Starkweather & Shepley Acquires Universal Insurance Agency in Rhode Island

Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc. in East Providence, Rhode Island, has acquired Universal Insurance Agency of Smithfield, Rhode Island. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Under the transaction, Universal Insurance Agency will merge its operation into Starkweather & Shepley’s East Providence office. Larry Signore, president of Universal Insurance Agency who founded the agency in 1981, will bring all of his clients to the new location.

Universal Insurance Agency provides personal and commercial insurance to a wide range of classes such as environmental, manufacturing, commercial real estate and development, construction and construction management and high-tech firms.

Starkweather & Shepley’s Chairman and Chief Financial Officer William McGillivray said the transaction further expands the firm’s Rhode Island footprint.

Founded in 1879, Starkweather & Shepley provides commercial and personal insurance, health and employee benefits, surety bonding and risk management service. Headquartered in East Providence, Rhode Island, the firm has additional branch offices in Westerly, Rhode Island; Martha’s Vineyard, Sturbridge and Westwood, Massachusetts; Bristol and Shelton, Connecticut; and Fort Myers, Florida.