SAN FRANCISCO—Equity Risk Partners Inc. has launched a global insurance brokerage network aimed at the private equity merger-and-acquisition marketplace.

The alliance, Equity Risk Partners Global, comprises 18 member insurance brokerages operating in more than 50 countries, the San Francisco-based brokerage said Thursday in a statement.

“The collaborative efforts of these brokers have the ability to have a significant positive impact on private equity transactions,” Michael Marcon, CEO of Equity Risk Partners, said in the statement. “This venture establishes the best global alliance of insurance professionals in the private equity space."

Tarah Signorelli, marketing principal for Equity Risk Partners, said in an e-mail that while ERP Global “can operate and do business in every country where there is a significant amount of M&A activity,” it plans to expand its network to more brokers from Europe—such as Belgium, Norway and Spain—and the Middle East.

“Where we don’t have an appointed member, we can provide due diligence services through our extensive network of correspondent members,” Ms. Signorelli said. “As private equity firms target new areas of the world and new markets emerge, we will appoint new members to stay ahead of those trends.” <,p>

A list of ERP Global member brokers is at www.equityriskglobal.com.