Insurance
Home›Insurance›Industry & Deals›The Hartford to buy Equitable employee benefits in a $…
The Hartford to buy Equitable employee benefits in a $500M deal
The acquisition adds group life, disability, paid family and medical leave, dental, and vision products, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approval.
The Hartford has agreed to acquire Equitable’s employee benefits business in a transaction covering approximately $500 million in premium, the Connecticut-based insurer said. The deal targets small and midsize employer benefits, with Equitable’s portfolio spanning group life, disability, paid family and medical leave, supplemental health, dental, and vision products.
About 300 employees supporting Equitable’s employee benefits business are set to join The Hartford at closing, which the company expects in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Financial terms beyond the premium amount were not disclosed.
The Hartford said the move advances its strategy of expanding in its priority business segment, aimed at employers with under 500 lives, and cited Equitable’s employee benefits technology as a key acquisition rationale. It described a platform with unified digital capabilities and real-time API integrations designed to streamline enrollment and administration for employers, employees, and brokers.
Insurance Business said the deal reflects ongoing consolidation in the SME benefits market, where The Hartford noted seven in 10 employers believe they should offer additional benefits to stay competitive. The article also pointed to Principal Financial Group’s July agreement to acquire Beam Benefits, and added that SME employee benefits agencies are trading at 9 to 12 times EBITDA, based on CT Acquisitions.