Watkins Group Is Acquired by Arthur J. Gallagher

Watkins Group

Watkins Group

On Thursday, Louisiana-based Watkins Insurance & Benefits, LLC, doing business as Watkins Group, a competent, well-run employee benefits firm, was bought by Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE:AJG). The agreement’s terms are secret.

Under the guidance of Robby White, the South Central area leader for Gallagher’s employee benefits consulting and brokerage activities, Wesley Watkins and his colleagues will continue to work from where they are now.

In what turned ut to be an all-around positive trading session for the stock market, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.(NYSE:AJG) shares AJG, +0.70% inched 0.86% higher to $187.96 on Wednesday. The S&P 500 Index SPX, +0.78% rose 0.29% to 4,140.77 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.38% inched 0.18% higher to 32,969.23. A three-day losing streak for the stock was broken by its gain. On August 18th, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. set a 52-week high of $191.97, which the company finished $4.01 under.

The stock outpaced several of its rivals on Wednesday, as Marsh & McLennan Cos. (NYSE:MMC), +0.24%, Willis Towers Watson PLC (NASDAQ:WTW), +0.72%, and Brown & Brown Inc. (NYSE:BRO), +0.80% all saw gains of 0.83%, 0.38%, and 0.46%, respectively, to $168.27, $209.74, and $65.35, respectively. The trading volume (787,757) was 34,357 lower than the 822,114 average volume over the previous 50 days. Watkins Group was established in 2008 and serves clients in Central Louisiana by providing individual and Medicare coverage options, as well as employee benefit solutions for businesses of all kinds. Under the guidance of Robby White, the South Central area leader for Gallagher’s employee benefits consulting and brokerage activities, Wesley Watkins and his colleagues will continue to work from where they are now.

Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President, and CEO, described the Watkins Group as a “professional, well-run employee benefits agency that will increase our footprint and potential in the Central Louisiana area.” “I’m delighted to welcome Wesley and his crew to Gallagher,” I said.

The corporate headquarters of the international insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting services company Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Through its own operations and a network of correspondent brokers and advisors, Gallagher offers these services in about 130 different countries worldwide.

Featured Image:  Megapixl @Rafaelhenriquepress

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