 2016.

Toronto-based Canadian Premier was founded 60 years ago and offers life, accident, disability and other insurance products for families and businesses. It insures more than 2 million individuals and families across Canada.

"This is an exciting acquisition for Canadian Premier as we focus on growing in the Canadian marketplace," said Suzette Huovinen, Canadian Premier's chief executive, in statement.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter.

Patrick Kennedy • 612-673-7926

about the writer

about the writer

Patrick Kennedy

Reporter

Business reporter Patrick Kennedy covers executive compensation and public companies. He has reported on the Minnesota business community for more than 25 years.

See Moreicon

More from Business

See More
card image
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune

The “economic blackout” day creates unnecessary risk for people who are on the side of getting ICE out of Minnesota.

card image