ITASCA, Ill., Aug. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced the acquisition of Cowles & Connell based in Brewster, New York and Meriden, Connecticut. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 1892, Cowles & Connell is a managing general agent and wholesale insurance broker which provides excess and surplus, property/casualty, professional business liability and other specialty insurance products and services to their independent retail insurance broker clients throughout United States. Jo Ann Peri and her associates will continue to operate from their locations in Brewster; Meriden; Westampton, New Jersey and Wilbraham, Massachusetts under the direction of Joel Cavaness, President of Risk Placement Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

"Cowles & Connell is widely respected in the industry for their innovation, depth of experience, and dedication to client service. Not only do they add to our wholesale geographic footprint, but their talented sales culture brings with it years of specialty product knowledge which enables them to handle and match hard to place risks with the appropriate markets," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., President and CEO. "Their market relationships and expertise will be a wonderful complement to our expanding wholesale network, and we are extremely pleased to welcome Jo Ann and her colleagues to our growing Risk Placement Services' family of professionals."

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, has operations in 28 countries and offers client-service capabilities in more than 140 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. 



    Media:  Linda Collins               Investors:  Marsha J. Akin

    VP - Corporate Communications       Director - Investor Relations

    630-285-4009/ linda_collins@ajg.com 630-285-3501/ marsha_akin@ajg.com

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.