Acted as exclusive financial advisor to Byrnes Agency, Inc. (Byrnes Agency) in its sale to Hub International Limited (Hub).
With offices in Dayville and Norwich, Connecticut, Byrnes Agency is one of the largest privately-owned insurance agencies in Eastern Connecticut, offering comprehensive insurance solutions for individuals and businesses. The Byrnes Agency team will join Hub New England.
Acted as exclusive financial advisor to SLB Insurance Group (SLB), a specialty wholesale brokerage and managing general agency, in its sale to CRC Group. The acquisition of SLB expands CRC Group’s binding operations in the Southeast, nearly doubling its presence in South Florida and enhancing its capabilities in Louisiana. This also marks CRC Group’s first acquisition since becoming an independent wholesaler in 2024.
Established in 2000, SLB focuses on small to midmarket property and casualty, trucking and personal lines insurance. The company is led by Darren Marsh, Trevor Keyes and Keith Hinson, all of whom will continue to lead SLB, reporting to Brennan Paris, President of CRC Binding.
Acted as exclusive advisor to Norfolk & Dedham Group (N&D) in its affiliation with Union Mutual. Both N&D and Union Mutual are rated A (Excellent) with a Stable outlook by AM Best. The affiliation brings a unified next step toward mutual growth and resilience for both companies, their employees, policyholders, agents, community partners and vendors. Joel P. Murray and Lisa L. Keysar will remain President and CEO of their respective organizations. Murray will serve as Board Chair of the combined group.
The new group will write a balanced book of personal and commercial lines business in eight states with approximately $596 million in direct written premium and over $580 million in policyholder surplus. The group will have approximately 250 employees and 600 independent agents with 1,000 agency offices across the Northeast. Each company will continue to market products under their existing brands in each of their respective marketplaces.
N&D will maintain their headquarters in Dedham, MA, as they have since their founding in 1825. Union Mutual will also maintain their headquarters in Montpelier, VT, where it celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.
Acted as exclusive financial advisor to Spencer E. Gray, Jr. LLC (Spencer Gray Insurance), a leading provider of insurance solutions in Maine, in its merger with J. Edward Knight Insurance.
Led by Spencer and Elizabeth Gray, Spencer Gray Insurance has been a cornerstone of the Bath, ME community since 2002, offering personalized insurance solutions tailored to individual and business needs.
By joining forces with J. Edward Knight, Spencer Gray Insurance’s clients will gain access to an expanded range of insurance products, services and additional resources.
Acted as exclusive financial advisor to Providence Mutual in its auto renewal rights sale. Providence Mutual announced it has entered into an agreement to allow for Plymouth Rock to provide auto insurance renewal offers to eligible Providence Mutual policyholders.
Acted as exclusive financial advisor to Greenwich, Connecticut-based Shepard Insurance Group, Inc. in its sale to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Shepard Insurance Group is a retail insurance broker that specializes in serving high-net-worth clients in the Northeast US and Florida. Steve Shepard, Kyle Shepard and their team will remain in their current location under the direction of Brendan Gallagher, head of Gallagher's Northeast region retail property/casualty brokerage operations.
Acted as exclusive financial advisor to Badger Mutual Insurance Company (“Badger”) in its affiliation with Rural Mutual Insurance Company (“Rural”). Rural and Badger, with a combined 227 years of providing farm, commercial and personal policies, are well-respected Wisconsin-based brands that each maintain an extensive breadth of industry knowledge, exceptional customer service, and deep community involvement. The affiliation is expected to generate long-term growth and stability for employees, agents, and policyholders. Rural adds its financial strength and AM Best A+ rating, seasoned staff, local agents, and operational excellence to the relationship. Badger contributes an experienced management team and independent agents with an expanded sales footprint in six states outside of Wisconsin. Both companies will continue to maintain their existing brand identities and Wisconsin headquarters with Rural in Madison and Badger in Milwaukee.
Acted as exclusive financial advisor to Columbia Insurance Group in the sale of its personal lines business to Safeco Insurance, a Liberty Mutual Company (“Safeco Liberty Mutual”). Under the agreement, Columbia will transfer its entire personal lines auto and umbrella lines business in eight states to Safeco Liberty Mutual, effective for renewals beginning January 1, 2025. Safeco Liberty Mutual will expand its agency footprint and customer base in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Dakota, while Columbia will focus exclusively on commercial solutions going forward.
Acted as exclusive financial advisor to Southern Insurance Agency, LLC (SIA) in its sale to NFP Corp. (NFP). Headquartered in New Orleans, LA, SIA offers a variety of P&C solutions and services for middle-market companies, including general liability, commercial property, business auto and cyber liability coverages. Under the leadership of Founder and President, Louis Faust, the SIA team has consistently demonstrated a deep knowledge of the intricacies of the New Orleans market, including weather-related and other risks specific to the area, and an ability to secure coverage for more challenging exposures.
Acted as exclusive financial advisor to The Rowley Agency, LLC (Rowley) in its sale to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Gallagher). Headquartered in Concord, New Hampshire, Rowley is one of the largest independent insurance agencies in New England, providing property/casualty, surety and employee benefits products to commercial and personal lines clients primarily in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts from the Company’s four office locations. Dan Church, Gary Stevens and their team will remain in their current location under the direction of Brendan Gallagher, head of Gallagher's Northeast region retail property/casualty brokerage operations, and John Neumaier, head of Gallagher's East region employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations.
