Sedgwick Group

The London-based firm, one of the world's largest insurance brokerage companies, will buy all of the Memphis, Tenn.-based company for $33 a share cash, or a total of $307 million. The deal, which was approved by the boards of both firms, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Sedgwick acquired Fred S. James, a New York insurance brokerage, a year ago.

Three partners from the Orange County office of multinational law firm Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold said Monday that they have resigned to establish their own practice. Alan J. Freisleben, a 16-year Sedgwick veteran who founded the Orange County office, and colleagues Todd A. Picker and Lily Chow have joined with Mark D. Peterson to form Peterson, Picker, Chow & Freisleben LLP in Newport Beach. Peterson had been a partner in the Los Angeles office of Manatt, Phelps & Philips.

Marsh & McLennan Cos. of New York, the world's biggest insurance broker, agreed to buy London-based Sedgwick Group, a leading broker in Europe, for $2.04 billion, to expand its global reach. Marsh & McLennan and other insurers are buying rivals hoping to boost profit by cutting costs and getting into new markets. In two other new deals, Australian life insurer AMP made a $1.

Marsh & McLennan Cos. of New York, the world's biggest insurance broker, agreed to buy London-based Sedgwick Group, a leading broker in Europe, for $2.04 billion, to expand its global reach. Marsh & McLennan and other insurers are buying rivals hoping to boost profit by cutting costs and getting into new markets. In two other new deals, Australian life insurer AMP made a $1.

Three partners from the Orange County office of multinational law firm Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold said Monday that they have resigned to establish their own practice. Alan J. Freisleben, a 16-year Sedgwick veteran who founded the Orange County office, and colleagues Todd A. Picker and Lily Chow have joined with Mark D. Peterson to form Peterson, Picker, Chow & Freisleben LLP in Newport Beach. Peterson had been a partner in the Los Angeles office of Manatt, Phelps & Philips.

Transamerica Corp. agreed Tuesday to merge its Fred. S. James & Co. insurance-brokerage subsidiary into London-based Sedgwick Group in a $667.4-million transaction that will give Transamerica global reach in that business. Under the deal, Transamerica will receive a 39% stake in the expanded Sedgwick Group, which will become the world's third-largest insurance-brokerage firm in terms of revenue and the second largest in terms of profits.

The London-based firm, one of the world's largest insurance brokerage companies, will buy all of the Memphis, Tenn.-based company for $33 a share cash, or a total of $307 million. The deal, which was approved by the boards of both firms, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Sedgwick acquired Fred S. James, a New York insurance brokerage, a year ago.

Transamerica Corp. agreed Tuesday to merge its Fred. S. James & Co. insurance-brokerage subsidiary into London-based Sedgwick Group in a $667.4-million transaction that will give Transamerica global reach in that business. Under the deal, Transamerica will receive a 39% stake in the expanded Sedgwick Group, which will become the world's third-largest insurance-brokerage firm in terms of revenue and the second largest in terms of profits.

Dull is beautiful. Just ask James R. Harvey, chairman, president and chief executive of Transamerica Corp., a once-sprawling conglomerate that is returning to its roots in insurance and financial services. Harvey's first major act after being named chief executive in 1981 was to sell Transamerica's United Artists subsidiary, a studio whose distinguished heritage was tarnished by its embarrassing $40-million investment in the film boondoggle "Heaven's Gate."