Allstate announced it will end its Esurance brand next year, which the company bought for $1 billion in 2011. Allstate says the move is intended to create a “transformative growth plan” and focus on the company’s brand name, while home, renters, auto and life insurance policies will continue to be sold online but under the Allstate name. Allstate is also consolidating Encompass Insurance, a subsidiary that sells personal property & casualty insurance, and Answer Financial, a website that allows customers to compare quotes, under the Allstate brand.
J.S. Held, a global, multi-disciplinary consulting firm, has acquired J.S. Dyer & Associates (JSDA), a structural engineering firm located in Irvine, California. Founded in 1992, J.S. Dyer & Associates provides a range of structural engineering services, including risk assessments, forensic engineering investigations, seismic evaluations and more.
Clearview Federal Credit Union has hired Insuritas to launch a credit union-owned full-service insurance agency. In their announcement, Insuritas CEO Jeffrey Chesky said, “Through our partnership, Clearview’s new insurance agency will enable their over 104,000 members and their commercial customers to find the insurance coverages they need from a large group of insurance carriers competing for their business, furthering the Credit Union’s commitment to helping its members and the communities it serves to grow and prosper.”
MedRisk, a managed care organization serving injured workers, has acquired Select Provider Networks, Inc. (SPNet) from Select Medical. Founded in 2008 by Select Medical, SPNet provides a boutique specialty network of physical and occupational therapists to the workers’ compensation industry. MedRisk numbers indicate the company has over 272,000 providers in its network and serves almost 500,000 injured workers every year. Under the new MedRisk ownership, SPNet will retain its name and operate independently.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) announced the acquisition of Huntington, New York-based Walsdorf Agency, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1926, Walsdorf Agency is a family-owned commercial and personal lines insurance agency specializing in real estate services. David L. Walsdorf, Louis J. Walsdorf and their associates will be relocating to AJG’s Jericho, New York, office under the direction of Patrick Kennedy, head of AJG’s Northeast region retail P&C brokerage operations.
Helmsman Management Services (HMS), Liberty Mutual’s wholly-owned third-party administrator, has announced the close of its previously announced deal to acquire Eberle Vivian Inc., a regional third-party administrator (TPA) serving the Pacific Northwest. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.