AmeriLife Group Acquires Saybrus Partners From Nassau Financial Group

By Staff Reports

AmeriLife Group, a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing annuity, life, and health insurance solutions, has entered into an agreement to acquire Saybrus Partners, a life insurance and annuity distribution company, from Nassau Financial Group.

"As longtime partners with Nassau Financial Group, we've witnessed firsthand Saybrus Partners' track record of success as a leading distributor of life and annuity products," said Scott R. Perry, chairman and CEO of AmeriLife. "Today's announcement is a significant milestone in our relationship, and we're thrilled to welcome the Saybrus team to the AmeriLife family. We look forward to extending and strengthening our industry-leading life and annuities offerings together."

Based in Hartford, Conn., Saybrus Partners was formed in 2009 to bring its boutique model to institutions, delivering customized support, proactive consultation and transparent, centralized management for advisors and insurance agents.

Saybrus has been a subsidiary of Nassau Financial Group since 2016 and has exclusively distributed Nassau's annuities and Medicare supplement insurance through independent marketing organizations (IMOs) and independent agents. Further, Nassau and AmeriLife have a longstanding relationship, with the latter as the leading distribution partner for Nassau annuities. Saybrus will continue to distribute Nassau's products after this transaction.

"This strategic transaction marks an exciting milestone for Nassau, further aligning us with AmeriLife, our leading distribution partner, while simplifying our business in support of our insurance sales and asset management growth plans," said Phil Gass, chairman and chief executive officer of Nassau. "Under Ed Cassidy's terrific leadership, Saybrus has grown from a start-up insurance wholesaler to a scaled insurance distribution company with a national footprint. We are confident that Saybrus has a bright future ahead with AmeriLife."

"There was an obvious synergy to this transaction, starting with the long-standing relationship among Nassau, Saybrus and AmeriLife around the distribution of Nassau products," said Edward Cassidy, managing principal of Saybrus Partners. "In addition, Saybrus and AmeriLife share a strategic focus on the development, marketing and distribution of annuities, life and health insurance solutions, and Saybrus' industry footprint nicely complements AmeriLife's growing portfolio of independent affiliates."

Similar to other AmeriLife subsidiaries, Saybrus will continue to operate as a stand-alone organization and brand. Edward Cassidy, along with Aziz Ali, Moira Lowe, and the rest of the Saybrus management team will continue to lead Saybrus from its Hartford headquarters.

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick acted as legal advisor to AmeriLife, while Debevoise & Plimpton and Piper Sandler & Co. acted as legal advisor and financial advisor, respectively, to Nassau in connection with the transaction, which is expected to close later this quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.