Assurant has completed its acquisition of RL Circular Operations, the reverse logistics arm of TIC Group, to accelerate its post-purchase and reverse-logistics capabilities in Australia and New Zealand. Founded in 1989, TIC Group operates three core business lines—post-purchase customer experience, centralized return centers and asset recovery—and maintains offices in Melbourne, Auckland, Mumbai and Gurgaon. By integrating RL Circular Operations’ regional expertise and 30 years of operational know-how, Assurant aims to deepen its footprint in two of the fastest-growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region, where e-commerce returns are expanding at an estimated compound annual growth rate of over 12%.

The deal enhances Assurant’s end-to-end device lifecycle management offerings, enabling the company to leverage AI-based inspection, sorting and refurbishment technologies developed by RL Circular Operations. Investors can expect reduced reliance on third-party logistics partners, lower per-unit reverse-logistics costs and improved asset monetization—projected to boost post-purchase margins by up to 15% over the next two years. In addition, the combined operation will introduce sustainable circular-economy practices across over 50 retail and manufacturing clients in the region, with a target to reduce electronic waste by 25,000 metric tons annually.

Assurant’s leadership highlighted that the acquisition strengthens its competitive position in the APAC retail channel, particularly in extended warranty and mobile value chain services. With APAC revenues representing roughly 20% of Assurant’s global topline, the company expects the RL Circular Operations integration to contribute mid-single-digit percentage growth in the region by fiscal year 2027. Management has outlined plans to cross-sell protection plans to RL’s existing customer base of over 200 retailers and manufacturers, while deploying AI-driven customer-experience platforms to drive higher retention rates and recurring revenue streams.