Business Moves
EPIC Holdings, Integro
EPIC Holdings Inc. in San Francisco has agreed to acquire Integro Holdings Inc., which houses the U.S. operations of New York-based Integro Group Holdings. The acquisition will add 400 team members working across 22 U.S. locations. EPIC currently has 1,400 team members operating from 50 offices and annual revenues that top $440 million. Integro’s brokerage and consulting business has revenue in the U.S. of $150 million from specializations including entertainment and sports; professional services firms; transportation and risk management for complex accounts. The deal will reunite Pete Garvey, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants CEO, with Integro, of which he is a founder and former CEO. Integro USA is led by Marc Kunney, president of North America Operations. EPIC is backed by Oak Hill Capital Partners.
Nationwide, E-Risk Services
Insurer Nationwide has acquired E-Risk Services, a privately-held, program manager specializing in management lines. Nationwide has been a partner of E-Risk Services for the past 10 years. E-Risk Services, located in Flanders, N.J., operates as an underwriting management facility and general agency for specialty lines of insurance distributed through a network of wholesale brokers. Through its Business and Management (BAM) package insurance product, it offers various management liability coverages for privately held and non-profit entities. E-Risk’s technologies streamline the insurance process from online application and rating capabilities to API integration to data management. Nationwide says the E-Risk platform and products will enhance its own excess and surplus lines offerings for small and medium-sized businesses and its focus on growing in both management lines and the program business space.
Hub, Nolen Associates, Dadgar Agency
Hub International Ltd. has acquired the assets of Nolen Associates Inc. Located in Springfield, Penn., Nolen Associates is a medical malpractice insurance agency serving Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Following the acquisition, Nolen Associates President Ray Nolen and Vice Presidents Patrick Nolen and Michael Nolen will report to Shawn McLaughlin, national practice leader of Hub Healthcare and CSO for Hub New England.
In a separate transaction, Hub has acquired the assets of Dadgar Insurance Agency. Woburn, Mass.-based Dadgar provides coverage to 500 restaurants and 1,500 landlords and apartment building owners throughout New England. President Anowsh Dadgar will join Hub New England and will report to Charles Brophy, U.S. East president of Hub.
Plymouth Rock, MAPFRE New York
New York has approved Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp.’s acquisition of MAPFRE Insurance Co. of New York, a domestic property/casualty insurer, which will now be known as MICNY. Plymouth Rock said it will continue to operate MICNY as a New York domestic insurer and it will continue to primarily write private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance. The approval continues Plymouth Rock’s expansion into New York. In April, the company acquired 21st Century National Insurance Co. from Farmers Insurance Group affiliates. Massachusetts-based Plymouth Rock Group offers auto and home insurance in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Hub International Ltd.
Hub International Ltd. has acquired the assets of Apex Insurance Benefits in Blackfoot, Idaho. Troy Goodwin, owner of Apex, will join Hub Mountain and report to Tara Tandrow, executive vice president of Hub’s employee benefits practice.
A.J. Gallagher, First Agency
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Kalamazoo, Michigan-based First Agency, a broker and managing general agency specializing in blanket student and athletic accident insurance coverage, including sports camps/special risk insurance, for colleges and K-12 schools. It also sells specialty coverages directly to individual students via its website. Bryan Cronen and his associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Cindy LaMantia, head of Gallagher’s Great Lakes region retail operations.
Dean & Draper, Bill Vawter & Co.
Dean & Draper Insurance Agency, headquartered in Houston, has acquired Bill Vawter & Co., a Houston-based agency specializing in personal insurance, employee benefits and commercial insurance. Founded by Bill Vawter in 1946, the agency is now led by E.J. Chromcak and Tom Chromcak.
INSURICA, Commercial Insurance.net, McNeil and Co.
INSURICA, a privately-owned insurance agency headquartered in Oklahoma City, has acquired two insurance firms. INSURICA acquired Norman, Oklahoma-based Commercial Insurance.net, an online lead generation and small business agency. INSURICA will merge the clients into its online small business platform, INSURICA Express. In a separate Jan. 1, 2019, deal, INSURICA acquired McNeil and Co. in Arlington, Texas. Gary McNeil and his account team will join INSURICA’s Arlington office.
Safety National Casualty, Midlands Management
Midlands Management Corp., a managing general agent, wholesale broker, program administrator and insurance services provider in Oklahoma City, has been acquired by multi-line specialty insurance carrier Safety National Casualty Corp. Midlands Management specializes in work injury benefits, especially excess workers’ compensation, Texas non-subscriber and occupational accident. As a result of this transaction, Midlands is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Safety National and a member of the Tokio Marine Group. Safety National’s and Midlands’ executive teams remain intact, and the acquisition has no effect on day-to-day operations. There are no plans to make any personnel changes, and Midlands’ headquarters will remain in Oklahoma City.
Athens Agency, United Benefit Advisors
United Benefit Advisors, a nationwide benefits advisory organization, has added Athens Insurance Agency in Athens, Tenn., as one of its partner agencies. Athens provides personal, commercial and employee benefits coverages. Under the leadership of owner Allen F. Carter, the agency is looking to expand its employee benefits department through the partnership with UBA, a network of benefits advisory firms.
A.J. Gallagher, Pointer Agency
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Southaven, Miss.-based Pointer Insurance Agency, which offers insurance for commercial and residential construction, restaurants, the hospitality industry and artisan contractors in Mississippi and Tennessee. Pointer, Lisa Metz and their associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Bumpy Triche, head of Gallagher’s Mid-South region retail property/casualty brokerage operations, and Robby White, head of Gallagher’s South Central region employee benefits operations.
Dentists Benefits Insurance, Dentists Insurance Co.
Dentists Benefits Insurance Co. and Northwest Dentists Insurance Co., acquired by The Dentists Insurance Co. in 2017, have merged into parent company TDIC. The merger was approved by the California Department of Insurance, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation and the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. DBIC and NORDIC are now one company operating as The Dentists Insurance Co.
TDIC, a subsidiary of the California Dental Association, offers professional insurance products to more than 24,000 dentists in 15 states. With this merger, TDIC adds more than 5,000 additional policyholders in five states.