What’s ahead for Liberty Mutual, Ohio Casualty independent agents?

For agents, the Liberty Mutual Agency Markets acquisition of Ohio Casualty promises to be a matter of addition, not subtraction. For the most part, Ohio Casualty’s 3,400 agents will join with and not replace or be replaced by Liberty Mutual’s existing 6,500 independent agents, according to Gary Gregg, president of Liberty Mutual Agency Markets. “The idea is not to subtract but add,” said Gregg.

This is possible because Ohio Casualty’s strength in the Midwest and Atlantic regions largely complements rather than overlaps with the territories where Liberty Mutual Agency Markets regional carriers write. There is “very little overlap” among agencies for the two companies — less than 15 percent by location, Gregg maintains. “Companies and agencies are always reevaluating their relationships but this is not about cutting, it’s about growing,” he insisted.

The marriage presents opportunities to “bring more products to more agents,” Gregg says. For example, Ohio Casualty is known for its artisan contractors program, which will now be available to more agents across the country.

Growth looks promising in specialty lines including surety. Where Ohio Casualty tended to focus on small contractors and Liberty Mutual focused on larger contractors, now agents will be able to go after both.

The regional companies’ managers plan to move quickly to communicate with agencies and start re-licensing procedures. Over the next six to 24 months, the company hopes to complete the transition to common technology system, upon which so many products depend.

The merger strengthens his Agency Markets’ national footprint and promises to bring new growth as well. But even this major addition may not be enough. “This doesn’t mean we are done with acquisitions,” Gregg added.