Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced it has expanded its claims and risk management platform through an acquisition by its subsidiary, Gallagher Bassett, which has purchased Reck & Co GmbH, a specialist provider of global transport and marine claims services. The buyer did not disclose financial terms.
The deal adds a focused set of technical services that are particularly relevant in complex, cross-border loss scenarios where cargo, vessels, ports, and logistics providers can intersect. The acquired business is known for work spanning surveying and inspection, claims handling and adjustment, recovery activities, and loss-prevention support—capabilities that can be critical when incidents involve multiple jurisdictions, specialized expertise, and time-sensitive evidence gathering.
For the acquiring platform, the combination is positioned to deepen service coverage across Europe and better support multinational clients seeking consistent processes and reporting across markets. Marine and transport claims can require specialized workflows—from coordinating on-the-ground surveys to managing documentation across carriers, brokers, and insured parties—so integrating a team with dedicated domain expertise can improve speed to resolution, quality of investigation, and potential recovery outcomes.
The acquired team will remain in Bremen and continue operating from its current location. Leadership continuity is also part of the integration plan: Franz Kasten and Marc Friedrich will continue to lead the team locally, while the business will sit within the buyer’s regional structure under Manan Sagar, who oversees the acquirer’s Europe, Middle East and Asia operations. Keeping the group intact is often viewed as especially important in specialized claims services, where expertise, market relationships, and local know-how are central to service quality.
The announcement also fits with the broader strategy of building scale and specialization in claims management and risk services alongside brokerage operations. By adding a niche provider with established credibility in marine insurance-related work, the acquirer can offer clients a wider menu of support across the lifecycle of a claim—from initial incident response and assessment through handling, settlement support, and post-loss prevention insights. In practice, that can translate into more consistent outcomes for clients with international shipping exposures, as well as stronger coordination with insurers and other counterparties involved in a claim.
The company, headquartered in Rolling Meadows, said it delivers insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting services globally through its own operations and a network of partners and correspondents, with a presence in roughly 130 countries.
KEY QUOTES
“Reck & Co. has a deep reputation in the global marine insurance market and will expand Gallagher Bassett’s claims service offerings in Europe. I am excited to welcome Franz, Marc and their associates to our growing, global team.”
J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman and CEO
