Arthur J. Gallagher has reached a nationwide agreement with the Illinois attorney general and insurance department permitting the brokerage to once again accept contingent commissions.

With the use of e-mail by insurance agents and brokers to transact routine business proliferating, tech security experts warn that a growing body of regulation will require greater attention to encryption and storage of communications.

Aon Corp. reported flat second quarter organic growth and net income fell 87 percent compared with the previous period when it profited from the sale of its insurance companies.

The announcement yesterday that Arthur J. Gallagher will be allowed to collect contingent commissions again starting Oct. 1, was met with a measure of approval by two of the three major insurance brokers who are currently barred from taking them.

Willis Group Holdings reported second quarter net income rose 123 percent over the same period last year primarily on last year's acquisition of Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs, but organic growth grew only 1 percent as the soft market and recession took a toll.

Insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher has reached a nationwide agreement with the Illinois attorney general and Illinois Insurance Department permitting it to once again accept contingent commissions.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has downgraded municipal bond insurer Ambac Assurance Corp. after the company reported its losses on credit derivatives increased by about $1.6 billion in the second quarter of this year.

The Main Street America Group said it has reached an agreement to acquire Indianapolis-based Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Co. Financial terms were not released.