Higginbotham buys Missouri brokerage

Higginbotham said Monday it has bought Branson, Missouri-based Connell Insurance Inc., its first purchase in the state.

Connell Insurance, which handles commercial lines, personal lines and employee benefits business, has 38 staff “with immediate plans to hire more,” a Higginbotham statement said.

Connell Insurance’s leadership – Casey Chastain, Jay Hickman, Tom Jensen and Chase Marable – were named managing directors of Higginbotham.

Higginbotham is the 21st largest brokerage of U.S. business, according to Business Insurance’s most recent ranking.