Originally founded in 1945, Transwestern General Agency, Inc. (TGA) 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 insurance agent and broker clients primarily in the Intermountain Western United States. They specialize in insurance coverage for high net worth individuals and the transportation industry. Jeffrey Burgener and his associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Joel Cavaness, President of Risk Placement Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

"For over 60 years TGA's strong sales culture has been focused on a team-based approach to service excellence which makes them an outstanding merger partner. They also have superior carrier relationships that are so important when placing difficult risks for their broker clients," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "Their wealth of specialty products and service capabilities and western intermountain presence will be a terrific addition to Risk Placement Services' expanding wholesale network. We are extremely pleased to welcome Jeff and his team to 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 16 countries and offers client-service capabilities in more than 100 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Contact: Marsha J. Akin
Director-Investor Relations
630-285-3501 or marsha_akin@ajg.com

SOURCE: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Originally founded in 1985, Mutual Insurance Services, Inc. (MIS) 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 insurance agent and broker clients primarily in theNorthwestern United States. Connie Divelbiss and her associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Joel Cavaness, President of Risk Placement Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher& Co.

"MIS is a great example of what we look for in an acquisition partner. Not only do they add to our geographic footprint in the Northwest, but their talented sales culture brings over 25 years of specialty product knowledge which gives them the capability to match hard to place risks with the appropriate markets," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., President and CEO. "Their expertise will be a wonderful complement to our expanding wholesale network, and we are extremely pleased to welcome Connie and the MIS team to 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 16 countries and offers client-service capabilities in more than 100 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Contact: Marsha J. Akin
Director-Investor Relations
630-285-3501 or marsha_akin@ajg.com

SOURCE: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Maintaining the leading position from last year's ranking, Itasca, Ill.-based Risk Placement Services reported $1.61 billion in premium volume in 2010, an 8.8% increase from 2009.

Also maintaining the same position from last year are No. 2 Chevy Chase, Md.-based Schinnerer Group and No. 3 Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Burns & Wilcox Ltd.

New to the ranking, which was released Monday, is Houston-based AmRisc L.P., the fourth-largestMGA/underwriting manager, which reported $584 million in 2010 premium volume, and Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based Appalachian Underwriters Inc., which was the fifth-largest with $402 million in 2010 premium volume.

To view the rankings or to purchase copies, go to  www.businessinsurance.com/directories.

McGurn was elected chairman during The Council's 98th annual Insurance Leadership Forum, the premier networking event for the commercial property/casualty insurance industry. McGurn succeeds James R. Pender, honorary chairman of the board of BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company of Florida.

McGurn began his insurance career in 1976 as a management trainee with Aetna Insurance Company and joined Gallagher in 1978 as an Account Executive. McGurn moved up through the leadership ranks during his career, serving as Unit Sales Manager, Executive Vice President of the Risk Management Sales Division to President of International Special Risk Services, Inc., and President of the Wholesale Division. In 1994, he was named a Corporate Vice President.

Founded in 1979, S. A. Freerks & Associates, Inc. (SAFA) 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 for independent insurance agents and brokers primarily throughout the central Midwest. They specialize in the transportation, hospitality, and construction industries. Stanley A. Freerks and his associates will continue to operate from their current St. Louis and Peoria, Illinois locations under the direction of Joel Cavaness, President of Risk Placement Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

"For over 30 years, SAFA has developed an outstanding reputation for their knowledge of specialty products and their capability to match hard to place risks with the appropriate markets," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., President and CEO. "Not only will they provide us a solid wholesale presence in the Midwest, their expertise will also be a wonderful complement to our expanding wholesale network which makes them an excellent merger partner. We are extremely pleased to welcome Stan and his team to Risk Placement Services' family of professionals."

Established in 1973, First Premium Insurance Group, Inc. is a managing general agent and wholesale insurance broker providing insurance products for independent insurance agents and brokers throughout the Southern United States.  They specialize in manufactured homes, personal lines and commercial property/casualty business.  Jay Pellegrini, Jr., Greg Pellegrini and their associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Joel Cavaness, President of Risk Placement Services, Inc.

"First Premium will be our first true wholesale/MGA presence in Louisiana which will enable us to expand our sales and services capabilities in that region," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "Their 40 years of industry experience, superior carrier relationships and business specializations will be excellent complements to our expanding wholesale network.  We are extremely pleased to welcome Jay, Greg and their team to our growing Risk Placement Services' family of professionals."

The new operating unit is comprised of RPS AVRECO, based in Chicago and Houston, and RPS HCI (formerly HealthCare Insurers), based in Colorado Springs, with offices in Chicago and Tampa. Both companies were purchased by RPS in recent years and have long traditions of specialized expertise and outstanding customer service. Both operations are top producers for some of the largest insurers in the medical professional liability field.

"Under the banner of RPS Healthcare, we are serving our retail agents and brokers even better through increased operating efficiencies, shared resources, service coordination and incredible market clout," according toBill Yurek, who was recently named area president of RPS Healthcare.   

Jim Bishop, formerly area president of RPS HCI, is now serving as area senior vice president for programs, reporting to Bill Yurek. In his new role, Jim will be overseeing current RPS HCI programs and pursuing new strategic, healthcare program opportunities.   

RPS AVRECO, a wholesale brokerage firm, has for 50 years specialized in medical professional liability insurance, reinsurance for healthcare captives and alternative risk transfer solutions for retail insurance agents and brokers nationwide.

RPS HCI, founded in 1987, has been a full-service medical liability wholesale brokerage and program administrator that specializes in insurance for chiropractors, podiatrists, home healthcare, hospitals, physicians and retirement communities.

Risk Placement Services, Inc. is one of the largest wholesalers and the largest MGA in the country. It is wholly owned by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm headquartered in Itasca, Illinois.

Contact:Bill Yurek:  312.294.5625 or Bill_Yurek@RPSins.com