Distinguished Programs Holdings LLC(Distinguished) announced the pending acquisition ofBellevue, Washington-based Fulcrum Insurance Programs(Fulcrum). The businesses will be combined and rebrandedas “Distinguished Specialty.” Fulcrum's principals Dusty Rowlandand Eric Arthur will join Distinguished Specialty as seniorexecutives and Rowland will join Distinguished's Board of Advisorswhen the deal is completed. The transaction is expected to becompleted by the end of October.

Advent Insurance Management (Advent) announcedthe creation of Advent Insurance Management LLC,establishing its presence across multiple locations in the U.S.Creation of the Delaware-based business followed a joint ventureagreement with Oklahoma-headquartered AmeriClaim; an expert claimsadjusting business with more than 200 locations across NorthAmerica. Advent holds a 50.1% controlling interest in the newbusiness.

Patriot National announced that it has nowfully acquired Global HR Research (GHRR). Based inFort Myers, GHRR provides pre-employment background screening,assessment and acquisition solutions that supplement Patriot'sbroad employer service offerings.

Insureon announced that the company has beenranked #79 in Insurance Journal's 11^th annual report, “Top 100 IndependentProperty/Casualty Agencies.” The report is based exclusively onrevenue from property/casualty accounts in 2014. Insureon reportedproperty/casualty premiums of $100 million in 2014 and is expectedto reach $200 million by the end of this year.

Geico has agreed to pay six million dollars tosettle a complaint by the Consumer Federation of California (CFC)that alleges the company violated civil rights and insurance law bydeceiving low- and moderate-income women and unmarried motoristswith inflated automobile insurance rate quotes. If Geico is foundto be in non-compliance with settlement terms over the next threeyears, the company will have to pay out an additional six milliondollars.

Related: Around the industry: August 6,2015