NU Online News Service, Jan. 3, 10:10 a.m.EST

Insurance brokers Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc and Brown& Brown Inc. closed out the year by announcingacquisitions.

On Dec. 30 London-based JLT’s subsidiary, JLT Insurance Brokers(Ireland), says it acquired Dublin, Ireland-based insurance brokerFBD Insurance Brokers Ltd. from FBD Holdings plc.

As part of this transaction JLT also acquired FBD RiskManagement Services Ltd. and International Loss Control ServicesLtd. JLT says it intends to merge FBD Brokers with its existing JLTIreland business.

FBD Brokers was established in 1973 by FBD Holdings plc tomanage the commercial insurance needs of large commercial andcorporate clients. FBD Brokers employs 33 staff andspecializes in the Irish agri-food sector with strong positions inwaste management and the renewable energy sectors. FRMS providescost effective risk management services and ILCS is a liability andmotor claims management and administration company.

The team is led by Eamonn Bergin, Managing Director of FBDBrokers.

JLT says it will make an initial payment of €6.75 million (U.S.$8.73 million), and additional payments of up to €1.75 million($2.26 million) based on financial performance and otheradjustments within the year following completion of thetransaction.

JLT said today that it has combined its Italian brokingbusiness, Jardine Lloyd Thompson S.p.A with the business of Marine& Aviation S.p.A. an Italian brokerage. JLT says it has a 25percent interest in the new venture. It also has a 25 percentinterest in Marine Aviation & General (London) Ltd. JLT paid€5.4 million cash ($7 million) as part of the deal.

Marine & Aviation generated €9.5 million ($12.4 million) in2010 and profit before tax of €1 million ($1.3 million).

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Brown & Brown Colonial ClaimsCorp., Continental Claims Corp., and Colonial Claims of Kentucky,Inc., on Dec. 23.

Terms of the transaction were not released.

With origins dating back to 1982, Colonial Claims was founded byJames Douglas “Doug” Branham. With combined annualized net revenuesof approximately $6.6 million, the firm provides insurance claimsadjusting and related services, including education and trainingservices, throughout theUnited States.

Following the transaction, the acquired Colonial Claimsoperations will continue to operate from their existing locationsin Lexington, Ky. and Dunedin, Fla. under the leadership ofBranham.