Itasca, Ill.-based insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher says itis expanding its excess and surplus-lines business into Louisianawith the acquisition of First Premium Insurance Group Inc.

Established in 1973, First Premium, a Covington, La.-basedmanaging general agency (MGA) and wholesale broker, providesinsurance products for independent agents and brokers throughoutthe southern United States. First Premium specializes inmanufactured homes, personal lines and commercial P&Cbusiness.

Jay Pellegrini Jr., Greg Pellegrini, First Premium's principals,and their associates, numbering about 65 employees, will continueto operate from their current location. They will be under thedirection of Joel Cavaness, president of Risk Placement ServicesInc., a subsidiary of AJG.

“First Premium will be our first true wholesale/MGA presence inLouisiana, which will enable us to expand our sales and servicescapabilities in that region,” Chairman, President and CEO J.Patrick Gallagher Jr. says in a statement.

Two other insurance brokers also announced acquisitions.

Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.-based USI Insurance Services says itacquired The Pinnacle Group based in Virginia Beach, Va.

A full-service benefits-consulting firm specializing inmiddle-market business, Pinnacle is expected to contributeapproximately $3.3 million in annual revenues to USI.

Steven C. Deal, USI's mid-Atlantic regional CEO, says in astatement that the transaction will strengthen its existingorganizations in the region along with its expanding employeebenefit practice.

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based insurance broker Brown & Brownsays its subsidiary Brown & Brown of Connecticut Inc. hasacquired Kane Partners Inc. of Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Founded in 2003, Kane Partners has combined annual revenue of$1.2 million, says Brown & Brown. The firm provides a widerange of employee-benefits-related services including brokerage andconsulting services to clients in the Northeast United States andFlorida.

Robert F. Fitzpatrick, Fred V. Leone, the principals of KanePartners, and the staff, will join Brown & Brown of Connecticutoffices in Rocky Hill, Conn.

Terms of all three transactions were not released.