Arch Insurance Europe has acquired Melbourne-based managing general agent Resource Underwriting Pacific.

It will integrate the business into its current holdings in Australia, but the merged structure will not be revealed until February.

As reported by insuranceNEWS.com.au in a Breaking News bulletin last week, Resource Underwriting MD Paul Muller will become Senior VP of Arch Underwriting Australia.

He says Resource Underwriting, which was launched in 1991, had been “searching for a partner for a couple of years”.

With the acquisition, Arch’s Australian headcount will increase from 12 to 29.

The parent, Arch Capital Group, is a Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance company with a focus on specialty lines.

Arch in Australia is led by Sydney-based Regional Director of Arch Underwriting at Lloyd’s (Australia) Robin Barham.

Before joining Arch in September last year Mr Barham managed the Catlin Seaview Survey. He came to Australia in 2006 as aviation underwriting manager for Catlin.

The acquisition will strengthen Arch’s Melbourne presence. Regional Manager, Accident and Health Dominic Brannigan is already based in the city.

Arch has a longstanding relationship with Resource Underwriting, and the acquisition will give Arch a presence in five markets: property; accident and health; professional indemnity; directors’ and officers’ liability; and casualty.

The deal was announced on November 10 by Arch Insurance Europe CEO James Weatherstone.

“We are… extremely excited about the opportunity this will give us to expand our footprint in the Australian market,” he said.