Investor Relations

ITASCA, Ill., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced that it has acquired a 38.5% equity interest in CGM Group Limited, headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

With roots going back to 1971, CGM Group Ltd (CGM) is an insurance intermediary and risk management company that provides property, casualty, health, risk management, reinsurance and modeling services to clients throughout the Caribbean. Matthew Pragnell, CEO of CGM, and his associates will continue to operate from offices in Jamaica, Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia under the name of CGM Gallagher Group, Ltd.

J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO, said, "This partnership broadens our international presence and offers our clients an increased spectrum of services and geographic coverage throughout the Caribbean. We are pleased that CGM has chosen Gallagher as its strategic partner and look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Matthew and his team."

Matthew Pragnell, the CEO of CGM Group, commented about the deal: "CGM has made huge progress in creating a recognized regional brand throughout the Caribbean. A partnership with Gallagher now gives us an enhanced trading platform. What is also attractive for us in the deal is that Gallagher's other interests in the region do not conflict with ours, and that our future interests and ambitions for the Caribbean are completely aligned."

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 more than 100 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.

SOURCE  Arthur J. Gallagher
    -0-                             12/14/2007
    /CONTACT:  Marsha J. Akin, Investor Relations of Arthur J. Gallagher,
+1-630-773-3800/
    /Web site:  http://www.ajg.com /
    (AJG)

CO:  Arthur J. Gallagher; CGM Group Limited
ST:  Illinois, Jamaica
IN:  INS FIN
SU:  TNM

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