Terms of the Canadian life insurance giant's cash acquisition of Pottruff & Smith Travel Insurance Brokers Inc. were not disclosed. Manulife officials indicated that the transaction will establish it as the second-largest travel insurance company in Canada.
"This strengthens our existing travel insurance operations and provides momentum to move our fastest-growing Affinity Markets' business segment to higher levels," Paul Rooney, president and chief executive of Manulife Canada said in a statement.
Pottruff & Smith, which was founded in 1989, has about 90 employees working at separate offices in Woodbridge, Ontario and St. Therese, Quebec. The company specializes in leisure travel insurance.
Manulife reported a 57% increase in second-quarter net income to C$1.7 billion (US$1.64 billion), compared with the same period a year ago (BestWire, Aug. 7, 2009). The profit followed consecutive net losses in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of this year.
Manulife Financial provides financial protection and wealth management products and services to individual and group customers in Canada, the United States and Asia, according to an AMB Credit Report.
Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. currently has a Best's Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior).
(By Al Slavin, senior associate editor, BestWeek)

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