QBE is letting its international divisions do the buying, with its American arm taking on a smaller agri-insurer’s renewal rights this week.

QBE The Americas has entered into a binding agreement to take control of OneBeacon Agri, a division of the Boston-based OneBeacon Insurance Group.

OneBeacon Agri provides general risk products for commercial farms and ranches in the Western and Midwestern regions of the US. It had $US85.7 million ($113 million) in gross written premium for last year. It is the second OneBeacon business to move under QBE’s wing, The Americas division having acquired National Farmers Union Insurance in the third quarter last year.

The transaction is expected to be completed before October and will be worth about $US32 million ($39 million). OneBeacon Agri employees will remain with the company but will serve under the QBE brand.