Manulife Financial and Zurich Canada have formed an alliance that offers small business owners broader access to a full range of insurance products.

Under the agreement, Zurich Canada brokers will refer clients who want to buy group life and health insurance products to Manulife advisors. In turn, Manulife advisors will refer small businesses that need property and casualty products to Zurich Canada brokers.

The two insurers will pilot the alliance across Ontario this summer and will roll it out nationally by year end.

“By offering small business owners easy access to a wider range of business insurance, we’re giving them one less thing to worry about,” said Barry Gilway, president and CEO of Zurich Canada.

“We’re basically bringing together products offered by two leading insurers in the small business market,” said Bruce Gordon, Manulife Financial’s executive vice president of Canadian Operations.”

The product distribution alliance stems from the sale of Zurich Canada’s group life and health employee benefits business to Manulife Financial on April 2.