NU Online News Service, Nov. 4, 1:41 p.m.EDT

Three major insurance brokers announced acquisitions this week,with two taking place in the Midwest and one each on the East andWest coasts.

Meanwhile a major London-based broker says it is combining itsItalian business with an indigenous broker.

BB&T Insurance Services of Raleigh, N.C., says it iscontinuing to expand its California operations with the acquisitionof Precept Group with offices in Irvine and San Ramon, Calif.

Founded in 1987, Precept serves middle-market and largecorporate clients, ranging from 50 to 50,000 employees, withbenefits consulting, procurement, administration outsourcing,health management, retirement and online enrollment services.Precept serves organizations with employees in 42 states, as wellas multinational organizations and governmental agencies.

BB&T says the acquisition adds 140 employees to BB&TInsurance Services. The new agency, which operates under thePrecept Group name, will continue to manage Precept ConsultingServices and ProView Benefits Administration Services.

Itasca, Ill.-based Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. says itacquired Trissel Graham & Toole, Inc. headquartered inDavenport, Iowa.

With roots dating back to 1896, Trissel Graham & Toole (TGT)offers risk management, property and casualty and employee benefitinsurance services for its commercial and personal lines clients inthe central United States. The firm also specializes in placingcoverages for the manufacturing, education, healthcare,construction, municipality, and transportation industries.

Principals Mark Schwab, Robert Karll and their staff of over 50insurance industry specialists will continue to operate in thefirm's Davenport and Sterling locations under the direction ofThomas J. Gallagher, Midwest regional manager of Gallagher's retailP&C brokerage operation.

Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC (MMA), a subsidiary of insurancebroker Marsh Inc., says it acquired Gallagher & AssociatesInc., a $1 million P&C insurance agency specializing in publicschool districts.

Gallagher & Associates, based in Blaine, Minn., will operatewithin RJF, a Marsh & McLennan Agency company.

MMC notes this is the first complementary acquisition for RJF,which MMA acquired in January 2011 to serve as its upper Midwesthub.

Tom Gallagher, John Siffert and the rest of the Gallagher &Associates team will join RJF's Minnesota office and continue intheir current roles.

Gallagher & Associates is not affiliated with Arthur J.Gallagher.

MMA also says it acquired the employee benefits division ofKaeding, Ernst & Co., a Marlborough, Mass.-based employeebenefits, life insurance, and financial planning consultingfirm.

The division, with approximately $600,000 in annual revenue,will become a part of Bostonian Group, an MMC company, furtherexpanding Bostonian's depth and expertise in employee benefits.

The transaction is the second complementary acquisition forBostonian and MMA following the February acquisition of the Boston office of Kinloch Consulting GroupInc., the employee benefits division of Kinloch HoldingsInc.

Terms of all four transactions were not disclosed.

Overseas, London-based Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc says itis combining its existing Italian brokerage business with Marine& Aviation S.P.A.

Under the terms of the agreement, JLT says it will have a 25percent interest in the newly formed joint venture and will haverepresentation on the board. Senior JLT employees will form part ofthe ongoing senior management team.

JLT will also acquire a 25 percent interest in Marine Aviation& General (London) Ltd.

JLT says Marine & Aviation is one the oldest brokersin the Italian insurance market. With offices in Italy and theUnited Kingdom, the company industry expertise in marine, aviation,reinsurance, corporate clients, high net worth and affinity. Since1993, the operation has also been a Lloyd's broker placing Italianwholesale and reinsurance business into the London Market.

Marine & Aviation's operations generated net revenue of €9.5million (U.S. $13 million) in 2010 and produced a profit beforetaxation of €1 million ($1.4 million).

The agreement is still subject to regulatory approvals.