Business Moves

Alera Group, a national employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management firm, has acquired West Park Insurance and Risk Management of Allentown, Penn.

Formed in 2002, West Park Insurance and Risk Management provides clients with business, medical malpractice, senior healthcare and environmental liability insurance.

West Park Insurance will join Alera Group through its local firm HMK Insurance, an Alera Group company in Bethlehem, Penn. Clients will not experience any disruption in service as the West Park Insurance team continues in their roles with the added resources of Alera Group, according to a press release issued by Alera Group.

The West Park Insurance acquisition comes on the heels of Alera Group’s acquisition of Lebanon, Penn.-based Zinn Insurance earlier this month.

This transaction is expected to further Alera Group’s goal to continue growing organically and through acquisitions since its formation in December 2016, the release stated.

SEFCU Insurance Agency, a wholly owned subsidiary of SEFCU with offices in Schenectady, Cobleskill, Cooperstown, and Schoharie, N.Y., will transfer its commercial property and casualty and benefits practices to Rose & Kiernan Inc., an insurance brokerage firm headquartered in East Greenbush, N.Y.

As its commercial insurance practice demands increasing financial and human resources, SEFCU has decided that the best way to serve its members and communities is to divest a non-core service while focusing on the development of its banking and investment competencies and expanding its personal insurance business, according to a company press release.

Rose & Kiernan Inc. will purchase the commercial and benefits practice of SEFCU Insurance Agency, maintain all existing staff and remaining dedicated to the clients and communities SEFCU Insurance Agency has served for many years.

As the transition of commercial clients is completed, SEFCU Insurance Agency will remain dedicated to providing and enhancing its delivery of personal insurance products and services.

The transfer of clients and employees is expected to be completed by November 1.

USI Insurance Services (USI) has acquired David M. Banet & Associates Inc. (Banet), an Exton, Penn.-based leader in benefits consulting and administration, human capital management and insurance brokerage and consulting services.

Banet will combine with Emerson Reid, USI’s employee benefits wholesale brokerage division. This acquisition further strengthens Emerson Reid’s position as the largest wholesale employee benefits general agent in the northeast region. Employees will continue to work out of Banet’s Exton, Penn., and Wilmington, Del., office locations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Formed in 1995, Banet offers advanced technology and innovative services to support brokers in delivering consultative, employee benefits solutions to their clients. The firm is the developer and exclusive provider of the Beny System, a comprehensive, human resources and benefits consulting program that enhances benefit administration.

Arthur W. Hall, USI senior vice president and employee benefits practice leader, said in a company press release that the company’s primary goal is to grow and protect clients’ businesses by becoming an extension of their employee benefits programs through tools, knowledge and support. With this acquisition, it aims to be able to combine Banet’s advanced technology, innovative benefits and brokerage services with Emerson Reid’s suite of client services, specialty products, carrier expertise and vendor partnerships, he added.

USI is a local and national insurance brokerage and consulting firm, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk and retirement solutions throughout the United States and headquartered in Valhalla, N.Y.

Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty Inc., based in Boca Raton, Fla., has acquired RateGenius Insurance Agency Inc., an affiliate of RateGenius, headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Serving all of Texas for almost 10 years, RateGenius Insurance provides auto, home, boat and life insurance products from a network of 20-plus lenders and insurance providers.

The Seeman Holtz family of companies provides comprehensive financial and insurance advice to clients across the country.

The company said it will continue targeting high-quality independent agencies for geographic expansion and continued growth throughout the United States.

Higginbotham and Kilpatrick Insurance, both independent insurance brokers based in Fort Worth, Texas, have merged.

Kilpatrick Insurance will relocate from 2410 Montgomery Street three miles east to Higginbotham’s two downtown offices and take Higginbotham’s name.

This is Higginbotham’s sixth merger this year and its second in Fort Worth, home to the firm since opening in 1948. Higginbotham is growing its operation by partnering with brokers across Texas that enable it to reach more customers with its single source insurance solution.

Kilpatrick Insurance adds 15 professionals to Higginbotham’s commercial and personal property/casualty division.

Headed by President Kim Kilpatrick-Terrell, Kilpatrick Insurance is slated to move in December 2017.

Kilpatrick Insurance offers personal and commercial coverage, and provides additional protections in the areas of loss control and human resources. The agency has been led by three generations of Kilpatricks. MJ Kilpatrick opened the agency in 1944 with Jimmy Kilpatrick assuming leadership a few years later until Kim Kilpatrick took the reins in 1989.

Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty Inc. has acquired three different agencies in Florida as part of its geographic expansion and continued growth throughout the United States.

The three Florida agencies most recently acquired include:

• Mark Ellis Insurance, headquartered in Tamarac, Fla. Serving all of Florida for over 15 years now, Mark Ellis and his team have been offering insurance products throughout South Florida through local and national carriers. The plan for this acquisition is to fold it into Primera Capital, a Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty company run by Anthony Davis. The move will strengthen Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty’s foothold in South Florida, according to the company. Brett Williams, vice president, added SPHC will be able to provide service from its existing Boca Raton office.
• David/Greg Insurance Consultants Inc., headquartered in Longwood, Fla., which has served all of Florida for over 24 years through local and national carriers. The company said the move will strengthen Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty’s foothold in throughout the state of Florida.
• Insurance Solutions Group, headquartered in Miami, Fla., with over 50 years of combined experience, offering comprehensive insurance coverage through local and national carriers. The company said the move will strengthen Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty’s foothold throughout Miami Dade County and the state of Florida. Williams added that Insurance Solutions will be consolidated into its existing Miami operations.

The Seeman Holtz family of companies provides comprehensive financial and insurance advice to clients across the country. SHP&C currently offers homeowners, automobile, renters’ policies, private client, umbrella coverage, commercial and employee coverage, and personal liability coverage.

Hub International Ltd. has acquired the shares of Rural Alaska Insurance Agency Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

John Kohler, Jr., president of Rural Alaska, will join Hub Northwest and report to Steve Wagner, executive vice president of Hub Northwest

Fairbanks, Alaska-based Rural Alaska specializes in property/casualty insurance.

Chicago, Ill.-based Hub provides property/casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment and risk management products and services.