UK-based Howden Broking Group has acquired the insurance operations of Accette Insurance Group in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines for an undisclosed sum.

The purchase of Accette, Southeast Asia’s largest independent broker, gives Howden 14 offices across eight countries in Asia.

Howden is the wholesale and reinsurance broking division of Hyperion Insurance Group, a venture capital-backed specialist in international insurance and reinsurance distribution.

Hyperion CEO David Howden says the group’s expansion in emerging markets is a major part of its growth strategy, “and this acquisition is an important step towards achieving our ambition for Howden Broking Group to become one of Asia-Pacific’s leading insurance brokers”.

Accette was previously owned by Zuellig Group, and Zuellig Group director David Zuellig will remain involved with the company as non‐executive chairman of the group’s Asian holding company.