Melbourne-based Insurance House Group (IHG) has expanded into NSW with the acquisition of North Sydney-based Surety & General.

IHG wrote just on $100 million of gross written premium last financial year and the Sydney firm, now known as IHG Surety & General, was writing around $13 million.

IHG MD Wayne Hildebrand says the merger provides an ideal opportunity for the company to establish a significant professional presence in Sydney, and IHG’s next step will be to establish its ProRisk underwriting agency there.

Surety & General’s founder and MD Guy Stening has become IHG’s Manager, Sydney Broking Operations.

IHG Surety & General gives IHG its first presence on the ground in NSW and IHG Director Gary Gribbin told insuranceNEWS.com.au the company remains “always alert to growth opportunities”.

He says Surety & General has an excellent reputation and business credentials in the highly specialised surety bonds niche, and is also very strong in professional lines.