ITASCA, Ill., July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG - News) today announced the acquisition of S. P. Tarantino Insurance Brokerage, Inc. of San Francisco, California. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1979, S. P. Tarantino Insurance Brokerage, Inc. is a full- service retail insurance broker offering risk management and commercial property/casualty insurance services to a wide range of clients. They also specialize in insurance programs for the restaurant, hospitality, manufacturing, trucking and property-owner industries. Salvatore Tarantino, Chairman, Donald Tarantino, President, and their team will continue to operate as Gallagher-Tarantino in their current San Francisco location under the direction of James McFarlane, West Coast Regional Manager of Gallagher's Brokerage Services Retail Division.

J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer said, "With almost 30 years of brokerage experience, S. P. Tarantino is an excellent example of our merger partner of choice. Their outstanding client-focused philosophy, depth of experience, sales culture, and strategic specializations fit perfectly within our western region. We are extremely pleased to welcome Sal, Don and their team to our growing Gallagher family of professionals."

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, has operations in seven countries and does business in 120 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Gallagher is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AJG.

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