Business Moves

September 19, 2022

Hilb, Cook & Co.

Insurance broker The Hilb Group reports it acquired Massachusetts-based Cook & Company Insurance Services in Hanover.

Cook & Co. offers health plan consulting and brokerage services to employers in New England, including a specialized focus on medical stop-loss and serving municipalities.

Agency Principal Sue Shillue and her team will join Hilb Group’s New England regional operations.

The Hilb Group, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm.

World Insurance, Tarpey, Rush-Kent

World Insurance Associates has acquired two Massachusetts agencies: Tarpey Insurance Group of Wakefield, and Rush-Kent Insurance Agency Inc. of Arlington.

Tarpey is a family owned and operated insurance agency. The main office is located in Wakefield with branch offices in Newton, Saugus, Lexington and Melrose.

In 1925 J. Quinton Rush established the J.Q. Rush Real Estate and Insurance office in Arlington, specializing in real estate sales as well as insurance. Charles R. Kent acquired the agency from J.Q. Rush in 1969, changing the name to Rush-Kent Insurance Agency. The current principals, Paul W. Kent and Robert C. Kent, have been with the agency since 1984.

World Insurance Associates is headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey.

Hub, Winter Harbor Insurance Group

Global insurance broker Hub International acquired the assets of Winter Harbor Insurance Group. Located in Woburn, Massachusetts, Winter Harbor Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency providing commercial and personal insurance.

Jimmy Aiken, president of Winter Harbor, will join Hub New England.

Hub International is headquartered in Chicago.

BenefitMatt, Mutual Med

BenefitMall, a provider of next-generation broker services, acquired Mutual Med, a Davenport, Iowa-based insurance distributor providing sales counseling and support for benefits agents serving large groups, small groups and individuals.

The addition of Mutual Med to the BenefitMall footprint strengthens the company’s presence in the Midwest.

Mutual Med will operate as a division of BenefitMall, continuing under its current name and leadership. In addition to serving current BenefitMall markets of Georgia and Texas, the acquisition adds Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee to BenefitMall’s service territory.

Hightstreet, Paragon Underwriters

Highstreet Insurance Partners has acquired Michigan-based Paragon Underwriters, a program manager that focuses exclusively on attorneys and law firms.

Highstreet has now completed 125 transactions since forming the company in mid-2018. Paragon Underwriters is the 29th transaction of 2022.

PCF Insurance Services, Wilber-Price Insurance Group

PCF Insurance Services has acquired Wilber-Price Insurance Group, a full-service independent insurance agency offering commercial and personal lines solutions, as well as specialty products, for home, auto, crop, life, business, and more in the southern Ohio region.

To date in 2022, PCF Insurance has completed or has under the letter of intent 104 acquisitions.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Watkins Insurance & Benefits

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired Alexandria, Louisiana-based Watkins Insurance & Benefits LLC, dba Watkins Group — Insurance & Benefits Specialists

Founded in 2008, Watkins Group offers employee benefit solutions for corporations of all sizes, as well as individual and Medicare coverage, to its clients throughout Central Louisiana. Wesley Watkins and his associates will remain in their current location under the direction of Robby White, South Central region leader for Gallagher’s employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations.

PCF, Apple Insurance and Financial Services

PCF Insurance Services, a brokerage headquartered in Lehi, Utah, has acquired Florida-based insurance broker Apple Insurance and Financial Services.

Apple Insurance is an individual health and Medicare insurance agency based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, offering access to Florida Blue.

PCF provides commercial and personal insurance products, as well as employee benefits programs.