Japanese insurer Sompo Holdings unveiled a landmark deal Wednesday to acquire Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. in a transaction valued at $3.5 billion in cash. The agreement, unanimously approved by both companies’ boards, will see Aspen shareholders receive $37.50 per Class A share—a 35.6% premium over its unaffected price of $27.66 on Aug. 19.
Aspen’s stock surged nearly 14% on the news by Wednesday afternoon, signaling investor enthusiasm for the deal.
Strategic Expansion at the Right Market Moment
The acquisition, slated to close in the first half of 2026 pending regulatory approvals, is being executed through Sompo P&C, the insurer’s property and casualty arm.
“Strategic acquisitions have been a key part of our growth plan to build a robust and diversified global P&C platform, and Aspen represents an excellent opportunity at the right time in the market cycle,” said James Shea, CEO of Sompo P&C.
Aspen, which only went public last year, generates over $4.6 billion in annual gross written premiums across operations in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Singapore, and Switzerland.
