NU Online News Service, Jan. 6, 1:24 p.m. EST

The 2011 merger and acquisition spree continued with the recentannouncements of six agencies acquired by four major insurancebrokerage firms, with Marsh & McLennan Agencies scoring thelargest of the lot.

Marsh & McLennan Agencies (MMA), a subsidiary of insurancebroker Marsh, said it has acquired RJF Agencies of Minneapolis.

Founded in 1986, RJF has annual revenue of approximately $25million and roughly 150 employees. The firm provides property andcasualty insurance and employee benefits to middle market companiesin a range of industries. RJF has specialty practices inmanufacturing, condominium and townhome associations, managementliability, and contractors, among others. All of RJF's employeesand leadership team, including Bill Jeatran, chief executiveofficer, and Tim Fleming, president, will join MMA.

MMA said RJF will serve as the firm's upper Midwest hub.

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based insurance broker Brown & Brownsaid it has acquired Balcos Insurance Inc. and Mike HowardInsurance of Seattle.

Founded in 1985, Balcos Insurance serves clients throughout thewestern United States. With annual revenues of approximately $3million, Balcos offers a broad spectrum of personal lines andcommercial lines insurance, as well as specialized products andservices for the restaurant and hospitality, automotive service andrepair, construction, and manufacturing and distributionindustries, among other specialty niches.

Mike Howard Insurance, with annual revenues of approximately$500,000, has provided its individual and business clients in thegreater Seattle area and throughout the state of Washington with avariety of personal, life and commercial insurance products andservices since 1992.

With completion of the transaction, Brown & Brown ofWashington will operate from two new locations in Seattle andBellingham, Wash., under the direction of Mark Balcos, principal ofBalcos insurance.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, a subsidiary of SanFrancisco bank Wells Fargo & Co., said it has acquired PrestigeProfessional Plans, a single-office, employee benefits insurancebrokerage firm located in Dayton, Ohio.

Serving customers in Ohio since 1985, Prestige Professionalprovides business and individual customers with employee benefitsconsulting and brokerage services including medical, dental, life,vision, disability and various other health insurance plans.

After announcing fouracquisitions recently, Chicago-based insurance broker HUBInternational said it has acquired two more brokerage firms.

The firm said it has acquired Phoenix Insurance Group GrandePrairie, based in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, and FarrInsurance Group of Venice, Fla.

Established 12 years ago, Grande Prairie arranges commercial andpersonal lines programs for an array of customers, with a niche inoil and gas production.

Grande Prairie will become part of HUB International Bartonwithin the HUB International Canada West region.

The three partners of Grande Prairie--Bruce George, MarkMarcotte and Elizabeth Fiegehen--will join HUB Barton as part ofthis acquisition, reporting to Richard Burley, vice president ofHUB Barton.

Farr Insurance, founded in 1978, works with approximately 10,000clients throughout the state of Florida, with a large concentrationin Sarasota County. The firm places homeowners, automobile andflood insurance for personal lines customers in the Venice region,as well as commercial insurance programs.

Farr Insurance will become part of HUB International NortheastLtd. The principals of Farr Insurance--Latimer and Cindy Farr--willjoin HUB and continue to operation out of their existing locationsin Venice and Sarasota, Fla.

Financial terms of all of the transactions were notreleased.