NU Online News Service, April 6, 2:31 p.m. EDT

Chicago-based insurance broker Hub International Ltd. says it has acquired five agencies in Canada.

Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

Four of the agencies were members of the Phoenix Insurance Group Inc., a cluster partnership of various Alberta, Canada-based brokerages. Phoenix Group Risk Management Inc. is not included in these acquisitions and will continue to operate independently.

The four agencies are located in Edmonton, Red Deer, Hinton and Drayton Valley and follow Hub's purchase of the Grande Prairie operations of Phoenix in December 2010.

The four firms offer commercial lines, employee benefits, life, personal insurance and surety programs for a wide array of customers in the communities they serve. They work with clients in a range of industries including the construction, petroleum, forest products, manufacturing, property management, retailing, finance, transportation and recreation sectors.

All four acquired operations will become part of Hub International Barton (Hub Barton) within the Hub International Canada West region.

The following principals will be joining Hub Barton as part of the acquisitions:

• Edmonton office: Terry Stewart, Drew Adams and Doug Davis
• Red Deer office: Al Bean
• Hinton office: Rosalie Cederstrandt
• Drayton Valley office: Laureen Bida

All of the executives will report to Richard Burley, vice president, Hub Barton.

The firm says the acquisition further expands its footprint in Western Canada, and with the earlier acquisition of the Grande Prairie operation from Phoenix, gives the firm a solid footing in the Alberta marketplace.

Hub also says it has acquired Redcliffe Financial Group, a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based employee benefits and life insurance brokerage firm.

Founded in 1976, Redcliffe has focused on implementing risk management, life, health and retirement planning strategies for businesses and individuals throughout the Vancouver area for more than four decades.  The Redcliffe team serves commercial clients across many industries, with a specific expertise in programs for educational institutions.

Redcliffe will become part of the Hub International Insurance Brokers operation.

The employees of Redcliffe will move into Hub's existing offices in Burnaby, British Columbia. Norman Redcliffe, president, and Christopher Redcliffe, account manager, will join Hub as part of the transaction.