Switching broker · Structure · 2026

Restructured or bought another business? Your cover doesn't move automatically

Insurance is written for a named entity doing a described activity. Change either and the policy may no longer respond the way you assume.

Part of: When to switch business insurance broker

In short

When you incorporate, turn a partnership into an LLP, merge two companies, or buy another business, the insured entity on your policies may no longer be the one that's actually trading. Insurers need to be told, and often the cover has to be re-written — a new named insured, new activities, higher turnover, extra premises or staff. Liabilities from the old entity or the acquired business also need thinking about: work done before the change can still generate claims, and professional and product risks in particular need run-off or continuity cover. A broker maps the new structure onto a programme that actually fits it.

What changes when the structure changes

The named insured — a new company, LLP or group needs to be the insured entity, or added to it.
Activities and turnover — an acquisition usually adds both; undeclared changes can breach policy conditions.
Premises, vehicles, staff — everything the acquired business brings needs adding, not assuming.
Past liabilities — claims can arise later for work done by the old entity or the business you bought.

What to do

Tell your insurers before the change completes, not after — a broker handles the notifications.
Get the acquired business's policies and claims history as part of due diligence, and decide what to keep, merge or replace.
Arrange run-off or continuity for professional indemnity and other claims-made cover where an entity stops trading.
Treat it as a full review: the combined business is a new risk and deserves to be re-marketed as one.

The most common failure isn't a bad policy. It's a good policy still naming a company that no longer trades.

Frequently asked

Do I need to tell my insurer if I change from sole trader to limited company?

Yes. The insured entity changes, so the policy needs amending or re-issuing in the company's name. Trading under a new entity without telling the insurer can leave you uninsured.

What happens to the insurance of a business I buy?

Its policies may lapse, transfer, or need replacing depending on the deal structure. Review them during due diligence and decide with a broker what to keep or merge.

What is run-off cover and when do I need it?

Run-off keeps claims-made cover (like professional indemnity) alive for work done before an entity stopped trading. You need it when you close, sell, or restructure a business that carried that kind of risk.

Can one policy cover a group of companies?

Often yes. A group or combined policy can name several entities, which is usually simpler and cheaper than separate policies. A broker structures it.

Changed structure or bought a business? Get the cover re-mapped.

Tell us what's changed and a named Apex broker will re-map your programme to the new structure — entities, activities, run-off and all.

Re-map my cover → Request a callback

Apex Insurance Brokers is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 724952). This page is general information, not advice.