NU Online News Service,Jan. 17, 9:57 a.m. EST

Two major East Coast insurance brokers saidthey have acquired West Coast insurance brokerage firms while anOhio-based firm expects to expand in Cincinnati with its deal.

Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.-based USI Holdings Corp.said it acquired the commercial marine business operation fromVenbrook Group, LLC, a Los Angeles-based property and casualtycompany.

The acquired business will be combined withUSI's existing marine industry practice group in its Seattleoffice. USI said it expects that the acquired business willcontribute approximately $1 million in revenue to USI on an annualbasis.

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Brown & Brownsaid its subsidiary, Fullerton & Co. Inc., has acquired NiesInsurance Agency Inc. of Camas, Wash.

With annual revenues of about $2.7 million,Nies Insurance Agency has served the personal, commercial andemployee benefits insurance needs of clients in the greaterPortland Oregon/Vancouver, Washington area for 39 years.

Gerald L. “Jerry” Nies, president of NiesInsurance, and his team will continue to serve their clients fromtheir Camas and Battle Ground, Wash., locations under theleadership of Tim Nielsen, vice president of Fullerton &Co.

Brown & Brown said the transaction does notinclude the joint venture between Nies Insurance Agency and iQCredit Union, which will continue to operate separately.

Also, Toledo, Ohio-based Hylant Group said itis merging with Swartzel Affiliated Insurance Agency of Dayton,Ohio.

Swartzel is a p&c insurance agency foundedin 1932. On its website, the agency said it specializes in theplacement and management of business insurance portfolios formunicipal risks and public entities.

Hylant, founded in 1935, is a full-serviceinsurance brokerage firm with 12 offices in Ohio, Michigan,Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee. The firm employs more than 600associates and is a member of the Worldwide Broker Network.

Hylant said the merger would provide Swartzel'sclients with additional tools and resources Hylant offers throughits industry specialty practice groups. Hylant's clients wouldbenefit from Swartzel's strong reputation in the greater Cincinnatiand Dayton regions.

Financial terms of all of the transactions werenot disclosed.