NU Online News Service, March 16, 10:36 a.m. EDT

Itasca, Ill.-based insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced two acquisitions in the employee-benefits niche this week.

Yesterday, Gallagher said it acquired BenefitLink Resource Group, Inc., in Calgary, Canada.

Established in 2001, BenefitLink Resource is an employee-benefits-insurance broker and consultant that provides a full range of group-employee benefits and pension products and services to clients throughout Canada. The firm also designs, implements and helps manage clients' group-insurance and retirement-savings programs. BenefitLink Resource specializes in the energy, energy service and transportation industries.

Kevin Rome, the principal, and approximately 10 associates will continue to operate at their current location under the direction of William Ziebell, regional executive vice president of Gallagher's employee-benefit consulting and brokerage operations.

J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Gallagher, says in a statement that this is the first employee-benefits-agency acquisition for his firm.

Earlier in the week, Gallagher said it acquired Human Resource Management Systems, LLC, in Naperville, Ill.

Established in 1997, Human Resource Management is an employee-benefit-insurance broker that offers a full range of group employee benefit products and consulting services to their clients throughout theUnited States. It specializes in group health, life, long and short term disability, dental, retirement planning, human-resource services and program administration.

Dan Rigby, the principal, and his approximately 11 associates will continue to operate in their current location under the direction of William Ziebell, North Central regional executive vice president of Gallagher's employee benefit consulting and brokerage operations.

Terms of both transactions were not released.