World Insurance Associates LLC has acquired Owens Insurance Agency Inc. and Stokes-Farnham Insurance Agency Inc., both located in Greer, South Carolina.
The transaction closed on April 1, 2024. Terms were not disclosed.
Owens Insurance, founded in 1952, offers personal and commercial insurance, including coverage for home, auto, life, and business. Stokes-Farnham Insurance, established in 1954, provides similar services to individuals and organizations in the region.
“The combined history and experience of these two agencies make them a strong addition to World,” said Rich Eknoian (pictured above), CEO and co-founder of World Insurance Associates.
World Insurance Associates, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, delivers insurance, employee benefits, and risk management services across the United States. The company has completed more than 200 acquisitions since its founding in 2011 and is ranked among the 50 largest insurance brokerages in the country.
In a separate transaction, World acquired the business of Christopher Williams Agency and Barrett Millard LLC, expanding its footprint in Pittsford and the greater Rochester area of New York earlier this year. That deal closed on January 1, 2025. Christopher Williams Agency, founded in 1961, acquired Barrett Millard in 2023. The combined firm continues to serve clients under the Christopher Williams name.
World also acquired Archambault Insurance Associates, effective December 1, 2024. The agency was founded in 1928 and remains a third-generation family-owned business, offering personal, commercial, life and health, and surety insurance in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
The firm also recently announced the acquisition of NorthStar Insurance Services, one of the largest agencies in New England. According to Eknoian, World is preparing for its “best year yet” with an active pipeline of mergers and acquisitions and growth across its retail, wholesale, and wealth management segments. He expects M&A momentum to continue in 2025 following a slower first half of 2024.
