NU Online News Service, June 3, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced two acquisitions thisweek, Risk & Reward Group in London and Joseph James &Associates in Dublin, Ohio. Financial terms for the transactionswere not released.

On Tuesday, the Itasca, Ill.-based insurance broker said itacquired Risk & Reward Group. Founded in 1996, Risk &Reward is an employee benefits consultant and insurance brokerconsisting of approximately 18 employees. It offers a broad rangeof employee benefits insurance and consulting services to boththeir United Kingdom and international clients. The firmspecializes in benefit design and implementation, risk brokeringand management, absence and claims management and human resourceconsulting for human capital financial management.

Risk & Reward principal and managing partner, Tim Johnsonand his associates will continue to operate from their Londonlocation reporting to John Neumaier, executive vice president ofGallagher's employee benefit consulting and brokerageoperation.

In a statement, J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman, presidentand chief executive officer noted that this was the firm's firstemployee benefits acquisition in the United Kingdom.

Yesterday, AJG said it acquired Joseph James &Associates.

Established in 1989, Joseph James, consisting of about 10employees, offers a range of employee benefit consultation andbrokerage services, including all lines of group benefits and shortand long term disability services. They also specialize in plandesign and development, alternative funding and risk analysis,health care utilization and trend analysis, as well as dedicatedaccount management and claim resolution services.

Fritz Neuhart, Joseph James' principal, and his associates willcontinue to operate in Dublin under the direction of WilliamZiebell, North central regional executive vice president ofGallagher's employee benefit consulting and brokerageoperations.