In a move to build a national business to serve the needs of middle market companies, Marsh & McLennan Agency, a subsidiary of insurance broker Marsh, has acquired Haake Companies, an independent insurance agency in the Midwest.

Established in 1926 and is headquartered in Kansas, Haake Companies provides property and casualty insurance, risk control services, employee benefits to corporations and personal insurance. It has specialty practices in manufacturing, health care/life sciences, hospitality, environmental liability and alternative risk.

David Eslick, chairman and CEO of Marsh & McLennan Agency, said: “The addition of Haake Companies to our firm expands our reach into a growing Midwest market with an established organization and highly regarded team of professionals.”

Charles Haake, chairman of Haake Companies, said: “We are pleased to be joining with David and the leadership of Marsh & McLennan Agency and look forward to working with him and his team to create one of the preeminent national organizations in our industry.”

Marsh & McLennan Agency is an insurance agency, offering commercial property and casualty, personal lines, employee benefits and life insurance/estate planning to clients in the US. In the last quarter of 2009, Marsh & McLennan Agency has acquired The NIA Group, an independent insurance agency in New York, and Insurance Alliance.