Steadfast has unveiled its first Tasmanian hub, created through the merger of ANCA Insurance Brokers and Saunders Higgins Insurance Brokers.

The new entity will gain back-office efficiencies and have branches in four towns, combining ANCA’s offices in Hobart, Devonport and Launceston with Saunders Higgins’ Burnie site. It will trade under the ANCA name.

Steadfast MD Robert Kelly says hubs give brokers scale benefits and cost savings.

The cluster group owned 44% of ANCA and 100% of Saunders Higgins before the merger. The combined entity will have board members from ANCA and Steadfast.

“Although we have increased our ownership in the combined entity to 87.5%, we expect to sell back equity to key management personnel in the near term to maintain a strong co-ownership model,” Mr Kelly said.

ANCA director Nigel Clutterbuck told insuranceNEWS.com.au the hub is a natural progression that allows the company to join forces with a like-minded business.

ANCA was formed in 2000 and has grown from five staff to 34. It will gain another 10 staff from Saunders Higgins.

Mr Clutterbuck says the addition of a Burnie office will fit with the group’s branch network strategy.