July 31 (Reuters) - Arthur J. Gallagher ( AJG ) reported

a rise in second-quarter profit on Thursday, supported by strong

insurance spending that led to higher commissions and fees for

the company.

Insurance brokerages, which act as intermediaries by

assisting customers in selecting suitable plans for their needs,

do not directly sell policies.

Insurance spending stayed strong in the quarter as

individuals and businesses sought protection against economic

uncertainty and natural disasters, boosting fees and commissions

for brokerages such as Arthur J. Gallagher ( AJG ).

"We are making excellent progress on the pending

AssuredPartners acquisition and believe we are on track to close

here in the third quarter of 2025," CEO J. Patrick Gallagher Jr.

said in a statement.

Arthur J. Gallagher's ( AJG ) commissions rose to $1.81 billion, up

from $1.66 billion in the prior year. Total fees rose over 16%

to $962.4 million in the quarter.

The company reported a net profit of $366.2 million, or

$1.40 per share, for the three months ended June 30, compared

with $285.4 million, or $1.27 per share, in the same period a

year earlier.

Peer Aon earlier this week also reported higher

quarterly profit, due to a rise in commissions and fees.