What Reck & Co. does

Reck & Co. GmbH is a Bremen-based specialist claims services firm founded in 1848, providing surveying, claims adjustment, legal recovery, automotive transport-damage handling, and loss prevention services to transport insurers, automotive manufacturers, and large industrial clients. The firm operates through approximately 60 employees across 11 offices in Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Austria, supported by a network of around 250 partner organizations worldwide enabling service reach across 60+ destination ports on six continents. Its core technology consists of proprietary OCR-based automated database systems for high-volume recovery claim processing, complemented by customized IT solutions developed per client. Revenue is generated through two streams: hourly-rate professional services billing for surveying, claims handling, and loss adjustment, and contingency-based 'No Cure No Pay' fees for legal recovery work against responsible carriers. The firm holds Lloyd's Agent status since 1891, AIMU Correspondent status since 1878, CESAM Average Agent nominations, and ISO 9001:2015 certification, and was family-owned under the Kasten family from 1933 until its February 2026 acquisition by Gallagher Bassett, a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Name

Reck & Co.

Legal name

Reck & Co. GmbH

Website

https://reck.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1848

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Reck & Co. GmbH is a Bremen-based marine and transport claims services firm (founded 1848, ~60 employees) providing surveying, claims adjustment, recovery, and loss prevention to insurers and automotive manufacturers across Europe, acquired by Gallagher Bassett in February 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine and Transport Claims Services

NAICS

Business Support Services (5614)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Subrogation, Recovery & Coordination of Benefits (COB) Support (BPAAAFAG)

Keywords

• Marine claims handling
• Transport insurance surveying
• Cargo recovery services
• Loss prevention consulting
• Average agent services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Survey and Claims Services: Hourly rate billing for survey, claims handling, and loss adjustment services performed by master mariners, engineers, transport specialists, and shipbuilders.
2. Recovery Services: Contingency-based fees under 'No Cure No Pay' principle, or hourly rates at company's discretion. Fees calculated based on current recovery fee schedule or hourly basis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Reck & Co. is an independent specialist providing claims services for the transport and marine insurance industry. Its core work covers damage surveying (survey), claims handling and settlement (adjustment), legal subrogation/recovery against responsible carriers, automotive transport damage handling, and loss prevention consulting. Services are delivered by master mariners, engineers, transport specialists, and lawyers operating across Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Austria, supported by a 24/7 claims hotline.

Product overview

Reck & Co. is an independent specialist in claims services worldwide, offering a comprehensive suite of interconnected services for the transport and marine insurance industry. The core offerings include Surveying Services (damage assessment by expert surveyors), Claims Settling/Adjustment (preparing claims for settlement with insurers), Legal & Recovery Services (enforcing claims against responsible parties on a no-cure-no-pay basis), and Automotive Services (complete handling of vehicle transport damage). Supporting services include Loss Prevention (risk analysis and consulting) and Specialist Areas (general average, hail events, inland hull). The company also develops Customized IT Solutions including OCR-based automated databases for high-volume recovery processing. A 24/7 hotline provides continuous claims notification support. Founded in 1848, the company has grown to approximately 60 employees across six locations in Germany, Belgium, France, and Switzerland, with a network of 250 partner organizations globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surveying Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Loss ratio approaching zero for supervised high-value machine transports over 12 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Gallagher BassettflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.'s subsidiary Gallagher Bassett acquired Reck & Co. GmbH in February 2026. The acquisition adds capabilities spanning surveying, claims handling, recovery activities, and loss-prevention support for complex cross-border cargo and vessel incidents. Deal expands Gallagher Bassett's service coverage across Europe and supports multinational clients seeking consistent claims processes across markets. Operations continue from Bremen under existing leadership.
• CESAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESAM (Comité d'Etudes et de Services des Assureurs Maritime et Transport) nominated Reck & Co. as Average Agent for Hamburg and Bremen. Jörg Schulz, Manager of Survey Department, nominated as Average Agent. Represents French transport insurance market. Company has represented CESAM for Bremen since 2008.
• Lloyd's of LondonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerReck & Co. appointed Lloyd's Agent since 1891 for D-A-CH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and Liechtenstein. Coverage expanded to Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and all German sea ports. Also covers all of Switzerland. Serves as quality seal in marine and transport insurance industry.
• AIMUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Institute of Marine Underwriters correspondent appointment since 1878. Represents AIMU for marine insurance matters.
• International Partner NetworkcoreOthersNetwork of approximately 250 partner organizations worldwide enabling global claims handling capability. Partners include surveyors, logistics providers, and specialists across international ports for loss prevention, surveying, and claims support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reck & Co.