NU Online News Service, Jan. 20, 10:28 a.m.EST

Brown & Brown has acquired Independent PharmaceuticalConsultants, strengthening its benefits division, while Arthur J.Gallagher says it acquired a South Carolina agency with rootsdating back more than 70 years.

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based insurance broker Brown & Brownannounced late yesterday that it acquired O’Fallon, Mo.-basedIndependent Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc., a pharmaceuticalbenefits management consulting and compliance services firm withclients throughout the United States.

IPC, with annual revenues of approximately $1.8 million, wasfounded in 1991 by Kenneth W. “Ken” Anderson, a registeredpharmacist. IPC will join Evergreen Rx, a division of Brown &Brown’s Evergreen Re, to form a new combined specialty pharmacybenefit consulting department.

IPC President Ken Anderson, principals Christine Johnston andKathy Friedman and the rest of the team will continue to serveclients from their main office in O’Fallon.

Itasca, Ill.-based insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher &Co. says it has acquired Riley & Associates, Inc. inMt.Pleasant, S.C.

Established in 1936, Riley & Associates is a retailinsurance broker providing property and casualty insurance and riskmanagement services to their commercial and personal lines clientsprimarily in the southeastern United States. The firmspecializes in insurance coverage for the hospitality, moving andstorage, transportation and marine industries.

Russell Parker, the principal, and his associates will continueto operate in Mt. Pleasant under the direction of Mitchel Brashier,Southeastern regional manager of Gallagher's retail P&Cbrokerage operation.