York Insurance Services Group Buys ARPCO

First Mercury Financial Corp. announced the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Risk Pooling Consultants Inc. and its affiliates, to York Insurance Services Group Inc.

ARPCO, based in Southfield, Michigan, provides pool administration services, including underwriting, claims, loss control/risk management, and reinsurance, to a variety of self-insured public entity pools throughout the Midwest. York is a privately held provider of claims-handling, specialized loss adjusting, and other insurance services based in Parsippany, New Jersey. ARPCO will become part of York Risk Management Services, a division of York that specializes in public entities, such as cities, townships, special districts, and schools throughout the country.

"We are pleased to announce the successful closing of this transaction. We believe York offers a good fit for ARPCO, its customers and employees and will enhance ARPCO's tradition of excellent customer service," said Richard Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of First Mercury. "At the same time, the proceeds of the sale will allow First Mercury to pursue opportunities consistent with our core strategy of entering new specialty niche property/casualty insurance products and market segments," added Smith.