Two West Midlands insurance brokers have joined forces in a move aimed at becoming the area's top independent.
Wordsley-based Clive E Watson has merged into Lamasz Hettle Risk Consulting, of Halesowen.
The combined business will continue to serve both sets of customers.
The move is in line with Lamasz Hettle's strategy to acquire quality, predominantly commercial insurers in the West Midlands.
It previously acquired bought W A Stanford.
The whole of the Watson team has moved to the Lamasz Hettle office on Stourbridge Road.
Watson's Clive Watson and Debbie Folkes will join the Lamasz Hettle team as nonexecutive director and associate respectively.
"There was lots of interest from other brokers," said Mr Watson. "But the Lamasz Hettle proposition included all of the Watson team and was designed to build on the hard work we have put in over the years."
Jon Hettle, a director of Lamasz Hettle, said: "Clive's experience and reputation as a respected businessman in the West Midlands is a real bonus to an already successful business with many valued clients.
"We are well on track to achieve our three-year goal to be the strongest independent broker in the West Midlands. We want to blend our new business growth with more possible acquisitions planned over the next two years."
