Business Moves

Appalachian Underwriters, Florida

Tennessee-based Appalachian Underwriters Inc. established a commercial brokerage division and will open a new office in Sarasota, Fla. to house the new operation.

AUI will focus on property and casualty risks that are unique, unusual or require a high capacity.

The new brokerage division allows AUI to expand beyond its existing managed programs and place accounts of virtually any size for their 13,000 active agency partners.

The commercial brokerage division is led by Mark Arnold, who brings 22 years of insurance industry experience, most recently as a branch manager for Swett & Crawford in Sarasota.

Mary Busciglio has also joined the AUI brokerage division as a commercial broker. She has 33 years of experience.

Appalachian Underwriters, Business Insurance Center

Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based Appalachian Underwriters Inc. acquired the business insurance center assets of NFIB, from MSC Insurance Agency of Tennessee LLC.

NFIB is a small business association representing small and independent businesses.

The transaction consists of approximately 75 percent workers’ compensation policies.

AUI further expanded its nationwide capabilities into 1,500 additional independent insurance agencies, bringing its distribution network to over 13,000 active agency partners.

To assure a smooth transition, all NFIB carrier appointments will be transferred to AUI which expands the available markets?for all its agents. All NFIB fax and phone numbers, including extensions will roll to AUI..

Arthur J. Gallagher, Roberts & Roberts

Insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. reports it has acquired Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Inc. in Greensboro, North Carolina. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Formed in 1994, Roberts & Roberts specializes in insurance coverage for the transportation, construction and manufacturing industries.

Wayne Roberts and his associates will continue to operate in their Greensboro location.

Berkshire, White Mountains

Billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns two more insurance companies after completing a deal with White Mountains Insurance Group that was announced in March.

Berkshire traded 1.6 million shares of White Mountains stock, valued at $793 million, for Commercial Casualty Insurance Co., International American Group and $708 million cash.

Berkshire retained a little over 89,000 shares of White Mountains. Both insurers Berkshire acquired are only managing existing policies until they are paid off and the companies close. They are not writing new policies.