Higginbotham Expands Texas Footprint Eastward with Capps Insurance Agency Merger

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Mar 23, 2016, 02:03 ET

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas, March 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Higginbotham and Capps Insurance Agency announced today the merger of their operations. Higginbotham is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and ranked as one of the largest independent insurance brokers of U.S. business, and Capps is an independent broker in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The union gives Capps' 33-person workforce more capacity to serve existing and new customers, and it adds another market to Higginbotham's growing footprint.

The 33-person staff at Capps Insurance Agency in Mount Pleasant, Texas, joins forces with Higginbotham's Texas group of companies.

Beginning in 2008, Higginbotham started expanding statewide by partnering with brokers that support its growth model, have untapped industry segment expertise and bring new geographic markets into its fold. Higginbotham's partnership with Capps brings its total number of employees to 750 in 24 offices, and it is the farthest east the firm has laid anchor.

Both firms have long histories dating to the 1940s of providing property, casualty, life, health and welfare insurance, as well as risk management and employee benefit services to businesses and individuals. Capps' clientele is largely comprised of mid-market businesses in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and it has a concentration in water and wastewater utility providers and transportation companies. Higginbotham has a well diversified mid-market practice across Texas, but also offers a number of specialties.

"We're able to specialize in 20-plus industries because we have practice groups within our firm that focus their talents in one business segment," said Higginbotham President/CEO Rusty Reid. "A key motivation to merging with Capps and other firms that have niche expertise is to enhance our ability to serve any business in any industry, anywhere in Texas."

Steve Capps, principal at Capps Insurance, said, "Higginbotham's reputation as a large full service provider preceded itself. Then when we got to know their people and felt the same family atmosphere that we pride ourselves on, we knew it was a good fit all the way around. Our clients and also our employees will be well served by the extra support and capabilities that we will now be able to access."

Capps will continue operating under its existing name at 1610 Shadywood Lane with the leadership of Managing Directors Steve Capps and Norman Wilson and Agency Manager Jim Fraley.

About Capps Insurance Agency
Capps Insurance Agency is a three-generational insurance firm with a staff of more than 30 professionals providing property/casualty coverage and group benefits to commercial customers and personal life, health, home and auto coverage to individuals. Additionally, Capps has specialty programs for water supply utilities and trucking accounts. Capps opened in 1947 and in 1988 expanded to Mount Pleasant where the operations are now based. Visit www.cappsinsurance.com for more information.

About Higginbotham
Higginbotham is a single source for insurance and financial services that brokers business insurance, employee benefits, retirement plans, executive benefits, life insurance and home/auto insurance from more than 250 regional and national carriers. It supplements coverage with in-house risk management and benefit plan administration services. The firm was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with more than 20 additional offices statewide. Higginbotham ranks as the nation's 32^nd largest independent insurance brokerage firm based on revenue (Business Insurance, July 2015). Visit www.higginbotham.net for more information.

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SOURCE Higginbotham