Business Moves

Hilb Rogal & Hobbs, Global Special Risks

Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. (HRH) acquired the operating assets of Global Special Risks LLC, effective May 1, 2007. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Global Special Risks (GSR), an excess and surplus lines wholesale broker and managing general agency, specializes in the energy and non-marine property fields. Founded in 1979, it has offices in Houston and New Orleans.

Originally created as a London market cover holder concentrating on marine and energy placements, the company has developed unique product offerings, and multiple niche products with the London and North American markets.

With annualized revenue in excess of $8 million in 2006, GSR employs a sales and support staff of 26 professionals from its two locations. The GSR team will continue serving clients from their current locations.

Bristol West

Bristol West Holdings Inc. announced it has begun writing private passenger automobile insurance in Arkansas. Bristol West entered Arkansas by deploying Select 2.0, a segmented insurance product that utilizes the company’s proprietary credit model and proprietary symbol set.

With the addition of Arkansas, Bristol West now writes insurance in 24 states.

In Arkansas, as in all states where it conducts business, Bristol West writes insurance only through independent producers.

Arthur J. Gallagher, Melton Insurance Associates

Ill.-based insurance brokerage and risk management services firm Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Melton Insurance Associates Inc. of Odessa, Texas. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Melton Insurance Associates, founded in 1954, is a retail insurance broker offering risk management, commercial property, casualty and employee benefits insurance services to their Texas client base. The firm specializes in the energy industries.

J. Tommy Melton and his associates will continue to operate out of their current location under the direction of Michael Henthorn, South Central Regional manager of Gallagher’s Brokerage Services Retail Division.

Liberty Mutual, Ohio Casualty

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group has agreed to buy Ohio Casualty Corp. of Fairfield, Ohio, in a transaction valued at approximately $2.7 billion. Liberty Mutual will acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Ohio Casualty for $44.00 per share in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007.

Ohio Casualty Corp, is the holding company of The Ohio Casualty Insurance Co. and five other property and casualty insurance companies, which are referred to under the marketing brand Ohio Casualty Group.

Ohio Casualty will be part of Liberty Mutual Group’s Agency Markets business unit. The 11 companies in Liberty Mutual Agency Markets have more than 6,800 employees and approximately 6,500 appointed agencies.

Ohio Casualty, has some 2,100 employees and operations in 48 states, and approximately 3,400 appointed agencies. Policies are written through the independent agency system.