Oct 3, 2003 – Van Gilder Insurance Company announces merger with Southwest Benefits Insurance Agency

For more information contact:
Lorna Pankratz, Director
Mystic Capital Advisors Group, LLC
Denver, Colorado
303-925-0595
llp@mysticcapital.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VAN GILDER INSURANCE COMPANY ANNOUNCES
MERGER WITH SOUTHWEST BENEFITS INSURANCE AGENCY
October 3, 2003 ñ Denver, Colo.
Van Gilder Insurance Company (VGIC) is pleased to welcome Southwest Benefits Insurance
Agency to its family of insurance operations. Southwest Benefits Insurance Agency (SBIA)
specializes in providing employee benefits insurance and consultation to companies both small
and large. SBIA has offices in Phoenix, Ariz., Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah and Las
Vegas, Nev. Mystic Capital Advisors Group, LLC advised VGIC in the transaction.
SBIA is headed by John Lalli who has more than 27 years experience and is a well-established
name in employee benefits consulting in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. ìThe merger with Van
Gilder provides Southwest Benefits Insurance with the prestige and backing of the largest
independent insurance agency in the Rocky Mountain Region and the expertise and stability
gained from nearly 100 years of experience,î says Lalli. ìWe are truly excited about the
opportunity that becoming a member of Van Gilder represents.î SBIA will operate under the
VGIC name.
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Van Gilder Announces Merger
ìThe merger of SBIA represents several strategic opportunities for Van Gilder,î says
Gerald Ray, President of Corporate Operations VGIC. ìIt adds the talent and expertise of
high quality individuals, provides a tremendous cross-sell opportunity between SBIAís
benefit clients and Van Gilder property/casualty customers, and provides Van Gilder with
a presence in geographic areas within the Southwest Region where it has not historically
had a presence. The addition of SBIA makes Van Gilder a truly regional player.î
Van Gilder is the largest independent insurance brokerage firm in the Rocky Mountain
Region. As a full-service broker, VGIC provides a wide spectrum of insurance products
and services to thousands of businesses, individuals and families. Founded in 1905 VGIC
is now in its fourth generation of family involvement. Today the company is owned by
over 225 dedicated insurance professionals who share a commitment to excellence and
have a personal commitment to the customers the company is privileged to serve.
Independence and its large premium volume enable VGIC to represent all major
insurance carriers and thereby provide the policies and programs which most
appropriately meet client needs.
For information on VGIC, please contact Sandie McLaughlin at 303-831-5133.
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