America's Benefit Specialist October 2022

RECENT MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

most trusted benefits selling experience as part of the CRC Group family.” This transaction marks CRC Group’s eighth acquisition in the last 24 months. Just prior to the acquisition closed, Bene fitMall announced the acquisition of Mutual Med, a Davenport, Iowa-based insurance distributor providing sales counseling and support for benefits agents serving large groups, small groups and individuals. The addition of Mutual Med to the BenefitMall footprint strengthens the company’s pres ence in the Midwest and furthers Benefit Mall’s expansion goals for 2022-2023. Mutual Med will operate as a division of BenefitMall, continuing under its current name and leadership. In addition to serving current BenefitMall markets of Georgia and Texas, the acquisition adds new markets of Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee to BenefitMall’s service territo ry. Their combined presence provides service in 24 states to agencies selling in 48 states. BROWN & BROWN ANNOUNCES THE ASSET ACQUISITION J. Scott Penny, chief acquisitions officer of Brown & Brown Inc., and Kahlil Hogan, Thomas Mathew, Richard Mathews, Wil liam Novak, David N. Schwimmer and Bri an Walsh, the shareholders of VistaNational Insurance Group, recently announced that Brown & Brown of Illinois Inc., a subsidiary of Brown & Brown Inc., has acquired sub stantially all of the assets of VistaNational. VistaNational was founded in 1996 by president and chief executive officer David N. Schwimmer, who is retiring after 47 OF VISTANATIONAL INSURANCE GROUP

years in the insurance business. The firm offers employee benefits solutions to busi nesses and public entities throughout the State of Illinois and in certain other states. Following the acquisition, the VistaNational team will continue doing business from their existing Oak Brook, Illinois, office under the leadership of Kahlil Hogan. The VistaNational business will operate within Brown & Brown’s Retail segment and report to Paul F. Rogers, a regional president in Brown & Brown’s Retail segment. Rogers stated, “For more than 25 years, VistaNational’s experienced team has com bined their impressive industry knowledge with practical technology solutions to deliver a wide variety of employee benefits products and services to their custom ers. We are honored they have chosen to continue their journey as part of the Brown & Brown team and look forward to many years of continued success.” CONNER STRONG & BUCKELEW ACQUIRES ARMSTRONG, DOYLE & CARROLL Conner Strong & Buckelew (Camden, New Jersey), an insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, has acquired Pennsylvania-based employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm Armstrong, Doyle & Carroll. In business since the 1950s, Armstrong, Doyle & Car roll is a respected, privately held firm that specializes in unique benefit plan solutions, including managing a statewide benefits insurance program for private schools and colleges in Pennsylvania. “Armstrong, Doyle & Carroll has a similar vision to Conner Strong & Buckelew in how to use integrated solutions to meet

CRC GROUP CLOSES ON ACQUISITION OF BENEFITMALL CRC Group, a wholesale specialty insur ance distributor, closed on the acquisition of BenefitMall effective September 1. The addition of BenefitMall, the nation’s largest benefits wholesale general agency, will enable CRC Group to provide a broad array of insurance products and services available from any wholesale distributor in the mar ketplace today. “We are excited to welcome BenefitMall as the newest part of the CRC Group team,” said Dave Obenauer, CEO of CRC Group. “As the insurance marketplace and the risks faced by clients continue to evolve, it’s vital that we grow strategically in ways that help us meet those needs. The addition of Ben efitMall significantly expands our opportu nity to support clients as they navigate the current marketplace.” With this addition, CRC Group is projected to place more than $34 billion in premiums annually and employ over 5,100 teammates throughout North America. BenefitMall will become CRC Group’s em ployee benefits solution within the compa ny’s Life, Retirement, and Benefits Division, which was created in July 2021. BenefitMall will retain its brand name under the con tinued leadership of the company’s existing management team. Scott Kirksey, CEO of BenefitMall, said, “We are deeply proud of the reputation for excellence we have earned among our bro ker and carrier partners over the years, and we are excited to bring that commitment to innovation and service with us as we join CRC Group. I am confident that we will continue to deliver the fastest, easiest, and

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